Put God First in 2019

Dec 30, 2018 Letters

Dear Editor,

In just a few days we will enter into the New Year. Many of us are contemplating our future in the New Year and the years ahead. Our politicians are cogitating about a quick fix and premature elections. Many are afraid who will win the next elections, many are thinking to flee Guyana never to return and many of our politicians crave political power and to get rich quick. We think monotonously about all the material gains we can acquire from this life but forget God, the giver of life in this world.
Many people miss out on receiving the blessings God has planned for them simply because they do not put Him first. How about you? What – or who – is first in your life? As I contemplate our corrupt society and many big nations of the world, materialism is the order of the day. We crave to own the best cars, best jobs, best girlfriends, best houses, millions of dollars etc.; but anything that takes the place of our God becomes our God.
“Firsts” are important to God. Remember, in the First Commandment, God said, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). Clearly, He wants to be ahead of everything else in your life. He wants you to put Him before your job, your money, your “things,” even your spouse and children. He wants to be your number one priority. He wants you and I to praise and worship Him until we see him Face to Face. As you put God first, everything else in your life will begin to line up as well.
God has a wonderful benefit package prepared for all those who will put Him first. It is designed to cover all of your daily needs and keep you free from anxiety, as Jesus described in Matthew 6:25-33:
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
Jesus isn’t saying that it is wrong to work for food, shelter and clothing; He just wants us to keep our priorities straight. He wants our hearts to be set on the spiritual (eternal) rather than on the physical (temporary). When we put His kingdom and eternal things first, God assures us that we will have the other things we need.
It’s important for each of us to evaluate our priorities from time to time to avoid being distracted from putting God first. If you are not seeing God’s blessing in action, then it is especially important to consider what you are doing with your time, treasure and talents. If you are already putting God first, then continue to do the things God has called and assigned you to do.
As I look around here in Guyana a lot of people put their faith and trust in politicians but we are betrayed constantly by men and women who often lie to us to gain political power. It’s time we put our trust and confidence in God and pray for a God fearing government.
As we usher in the New Year 2019 we must have this in mind:
”Lord, give me the strength to put you first in my life and others second always strive to meet the needs of others ahead of my own.’’

Regards,
Rev.Dr.Gideon Cecil

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