If you have ever had any sort relationship, or even a friendship, you know that a two-way effort is essential. Nothing is more frustrating than try to work with someone who does not match the level of energy you put in. Prioritization was the baseline for the first article I ever wrote, you can read it here: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/lack-of-time-lack-of-effort
I think most people can think of a situation where they feel like they are gave more than their counterpart.
When connecting with a new friend, she shared similar struggles, saying "It is so hard to be the one that does more in a relationship, or to love someone that doesn't love you back..."
Whether romantic or not, I think everyone can relate to this statement. Yet, my friend continued, "...but the way that my love isn't returned to me is a perfect parallel to the way Jesus loves us."
That hit me hard. All the times I have felt like I was the second choice, or just not important enough, I never realized that is exactly how Jesus feels. He loves us so incredibly much, more than we can even fathom, but we so often just brush Him aside until a more convenient time, or until we need Him. Can you imagine how he would feel by this? Yet, His love never ends, despite our rejection, despite the fact that He doesn't even need us.
I can think in my own personal life, when someone once said the statement to me,
"You just really aren't a priority in my life right now."
In the moment, I just brushed it off and acted like it wasn't a big deal. But really, it hurt. All I wanted was prioritization I had shown to be reciprocated back to me. I never realized that I have said the exact same thing to Jesus, multiple times.
In the mentioned situation, I knew the person cared about me, despite not prioritizing me. It is the same in the way I cared about Jesus--enough to be involved in a relationship, but not enough to put Him before other things.
From a common man's standpoint, I then tried to consider what really made someone a priority. For me, the people I prioritize tend to be the first and the last people I talk to, and the people I tend to tell my problems/concerns/worries to first. Was I doing that with Jesus? Sometimes I was, but other times, I would tell him as an afterthought, if at all. That half-hearted prioritization isn't really prioritization at all.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a definition of the word "priority" is:
-something that is very important and must be dealt with before other things.
Jesus is most important, and shouldn't we go to Him first?
While very convicted, I have also realized that the prioritization isn't an automatic thing, at least not for me. Yes, sometimes it does feel natural to reach for my bible, or to say a prayer for help, but sometimes I have to make a concerted effort to do so. That is part of being a priority, sometimes it requires a little extra work.
Let's get our priorities straight.
PS: The Passion 2017 Conference at the Georgia Dome introduced me to my new friend--what an AWESOME experience, I cannot say enough good things about it!
