The phrase “God 1st” is probably written in your bio right now as you read this editorial. Or maybe it’s tattooed on your arm or chest. This is all pretty common since we all understand the importance of putting God first. We know that that’s the right thing to do – right? I think that we’ve always been told that that was the right thing to do but not many of us have taken the time to dissect how that phrase is supposed to look in each of our lives. We say that God is first, but let’s be honest – this life is filled with different things that require our constant attention, and that sometimes makes it hard to keep God at the front of our minds. 

I was reading this passage, Mark 4:18-19:

18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

In this passage, Jesus was talking to his disciples and explaining the role the cares of this world play in our relationship with the Father. He explains that once God gives us the Word (the gospel, a promise, a statement) and it is sown into our hearts, that the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things can cause the Word to be choked out of us and render us unfruitful, or unaccomplished. Get that! The cares of this world can cause us to be unaccomplished – being too consumed with worrying and concerning yourself with everything else in the world can somehow hinder growth in your relationship with the Father.

So maybe that’s why God said to put Him first, because He foreknew that the cares of this world would have the potential to render us unaccomplished. How? Maybe by distracting you from your God-given purpose. Or, maybe you’re so caught up in chasing money that you compromise your relationship with God by adopting a lifestyle that displeases Him. Or, maybe you lust after things that can easily bring about your demise. Ultimately, I feel that when we care more about the things of this world more than God, it causes us to stray away from the path He wants us to walk. You know, the path to our purpose, the path that leaves us the most fulfilled, the path that pleases Him. 

I’ve personally come to a point in life where I feel it is imperative to fully adopt the “God 1st” mindset. Amidst the post-grad pressure and the coronavirus only making this time harder, I need to be able to seek God first so He can be the one to make everything work out according to His perfect will. A lot of what is going on in our lives right now is out of our control. We need someone that can give us peace amidst all this chaos – someone that actually does have control. That someone is God, and He wants to give you peace and fulfillment in this time by telling you to stop being consumed by the cares of this world and just focus on putting Him first everyday He wakes you up. He will take care of the rest. Worrying and chasing after the cares of this world will only leave you anxious and tired. Seek God first, and everything else will line up.