We who call ourselves Christians espouse putting Jesus first in our lives. It’s not that we are trying to be deceptive, but how true is that statement for most of us? When I was a younger boy, my father wore a pin on his suit jacket that said, “Jesus First.” I recall they were popular in church circles in the late 70s and early 80s.
I also remember being thrilled when my dad gave me a pin of my own. It became part of my Sunday wardrobe and even sometimes when I would go to school. Wearing something like that can make one more mindful of their conduct, but ultimately it does nothing to make it true in our lives. Only our actions can do that.
Putting Jesus first can manifest in making certain He gets the first hours of each day, the first portion of any money that comes into our hands, and the first consideration when contemplating a major life move. (Proverbs 3:9; Matthew 6:33) All of those things are good and orient our hearts appropriately towards His Lordship. But what about all the time in between closing our Bible in the morning and putting our head back on a pillow?
We can’t put Jesus first in only certain parts of our day. We must get to where putting Him first becomes as natural as breathing. That’s what maturing in our faith looks like. While it can be difficult and even dangerous to follow Christ, it shouldn’t have to take conscious thought. The goal is to orient our minds towards Him at all times, not just some times. (Colossians 3:1-2; Romans 12:2) How often do we pause long enough to consider whether Jesus would ever engage in what we are doing in the moment? If Jesus wouldn’t think, say, or do it, then we shouldn’t either. (1 John 2:6; 1 Peter 2:21)
The reason we struggle to put Jesus first at all times is that we’d rather put ourselves first. (Philippians 2:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:1-2) Who is the person you think about most? It’s you! I know this because it’s true of every human. We consume our thoughts with how we feel, how we look, what we’re going to eat, how we can entertain ourselves, or pondering how someone has wronged us. We live inside our heads and have the tendency to take up residence on the throne there.
What if we were to focus our thoughts on the majesty of our glorious Savior instead of on ourselves? (Hebrews 12:1-2; Psalm 27:4) What if idle thoughts turned into intercessory prayers? (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 6:18) Imagine how much richer and more rewarding our lives would be. Unhappiness comes from not thinking about Jesus enough. (Isaiah 26:3) How many times have you found yourself depressed when thinking about Jesus? It’s impossible for those who know Him. He is too good, too beautiful, and too holy for any shadow of darkness to invade His presence. (Psalm 16:11; 1 John 1:5)
When we put Jesus first, life just works. When we don’t, we get what we have on most days: peril, turmoil, exasperation, and discouragement. Following Jesus won’t make all your troubles disappear, but it will bring you peace in your heart and in your mind. (John 14:27; Philippians 4:6-7) A mind at peace is far better equipped to deal with the evil and frustration this world heaps upon us. Jesus won’t take a back seat to anyone or anything. (Luke 14:26-27) He will not share His throne. (Isaiah 42:8) If you want to live life to the fullest and know true peace, you must put Jesus first in every moment of your life. (John 10:10; Colossians 3:17)