First Things First

In the auditing world, there is a time known to many as "Busy Szn". It is a seven week period from the beginning of January up until the filing date of the client, where work continues well into the nights and weekends and 'life' totally disappears out of the 'work-life balance' formula. As it's during winter in the USA, audit staff generally don't see the sun, many just don't exercise at all, and there is a lot of ordering in of unhealthy food. What a time to be alive! 

But in the midst of all that, today I was reminded of the much quoted Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness." That 'but' is there because before that, Jesus was talking about not worrying about tomorrow, BUT to seek him first instead. And I like to keep that 'but' in there because it reminds me that perhaps that would not be my natural instinct. That seeking first God and his will is something I actively have to choose to do every day. There will always be endless potential excuses, there will always be many things to worry about. But seek first Jesus.

So even though the next weeks will be overwhelming with drowning in work and meetings and long nights at the office, I want to choose to seek Him first. That my first thought (aka: panic) when I wake up in the morning won't be the long list of things I need to do for the day, but would instead be gratefulness to God for another day, and a calling on Him to be with me in my busyness. That I would still take time to be with Him and read the Word, even if that means sacrificing more sleep, trusting that he will refresh and sustain me through it all. That, even when I'm sleep-deprived and very tempted to be grumpy and cold, instead I would seek to glorify Him with my conduct at work being kind and patient and generous, reflecting something of Jesus to my colleagues and client staff.

Because at the end of the day, and at the end of my life, these days aren't THAT important, they'll just be a blur. But what is important, and what will always remain, is the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. So I will choose to seek that first.