First things First

But strive first for the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well. — Matthew 6:33

Here comes “Back-to-School” season, a time of year that can feel terribly intense. Eagerness, excitement, hope, and anxiety about a new school year can together create a sense of pressure even if you aren’t a student or teacher or don’t have one in your family. When everything feels urgent, it can be hard to keep a handle on what matters most to us, but these are the times when it is most important to identify and attend to our priorities.

You may have heard the old saw about filling a jar with rocks, then pebbles, and then sand. You must start with the big stuff first, because if you fill the jar up with pebbles or sand first, you’ll never get those rocks in. So what are our rocks? What are your rocks? What are the things in your life that give it meaning? What do you need to put first in order to thrive?

Of course I am going to talk about God and the Church, but before I do I want to affirm that we all have other priorities worthy of big rock status. Our relationships with other people, family, and friends—even our animals—should probably be big rocks. Caring for our physical and mental health is also a good rock. Financial security is a very reasonable rock, so long as we are able to distinguish security from excess. There are undoubtedly others for you, some practical and others conceptual. Honor, for example, is quite important to me, for good or ill.

So here’s my plug for making your life of faith a big rock. When we put God at the center of our lives, and when we allow Christian community to support us in that, it is much easier to remember what matters most to us. Do not come to church to check a box or to make other people happy—not even me! Let the habit of prayer and connecting with others help you keep your priorities straight. A routine of worship and reflection gives to the soul what regular exercise does for the body. It is the most reliable way to find peace in the midst of the whirlwind.

As stress mounts from now into September, trust in God and build trust with your family in Christ at Trinity. Make communal worship more than tiny pebbles in your jar. Make spiritual formation and service opportunities more than sand. Let people love you and nurture your love for others. Strive first for the Kingdom of God, and everything else will fill in around it.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you,
O God, my rock and my redeemer. — Psalm 19:14

In peace,