Watch over your priorities – Part 1

People have different experiences in life that make them lose what they already have. They fail to watch when it matters most. It happens in times of weakness or wealth, affliction and abundance, temptation and triumph, conflict and conquest, hardship and happiness. Esau failed to watch over his birthright when he was weak and hungry. David did not watch when temptation came to him and he fell. Gideon could not manage his triumph and he yielded to idolatry. But the Lord wants His children to watch, whatever is happening to them or around them. Believers in Christ are to be on guard against the enemy at all times in spite of their prevailing situation.

In the human body, every part is important, but some parts are more important than others. The head is more important than the fingers; the heart that circulates blood is more important than the arms. We must, therefore, give priority to certain aspects of life to remain alive. Difficulties and challenges come and go but life must be protected and preserved in order to sustain it.

There are many parts in the Christian ministry, but some aspects are more important than others, and Christian believers must watch so that the enemy does not take advantage of their carelessness. Before Jesus went to the Cross, He told His disciples to watch. After His resurrection and ascension to heaven He repeated the same warning. Now, from His exalted position at the right hand of the Father’s Throne the message remains the same. “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

The foundation of a building or family is very important to the survival of the building or family. If the foundation of an individual’s Christian life is destroyed for lack of watching, there is little he or she can do. The Lord enjoins believers whose foundations are firmly rooted in Christ to ensure that they flee or depart from iniquity.

They are to guard and watch over their Christian foundations with all carefulness. The desire in their hearts to follow Christ to the end must be sustained by all means. God’s call to every true follower of Christ is to watch. Moses, a great man of God who brought the children of Israel out of Egypt was caught unawares when the people provoked him to anger because they had no water to drink. God had told him to speak to the Rock, not the people but he called the people, “rebels” and struck the Rock two times. He lost the opportunity he had been waiting for forty years – to lead the children of Israel to the land of Canaan.

Christians should be careful not to lose their labour of many years for a few minutes of speaking angry words. Therefore, we should watch our words, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”; constantly evaluate our actions; control our thoughts; keep our conscience tender and sensitive, and our hearts with all diligence.
Further Reading (King James Version): Matthew 24:42; Mark 13:37; Luke 21:36; Revelation 3:3. Psalm 11:3; 2 Timothy 2:19; Matthew 12:37; 1 Samuel 2:3; Proverbs 24:9; Isaiah 55:7; 1Timothy 4:2; Proverbs 4:20,21,23.