Life is full of choices.
Every day, people decide what to focus on, what to pursue, and what to set aside.
Some chase after success, others prioritize family, and many struggle to balance everything.
But what does the Bible say about priorities?
Does God give clear instructions on what should come first in life?
The answer is yes.
Scripture provides wisdom on setting the right priorities, keeping God at the center, and living a life that honors Him.
Let’s explore what the Bible teaches about priorities and how to align them with God’s will.
Putting God First
The Bible makes it clear that God should always come first.
He is not just another item on a to-do list—He is the foundation for everything else.
Matthew 6:33 gives a powerful command about priorities.
Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Jesus was teaching that when people put God first, everything else falls into place.
This doesn’t mean life will be perfect, but it does mean that God will provide and guide those who seek Him.
When people chase after money, success, or personal desires before seeking God, life quickly becomes stressful and unfulfilling.
But when God is the top priority, He brings peace, wisdom, and direction.
Proverbs 3:6 reinforces this truth.
In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Prioritizing God is not just about going to church or reading the Bible—it is about seeking Him in every decision and trusting His guidance.
The Danger of Misplaced Priorities
When people set the wrong priorities, it often leads to problems.
The Bible warns against making temporary things more important than eternal things.
One of the clearest examples is in Luke 12:16-21, where Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool.
A man became so focused on building wealth that he forgot about God.
He made bigger barns to store his riches, thinking he had secured his future.
But God said to him, You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.
Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?
This parable shows the danger of placing wealth above God.
The man was so focused on material success that he neglected his soul.
The same mistake happens today when people prioritize careers, money, or status over their relationship with God.
Matthew 16:26 asks an important question.
What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
Success, fame, and possessions may bring temporary happiness, but they will never satisfy the soul.
Only God can provide true fulfillment.
Prioritizing Relationships
While God should always come first, the Bible also teaches the importance of relationships.
Loving others is a major priority in the Christian life.
Jesus summed it up in Matthew 22:37-39.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.
This means that after loving God, people should prioritize loving others.
This includes family, friends, and even strangers.
1 John 4:20 gives a strong reminder about the connection between loving God and loving people.
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.
For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
Loving others is not just an option—it is a command.
This means forgiving, helping, and caring for people, even when it’s not easy.
It means prioritizing time with family, being present in relationships, and serving others with kindness.
Work and Priorities
Work is an important part of life, but it should never take the place of God or relationships.
The Bible encourages hard work and responsibility, but it also warns against making work an idol.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 warns about the endless pursuit of wealth.
Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
This too is meaningless.
Chasing after success for the wrong reasons leads to emptiness.
While it is good to work hard, people must remember why they are working.
Colossians 3:23 gives the right perspective.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
This means that work should be done with excellence, but it should always be done in a way that honors God.
If work becomes more important than faith, family, or serving others, then priorities are out of order.
The Importance of Rest
In today’s fast-paced world, rest often gets pushed aside.
Many people believe that success requires constant work, but the Bible teaches the importance of rest.
Even God rested after creating the world.
Genesis 2:2 says, By the seventh day, God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work.
If rest was important for God, it should be important for people too.
Jesus also emphasized rest.
In Mark 6:31, He told His disciples, Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.
Rest is not laziness—it is a way to refocus on God, refresh the body, and regain strength.
Prioritizing rest allows people to be more effective in their work, relationships, and faith.
Seeking God’s Will in Every Decision
Priorities are not just about big life decisions—they affect everyday choices.
Every moment presents an opportunity to honor God or follow selfish desires.
Proverbs 16:3 encourages believers to seek God’s direction.
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.
This means that before making decisions, big or small, people should ask,
Does this honor God?
Will this bring me closer to Him or further away?
Am I putting my faith, family, and calling first?
James 1:5 promises wisdom for those who ask.
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
God is not silent when it comes to priorities.
He provides guidance to those who seek Him.
Learning to Let Go of Distractions
One of the biggest challenges in setting priorities is letting go of distractions.
The world is full of things that demand attention—social media, entertainment, success, and even good things that can take the focus off God.
Hebrews 12:1 gives this advice.
Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
This means identifying anything that takes too much time, energy, or focus away from God and making changes.
Sometimes, that means cutting back on unnecessary commitments.
Other times, it means spending less time on entertainment and more time in prayer or the Bible.
The goal is to remove anything that gets in the way of living for God.
A Life Built on the Right Priorities
When priorities are set according to God’s Word, life becomes more meaningful.
Challenges still come, but with God first, everything else falls into place.
Psalm 37:4 offers a beautiful promise.
Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
This does not mean God will give everything a person wants.
It means that when people seek Him first, their desires begin to align with His will.
The things they once chased after no longer seem important, and they find joy in living for God.
Priorities shape life.
What a person values most will determine how they spend their time, energy, and resources.
A life built on God’s priorities is one that leads to peace, purpose, and eternal rewards.
Final Thoughts
The Bible teaches that God should always be the first priority.
When He is placed above all else, everything else falls into order.
The world pushes people to chase success, wealth, and status, but true fulfillment comes from seeking God’s will.
Relationships, work, and rest all have their place, but they should never replace time with God.
By seeking His wisdom, letting go of distractions, and making faith the foundation of life, believers can live with purpose and joy.
At the end of life, the question will not be how much was achieved, but whether life was lived according to God’s plan.
Setting the right priorities now leads to a life that honors God and brings true peace.