The First and the Priorities in Our Lives
In this sermon, Pope Shenouda III emphasizes the importance of placing God first in every aspect of our lives. He explains that being first does not refer merely to chronological order, but also to importance, priority, love, and obedience.
God is the First and the Last, and He should hold the first place in our hearts and daily lives. We should never give Him whatever time or attention remains after fulfilling our personal interests and worldly responsibilities.
His Holiness illustrates this spiritual principle through several biblical examples:
- Offering the Firstfruits to God: God commanded His people to dedicate every firstborn and the firstfruits of their harvest to Him. This teaches us to offer God the first and best of everything we receive.
- Loving God Above All: The greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind, and strength, followed by loving our neighbor. Our love for God should not depend on rewards, because His love itself is our greatest reward.
- Putting God Above Personal Desires: Abraham demonstrated this priority through his willingness to offer Isaac. Hannah dedicated her son Samuel to God’s service, while John the Baptist placed Christ above himself, declaring that Christ must increase while he must decrease.
- Putting God Before Comfort and Personal Interests: A spiritual person does not place personal comfort, health, career, or desires above his relationship with God. Obedience to God must always come first.
- Giving God the Firstfruits of Our Time: We should begin each day by speaking to God in prayer and dedicate our daily activities to Him. Every task, whether spiritual, academic, professional, or personal, should begin with God.
Pope Shenouda also highlights the spiritual significance of Sunday as the first day of the week, reminding us that our week should begin with God rather than leaving Him until the end of our worldly activities.
Conclusion:
The central message of this sermon is a simple but profound spiritual principle: God must come first in our love, attention, priorities, obedience, time, and actions.
We should not give God what is left over after everything else; instead, we should make Him the foundation and starting point of our entire lives.
His Holiness concludes with one essential piece of advice:
“Put God first, and see how far this principle will take you.”
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