Setting Priorities

How important is it really for us to set priorities?  And, once they have been established, how important is it to follow-through on those priorities?

I believe the answer to both of those questions is that it’s very important.  If we never set any kind of priorities for ourselves, then how are we to know what needs to be done first?  It would become too easy to just flounder about doing first this thing, then that thing with the strong possibility that the more important things will be left undone.  

As I’ve been reading the past few days in the book of Ezra, I’ve seen a perfect example of the consequences of not setting priorities.

Picture this – the Israelites had been taken captive and sent to Babylonia and had been there for over 60 years.  At that time, Jeremiah had encouraged the people to start a new life there – buy homes, start businesses, learn the new language.  They did that and after all this time, they are pretty satisfied with their lives.  But Babylonia has fallen into the hands of Persia and there is a new king – Cyrus – and things are about to change.

Ezra 1:1-4 tells how God moved in the heart of Cyrus and he determines that he is to direct the rebuilding of the Temple at Jerusalem.  So he calls for volunteers among the Israelites to return to Judah to fulfill this project.

This calls for a big decision.  The Israelites are settled in and are comfortable with their lives.  Do they really want to give all that up to return to Jerusalem and be involved in this huge project?  Finally, a sizable group decides to step up to the challenge.  Ezra 2:64 tells us that there were 42,360 Israelites, plus 7,337 servants and 200 singers willing to head back to Judah.

After 7 months they were settled in and some of the priests started building the altar of God.  Then if I’m correct in how I read it, it was about 7 months after that when they started laying the foundation of the Temple.  But, as it always seemed to happen, they began to have resistance from some of their neighbors.  They set out to discourage the Israelites and stop the progress of the building – and, the work did stop for about 14 years.

Their enemies succeeded in getting a decree issued by Persia’s new leader, Cyrus’ son – issuing an order for all work on the Temple to stop.  But he also dies and a new leader – Darius steps in.  The Israelites sent a plea to restart the work and he ordered it to be.

However, the stoppage wasn’t entirely because of their enemies.  Apparently priorities changed for the Israelites after a period of time.  It went from #1 – getting the new Temple built to instead building their own homes and preparing their land for crops.  When you think about it, that doesn’t sound terribly unreasonable.  They likely were living in tents and scrounging for their food.  But…they were sent there with a priority – to rebuild that Temple  – not to make new lives for themselves.   

During the stoppage, they began to experience droughts and famine.  (Neither of those is very conducive to successful crops.)  At this point, two prophets – Haggai & Zachariah show up with a word from God for the Israelites.  Haggai 1:3-10 (NLT) says:  “Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: ‘Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?  This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!  This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you!  Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord.  You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops.’”  Oops!

Soon after that Word from God the people stepped up and started the work again.  Then Haggai again has a Word from God for them.  Haggai 2:3 (NLT) says:  “‘Does anyone remember this house—this Temple—in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all!’”  In the following verse they are told three times to “be strong”, then verses 4b-5 says:  “‘And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.’”      

They are then encouraged to stay faithful in their return to God and to not fall back into sin as their fathers had done.  They need to keep their lives holy and their priorities straight.  If they will remain obedient, they have the promise – “‘…from this day onward I will bless you.’”  (Haggai 2:19c)

It’s not always easy to keep our priorities in order.  Life happens and we waver in the strength of our commitment.  But if we want to see our blessings remain, it’s important to be mindful about keeping first things first.

Written by Karran Martin – September 26, 2023

[All bold emphasis is mine]