Christian Living

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What Are Your Priorities
© 2005
by

Stephen A. Peterson


Two cats decided to visit their favorite seafood restaurant on the northwest side of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. While the larger of the two was enjoying the seafood platter special of lemon baked salmon, popcorn shrimp, crab cakes and a side of buttered lobster, the smaller cat said, “Hey, you would not believe the restaurant I left about thirty minutes ago. The restaurant was as clean as a whistle! And on top of that it really smelled nice! That restaurant owner must have been obsessed with being clean. I mean everything, everywhere in that restaurant was so clean—the trash cans, the floors, the tables! You could not find a piece of fish, meat or chicken anywhere around that restaurant!”

The larger cat stopped eating his lemon baked salmon and looked angrily at the smaller and much younger cat then said, “Would you please shut up! I’m trying to digest my food right now. If you want something to eat, come on and eat! There is plenty here. Otherwise, go out and chase those mal-fed mice in that spotless restaurant you just came from. That is, if you can find any! Okay!”

This story about the cats is most applicable to humanity as well. During His earthly ministry, Jesus commanded those who would follow Him to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you (Matt. 6:33). In other words, Jesus stated that those who would follow Him would be required to develop a much stronger drive for the righteous life than the earthly blue plate specials of hedonistic living based on material consumption. Many misinterpret Jesus’ command regarding the Kingdom of God and their earthly life. Jesus never stated material things or living well is evil or bad. Humankind is commanded by the Lord to enthusiastically seek Godly things “first”. In seeking Godly things first, we will have a clearer understanding of what material things really are—just perishable, destructible, temporal things that will not last beyond this earthly existence. Once a person comes to the knowledge and understanding of their priorities, the material things do not become the life or death cravings many have for their things.

If the Kingdom of God is not sought first and seems unappealing, perhaps we have become too satisfied with life’s garbage and not its blue plate special. We, therefore, need to learn to savor the gourmet food of the Kingdom of God.

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