On Priorities

Priorities and Growth

Priorities determine where we are spiritually. Those are the things at the top of our "bucket list" to do first. They are dynamic since priorities are bound to change.  Let's look first at the priorities of the newborn infant. (See Chuck's infant  "Self" in Figure #1 above).  

Chuck was born with basic "needs" as we all are. They are the needs for nourishment, comfort and protection. Above that need at the next level is the need to be loved. There are studies which show that infants who are not loved become detached and may not even have a desire for the basic needs. Love is an important emotion induced by caring actions. Love from the parent by doing things for the infant emotes a feeling of protection and being wanted from the child. That love puts the infant in his comfort zone. Withdrawing that love emits an emotion of isolation, loneliness and finally anger which is exhibited by red-faced temper tantrums on the part of the infant.

The anger from not obtaining what the infant wants or needs is the result of not meeting the priorities of the child. Infant Chuck's bucket list is in order: comfort, nourishment and protection; all a part of being loved. The infant Chuck will wail until his "self" gets what he needs and wants. Hence, the newborn infant is entirely focused on "self", but needs you, the parent. to bow to it. Being an infant means being all about "self". Sure, parents are in the picture, but parenting, in the child's eyes, is all about appeasing the infant's self. This inborn desire to desire and demand things, and show irritation if it's not forthcoming, are the original condition of all mankind. Seeking adoration and fulfillment for the self is "original sin". It's the same as what Adam and Eve sought; pleasure to satisfy the wants of each of their selves.

Then the priorities of an infant is to have his own needs and wants met. Infancy is all about "me", you and little Chuck until experience ensues. With time there develops a bond between mother and child. At birth this bond is strong because of the warmth and breasts of the mother. With the father, not so much. As food and warmth proceeds from the mother the young baby recognizes its own dependence on the mother. That dependence is transferred to the mother as love. As the father begins to meet the needs of the infant and plays with him to provide pleasure, the baby develops love for the familiar figure of the father with whom he is comfortable and wanted. 

This is normal growth for any infant. Take away any component and the child's emotional and even physical growth can be stunted. It's important to be Chuck-centered early on so that Chuck will feel loved. However, it's still "all about Chuck" at this early stage! In Figure #1 it is shown that the balance is completely toward the "self" in the infancy stage and God is of no concern. Remarkably, many adults are fixed in infancy just as is infant Chuck. All their life, everything is "all about them"! Self-centered infantile adults have no place for God in their lives. Just like adult Adams and Eves they want pleasure, they want it immediately and they are going to get it come "hell or high water". If not, anger and even tears ensue; just like baby Chuck's!  This is original sin and all people have it! It's when priorities are on the "self" just as you see with baby Chuck in Figure#1.

Since cognition has yet to develop in infants they are eternally safe if they die young. However, those who age to maturity yet still are spiritual babies are accountable and must come to a decision "Am I going to trust God or take my chances that hell doesn't exist, or if it does, I can work my way in?" Scripture says that all have sinned (including infants). Hence, whenever it is that the youngster understands eternity, it's imperative to trust Jesus that he died in each of our places!

Figure #2 shows a juvenile Chuck. By this time Chuck should be aware that there is an end to this life. With that thought he should examine his own destiny with regard to eternity. If a teenager lives in a secluded environment scripture says that he should examine the world around him and be curious about "Why?"

Romans 1:19 "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse..."

Basically, this says "Look around you. The invisible God can be seen in his creation!"  Because of this you should be considering the reality of God for your own good!" Children start noticing things and asking questions. Jews allow that the "age of accountability" is twelve years old. For me it was about six because I laid on the ground, looked at the expanse and wondered about its creation! God inspired me that it was him that did it all. Since those years I sought to learn more.

I have come to maturity. Things besides "me" become important as I learn from the creation.  For "youth Chuck" in Figure #2 at least by twelve or so, Chucky should be to the point where he considers others as well as himself. His priorities shift to friends, family and even God if he has any sense at all.  Chuck begins to grow up; at least some Chucks do. He starts to consider the feelings of others and to consider God. His parents guide him in the process by teaching and by example. In civilized countries it's likely that others and most often parents have mentioned God.  Chuck by his own volition loves his parents because they first loved him, love his friends because they befriended him and start sharing his world with others. His priorities has shifted from "all about Chuck" to "much about Chuck" and "some about relatives and friends". 

In Figure #2 I show Chuck's priorities as centered and there is a balance between Chuck's focus on"self" and his focus on others. Since he has by now heard about hell, Chuck begins to think "I don't want to go to hell!" Because he is still self-centered he wants to save the "self" from hell. Ironically, the only way to save the self is to turn to God. Chuck comes to the realization that he can't save himself so he'd better consider God!  It's laughable that we preserve our own "idol" (the self) which is our own flesh, by turning to God Almighty. We actually ask God to keep our other god from dying! Since God understands this, he has grace enough to overlook our other god for a time. 

Although Chuck in Figure #2 takes some priority off him and puts it on God, he still has that other god of self which he hangs onto. Chuck does that because he has reason and is wise to consider God. Others are still infant Chuckys and never consider God because, like the baby "It's all about me!" Freud would say that these adults who fail to mature are stuck in the "oral stage". For those adults who are so focused on their own self, they are narcissists stuck in a "spiritual infancy stage". They are aging, but their priorities are still on "me"!

Some people, in order to have hope, change priorities enough to consider God and how to be bailed out of their bleak destiny. The Holy Spirit "calls" those who consider salvation to consider Jesus. 

John 6:44 "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."

Because Chuck wants to live forever and avoid eternal damnation he has but one choice. It can no longer be "his way". It must be God's way. Jesus is the only path to salvation so Chuck must change his priorities. Jesus knocks and Chuck must answer. He turns to Jesus to save his wretched "self'. His priorities change. It is no longer "all about Chuck", but must include God. It must be serious consideration. He can't give God lip-service and still keep the priority on his own devices. He is without excuse now and he is responsible for changing his priorities. Still in the background the "self" is still there, but the god of "self" thinks "I'm limited. There's no way I can save me from hell. I must turn to Jesus!"

After learning more about Jesus by reading God's Word, Chuck realizes that he has come short of God's expectations. He is a sinner and starts to think about how disappointed God must be!  Chuck is sorry for his self-centered behavior and asks God for forgiveness. If he is sincere Jesus forgives Chuck. Because Chuck wants to please Jesus now for offering hope, his priority should now be on obedience. He realizes that to please Jesus he should demonstrate it by being baptized. Because Chuck's self-interest changes, although it's still there, he prioritizes God in his life. 

His change in priorities from "self" toward God is his expected and reasonable "living sacrifice". Because his priority is now more on God, he takes infant Chucky and hands him over to God. God protects youth Chucky from his own self. Chucky is born-again a new creation and then his sins are symbolically washed away with baptism. This new Chuck is now ready for being like Christ. It's endeavoring to change his priorities even further and tipple the self more toward God (Figure #2). Spiritually adult Chuck shifts his priorities, a little at a time, toward God. He seeks to set himself (under the comfort of the Holy Spirit) apart from "the world" which is all things around him which tantalizes Chuck's flesh. It's many of the same things infant Chuck demanded with the addition of sexual pleasure which youth Chuck was destined to seek and desire! Youth Chuck's priorities are high on sexual pleasure and to appease the himself, he seeks a mate, Marriage is actually a priority on self rather than God, but God understands because marriage his his institution!

The process of seeking to live a Christ-centered life is when the "self's" priorities keep shifting toward God. The Holy Spirit guides Chuck there and encourages him to submit his self time and time again in the sense that what was once pleasurable becomes an abomination. The Holy Spirit helps Chuck change his priorities in life. If a person could do it, and they can't, the complete change in priorities would be "entire sanctification" where Chuck's one priority is to please God! 

We can never be entirely sanctified, but we please God by trying to be like him. Our priorities are now largely on God and when Chuck fails, God forgives as long as there is repentance on Chuck's part! Why would Chuck repent? Because his own "self" disappointed him and God. He repents to draw nearer to God because his priority, out of gratitude is now on God!

Most people aren't born-again. They remain spiritually old creatures their entire lives whose priorities remain on "self". Those infantile rebels choose their own destiny. They choose hell and eternal damnation over eternal life. Their pride keeps them focused on their own self who in reality is their god. Spiritual infants can't serve two gods. He loves one and hates the other. Those selfish adult babies love the "self" and reject God. This rejection is in effect, hating God because the spiritual deviant refuses to submit to him! "I'll do whatever I please. Nobody is going to get me to change!" That includes Almighty God who never forces one to love him. He cries at the rejection, but he moves on! Judgment day will close the loop.

If it's not obvious, becoming a Christian and being a Christian, is a process of shifting priorities from the "self" to "God".  Those priorities we are free to choose. God never forces our priorities on us! He wants us to submit our "self" a living sacrifice to him because God is accepted as our top priority.  What does that take on the part of Chuck and anyone else? Have a trusting belief in Jesus Christ and that his shed blood and death was in Chuck's (and my) place. You see, that's shifting from you toward God in your priorities although your own self is still in the background. We have the "self" there all the time wanting and demanding appeasement, but God's grace allows us to give God a higher priority if we obey his command to love him! Go for it!