God first, others second, self last...
Most Christians believe that's how it should be, whether they practice it or not.
Few have problems recognizing when "Me, Me, Me" gets in the way, whether they care to admit it or not.
But, putting others second can get very confusing in relationship to God being first.
It is God who teaches us how to love others and, in so doing, we are loving Him. However, when we have a passion for caring for the needs of others, you can bet Satan is looking for ways to trip us up and burn us out.
Satan will use that passion against us (wherein we are being called upon, up to twenty-four hours per day, to help others in countless ways) until we find we no longer have time for God. Then, others get first place and God gets nothing.
In addition, we run out of time for tending to our own spiritual needs and soon become drained, finding we no longer have anything left to give.
It would go a long way toward keeping Satan within tight reigns were we to:
1.) spend quality time with God, even if we have to schedule an appointment.
2.) seek God's will, even above the feelings of others.
3.) learn to discern and detach, a little, from those who manipulate our time with no real intention of following God
(while keeping an open door for the time when they don't just want attention, but a real help.)
4.) let go of responsibilities God didn't call us to; works that please man but not Him.
Only when God is first does everything else fall into place.
© by Joyce C. Lock
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/
This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact,
for non-profit ministering purposes.
About the Author
Joyce C. Lock is a published author, poet, and columnist. In addition, she founded and maintains the e-mail ministries "Heavenly Inspirations" http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeavenlyInspirations/ and "Share a Smile" http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smilesharing/. Joyce's writings encourage us in our relationship with God and each other.