Spiritual Priorities: Putting What Matters Most First

Al Felder
Jul 1, 2025
2 min read

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” — Matthew 6:33

We live in a world filled with noise, competition, and distractions. It’s easy to become consumed by what we see, feel, and chase every day. However, Scripture calls us to a higher focus: to prioritize spiritual matters above all else. The account of the man lowered through the roof to reach Jesus (Luke 5:17–26) illustrates this principle powerfully—and personally.

1. Choose Friends Who Help You Get to Jesus

When a man afflicted with palsy could not reach Jesus because of the crowd, his friends didn’t give up. They carried him, lifted him, and lowered him through the roof to get him to the Savior. Jesus saw their faith—not just the man’s.

What kind of people surround you? Choose friends who:

Will carry you in prayer when you’re weak
Encourage you in righteousness
Tell you when you’re wrong—and help you make it right

“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.” — Proverbs 27:5“Walk with the wise and become wise…” — Proverbs 13:20

Godly friendships aren’t always comfortable, but they are always valuable. The people closest to us should help us get closer to Christ.

2. Value the Spiritual Above the Physical

When the paralytic was brought before Jesus, the first thing Jesus did wasn’t to heal his body—it was to forgive his sins. To everyone watching, this was unexpected. But Jesus knew the man’s greatest need wasn’t physical—it was spiritual.

So often, we obsess over temporary things: money, health, status, comfort. Yet Jesus teaches that the soul is eternal—and nothing else matters if we’re lost.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” — Matthew 6:19–21

Spiritual priorities begin with recognizing that our true wealth isn’t in what we have, but in who we are in Christ.

3. Remember: All Have Sinned

When Jesus ate with Levi the publican and his friends (Luke 5:27–32), the Pharisees criticized Him. In their eyes, Jesus was associating with sinners. But they missed the point: Jesus wasn’t condoning sin—He was calling sinners to repentance.

The Pharisees failed to see their own need for grace. They thought they were spiritually healthy. But Jesus came to heal the sick—not those who think they’re already whole.

“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” — Romans 3:23

We must not fall into the trap of spiritual pride. Regardless of our background, education, status, or level of religious knowledge, we all need Jesus.