The Priorities of Triangle Christianity
A dear friend of mine recently taught a lesson regarding priorities in the life of mankind. In doing so, he illustrated life as a triangle of priorities with God at the top, then family, then work. He then broke down time Christians spend with each. The concept of putting God first in our lives, I believe is spot on (Matthew 10:37, John 21:15). My friend’s analysis is a very common approach that expresses a solid Biblical truth. However, I would like to take some time in this article suggesting another illustration that I believe demonstrates the life of mankind in a better fashion.
Matthew 22:36-40 – Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
From this scripture, the priority of serving God fully is established. Secondly, is a love for mankind.
Matthew 23:23 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”
Notice, Jesus establishes that no aspect of God’s commands (Law of Moses in this case) should be neglected. Thus, serving God nor loving mankind should be separated. In fact, true love for mankind glorifies God.
John 14:15 – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Here Jesus establishes that if we love Him, we keep His commandments. This would certainly involve the new covenant which He established. What I wish to establish at this moment is that putting God first means that mankind is living in a manner which emphasizes obedience to all of His commands.
Consider the following passages:
Gen 2:24/Ephesians 5:31 – Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Eph 5:32 – This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
Genesis 9:1 – “And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.”
Ephesians 6:4 – Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
1Timothy 5:8 – But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
These passages taken as a whole with those previously given establish that: serving God, loving mankind, caring for a wife and family, and working are all commands given which glorify Him and are not to be neglected. (Note: This is not a discussion of scenarios regarding those who may be single. Suffice it to say, scripture has addressed that in its place and such a life in godliness is authorized.) The greater point is the entirety of God’s commands involve Him, family, work, and even play. God’s Word covers everything in our lives necessary for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). So, with these thoughts in hand, let us revisit the illustration of priorities of the triangle: God first, then family, then work.
Really?
When the usage of a priorities triangle occurs, the message frequently is: “You need to spend more of a % of time at the top.” You need to be doing more studying, praying, door knocking, setting up Bible studies, letter writing, fasting, meditating, inviting people into your home, attending every conceivable gathering of the Church at any time, etc. The elders and preachers and church need you to step up! Are you giving 15% of your time? 20% of your time? 50% of your time, you can give more! Consider that unless you are 100% at the top of the triangle, you will always feel guilty that you aren’t doing more. This is the doctrine of the pharisees. This is the doctrine of salvation by works. You need to perfect every single thing in your life so that you will truly be holy. Such a doctrine causes you to feel guilty, lacking, inadequate, condemned, and unable to truly be an acceptable child of God. Under this teaching, you will either live life feeling like a hypocrite or you will leave the faith (Romans 7).
For a moment, let’s illustrate the Christian life in a way I believe more accurately presents a Biblical view of what God has in view for His creation. What if life is a circle? If you are in the circle, you are a child of God. If you are out of the circle, you are ignorant of God or choose to reject Him.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Act 2:37-38 – Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,…
Hebrews 10:12-14 – But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
If you are a Christian seeking to serve and obey Him, you are in God’s circle. You live a life where the old man before knowing Christ is dead (Romans 6). You were cleansed by the single, one time for all time, sacrifice of Jesus. For all time, means past, present, and future. You are forgiven when you are in God’s circle. The only way you get out of that circle is by purposely, deliberately, walking away from Him. This is why you can rejoice. This is why you should not condemn yourself when you stumble in your Christian walk. Christians are forgiven. You are His child. You understand the priorities of your entire life! Worshipping, raising a family, working, interacting with mankind, socializing, playing, are guided by the concept of living pure and holy as Christ. Your life is not reigned by percentages spent on various activities. Your life is given to living right according to the commands of God. In this you will not falter, live as a hypocrite, or turn away from God because of guilt. Your eyes are always on Him and He gave you a life that you might receive knowing He loves you. Jesus said “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Embrace His understanding and compassion for you. Don’t live a life terrified you aren’t at the top of a triangle of priorities, but rather live knowing you are encircled by the power of God’s love.