January 1: FIRST THINGS FIRST
“Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy?” Isaiah 55:2a
The Master Teacher will sometimes ask questions to cause His disciples to think intentionally. One who is growing in Christ will accept a reproof for spending time, effort, and money on things of little or no value. Such a question should cause him or her to cease neglecting the truly important things of life. Jesus developed the idea further: “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him” (John 6:27).
That which does not satisfy is continually laid before our eyes by the archdeceiver, even while God continues to woo and to plead with us: “I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in a way that is not good, According to their own thoughts” (Isaiah 65:2). Those who choose not to partake of the spiritual bounties that are graciously and freely provided by the Lord will suffer from spiritual malnutrition. Sadly, the things that they choose to fill themselves with instead have the effect of dimming their awareness of the hunger in their souls which the material things of earth could never satisfy. Jesus also said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34).
“Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good. And let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live.” Isaiah 55:2b-3a
Those who make first things first will soon discover that the sense of worry and want over material things vanishes; also, their material needs are more easily supplied — often in more abundance. An attentive ear to spiritual things means a readiness to hear what God is saying and a willingness to accept and do the things He makes known to a person. In our sheeplike tendency to wander, those who are willing to hear and heed are kept safe from the wolflike dangers that would rob us of eternal life. “Hear, and your soul shall live.”
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left. Isaiah 30:21
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:21b-22