I was reading a blog by Kyle Idleman, author of Gods at War, and he gave a great analogy that I think we can all relate to, sunshine.
You know how sometimes, especially when you’re in a hurry, you button your shirt all wrong. The first button is mistakenly threaded through the wrong slot and you continue to button the remaining buttons until you get to the bottom and realize every button is cattywampus. And now you’re frustrated and going to be even later because you have to rebutton the entire shirt (or if you’re like me, you just change the shirt to a non-buttoning sweater.)
Well, this is a perfect analogy symbolizing our relationship and priority status with God, others, and ourselves.
If you get the first button wrong, then everything else is out of alignment.
If we button God first, all other relationships are “buttoned up” correctly. When things are in their proper order, we find that other relationships fall into place, and we live enriched, fulfilled, and purposeful lives.
When God is not the first button, every other relationship is hijacked and misaligned, and quite frankly, our lives are messy and off-kilter.
So let me ask you, sunshine, is your shirt buttoned up correctly today?
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.’”
Matt 22:37-38
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