In 1 Corinthians 9:19 Paul says, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible
means I might save some.” How can you possibly be all things to all people?
Prioritize. If you aren’t taking care of your children, you can’t minister to other parents because
your hypocrisy will eventually be revealed. If you aren’t meeting your spouse’s needs, you
aren’t taking care of your children and giving them security and hope for the future. If you
aren’t devoting time daily to being with God, you won’t have what your spouse needs.
Prioritizing has been a constant battle for me all of my marriage. My husband and I have been
together for over 20 years and I have failed over and over in this area. Both of us being in full-
time ministry has been a challenge, because when I am serving others I know I am serving
Christ, BUT if I’m not serving my husband first and prioritizing him above others am I really
serving them? Aren’t I really setting myself up to fail them from an eventually failed marriage?
How does that serve them? It sure doesn’t serve Christ and embitters my husband towards me
and towards all others I place before him.
My husband recently thanked me for not going to the hospital to be with a friend. That may
seem like a backwards way to do ministry but going to be with that friend would have
jeopardized my husband’s work schedule and children’s homework getting done. It would have
derailed my family’s individual ministries that day. There are days God makes the way for me
to go to the hospital, but most days the best and most effective nursing and comfort I do is
meal preparation, homework help, bathing and tucking in little people and making sure their
Daddy knows he is respected, loved and second only to Jesus.
Being all things to all people means keeping Jesus first, my husband second, children third and
all others after that. Keeping priorities in mind gives me exactly what I need to give everyone
the strength and energy Jesus gives me to give them!
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33
What do you do to keep your priorities in order?