What Are You Putting in the Box First? Learning to Seek God’s Kingdom Above All Else
Most of us don’t mean to put the wrong things in the box first, but somehow we often do.
For instance, I started putting Christmas decorations away today. On the list of items to pack up was a beautiful Nativity set that belonged to my mom. As nativities go, this one is relatively big, very intricate, and quite fragile. So when it was time to return it to its box, I needed a strategy for using the bubble wrap it came with to make sure each piece was protected.
My first instinct was to start with the largest Nativity piece – a grand camel. I wrapped him up tight with two pieces of bubble wrap and laid him gently on his side at the bottom of the container. Then I moved on to the next biggest piece – one of the wise men – and did the same. After nestling him beside the camel, though, I paused, looking first at the remaining nativity pieces and then at what appeared to be too little bubble wrap.
“What if I run out of bubble wrap before I get to baby Jesus?” I thought. “That won’t do. Even if every other piece gets broken, what good is it if I don’t have Jesus?”
And so I changed strategies. I took the baby out of his little manger, found the best piece of bubble wrap I could, and carefully wrapped him as snugly as possible. Once he was cared for, I moved on to the others, knowing that the most important piece was safe.
Life can be like putting my nativity set away. Sometimes we put things in the wrong order, emphasizing what seems big and important in the moment at the expense of the one piece that is the most critical. But God is a loving Father. And because He is committed to our joy and His glory, He is committed to steering us back to the one thing that matters most:
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
In this verse, Jesus isn’t telling us that other needs don’t matter. He’s teaching us that by pursuing Him and His purposes above all else, the rest of life works as it should.
He’s redirected me a thousand times. Over and over again, He teaches me to stop, look around, and take an honest look at what I’m putting in the box first. Very often, I’m disappointed by what I see. But when I’m brave enough to be brutally honest, I’m always given the gift of grace and a way back to the path of seeking Him first.
Dear One, the approaching New Year is an opportune time to evaluate what you’re putting in the box first. If you’re eager to pursue Godly priorities, let me share some things I’ve learned through the years:
- Realize the tendency to drift. If you’ve ever floated down a stream on an inner tube, you know how easy it is to drift along. Drifting is effortless—no real work required. Drifting along with the world’s priorities is also easy and effortless. It takes continuous effort, though, to stay on course with seeking God’s Kingdom first. Hebrews 2:1 says, “We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” If you’re serious about seeking God first in 2026, ask the Lord to help you pay close attention to your life, and to stir a desire in you to pursue Him first continually.
- Take time to take inventory. Because it is so easy to drift, we need to assess our functional priorities regularly. Why do I use the word “functional?” Because it’s one thing to say we’re seeking Christ first, and another to live like it. When we thoroughly evaluate how we’re spending our time, money, and energy, we often realize that our actual priorities don’t match what we want our priorities to be. Ephesians 5:15 teaches us to “look carefully then how you walk.” This means we are to seriously consider how we’re actually living. Set aside 20-30 minutes to assess how you spend your time, money and energy, and evaluate where your life doesn’t reflect God’s priorities. (You are welcome to use this assessment tool as a guide.) Ask the Lord to show you what needs to change, and ask for forgiveness where it’s needed. Remember that the Lord’s mercies are new every morning!
- Decide, Plan and Commit – Conviction without action rarely leads to change. When the Lord shows you areas where your priorities don’t match His, decide on one or two you want to change, plan how you’re going to make the change, and commit to it by telling someone else about it. For example, maybe you are convicted that you need to prioritize reading the Bible first thing every day. First, decide that this is the change you want to make. Second, make a plan on how you’re going to accomplish it. (Get up 30 minutes earlier. Bible before Phone. Go to bed earlier. Whatever is needed to make it happen. Be realistic here.) Then commit by scheduling it on your calendar just like you would any other important event. Last, build in some accountability by telling someone about it!
If you’re reading this and already feel behind, hear this clearly: Jesus does not shame us back into order. He invites us, again and again, into what is better. When I looked down at my box of bubble-wrapped nativity pieces, I was so thankful for the timely way God reminded me to check my priorities and welcomed me back to His. I thought of the verse in Mark 8 where Jesus said, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet forfeit his soul.” (Mark 8:36) What good would it do me if I had the whole Nativity and not Jesus? Jesus knows the best thing for you and for me is HIMSELF. And He brings us back to Himself over and over again out of love.
I pray that God would give us eyes to see that His Kingdom is better. Jesus is better.