Faith, Family, __________ (Work, Friends, Football, etc...)
You fill in the blank. Most Christians have quoted this phrase at some time in their life, interchanging on the third component. But the Faith always comes first. If faith truly is the core and foundation of our life, do we really know God's word? Our faith is derived from knowing God's word...the Bible. When Jesus was tempted by Satan, His first defense was God's word, "It is written..." (Matthew 4:4) If it is good enough for Christ, it should be good enough for us. As a college coach for 32 years, I have tried to thoroughly study and learn as much as I could about the game of football. As a head coach, I would normally spend 90 to 105 hours per week on football related activities. But if my faith was first, how much time was I spending thoroughly studying God's word.
It wasn't until the summer of 1996 that I became serious about my commitment to "studying" not "reading" God's word. Though I professed that my faith was the most important aspect of my life, I had never read the Bible through. I had never studied the Bible like I studied football. So I started a journey to read and study the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The first time took 5 years, the 2nd took 3-1/2 years, and the 3rd time took 3 years. I am now starting my 4th time reading the Bible through with a study guide from cover to cover. It doesn't surprise me that the last 14 years of my life have been the most productive. Colossian 2:3 says the Bible has all the answers. II Tim 3:16 and II Peter 1:21 says that the Bible was written by holy men, moved, inspired, and breathed on by God Almighty Himself. The Bible is not the opinion of man as the secular world would have us believe. God's word should not be compromised or deviated from as we are warned about in Revelations 22:18 & 19. Can you remember when your parents asked you to do something that didn't make sense to you? When you ask why you had to do it they would say "Because I said so!!" Over 2,000 times in the Bible it says, "Thus sayeth the Lord..." or the equivalent.
I would challenge you to begin each day in the quiet of the morning studying God's word. Why in the morning as opposed to the night? The same reasons that doctors say breakfast is the most important meal and why you put gas in your car before a trip instead of after. I believe this daily exercise of studying God's word will add credibility the next time you profess your priorities as Faith, Family, ___________!!
Tommy Bowden
