What does it mean to "Put God First"

[steve99n]

I just want to know by what this means. I seen this on the first commandment , by saying that you need to put god first; what does that actually mean.

 

[Lancer]

Check out the paragraphs below in Catechism…all on First Commandment…couple of excerpts below.

Its clear…and gives a full answer in relatively few paragraphs…its also pretty comprehensive to all aspects of our life.

Pax Christi

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
SECOND EDITION
Table of Contents

2084-2141 ARTICLE 1: THE FIRST COMMANDMENT

2084-2094 I. “You Shall Worship the Lord Your God and Him Only Shall You Serve”
2095-2109 II. “Him Only Shall You Serve”
2110-2128 III. “You Shall Have No Other Gods before Me”
2129-2132 IV. “You Shall Not Make for Yourself a Graven Image”
2133-2141 IN BRIEF

2086 "The first commandment embraces faith, hope, and charity. When we say ‘God’ we confess a constant, unchangeable being, always the same, faithful and just, without any evil. It follows that we must necessarily accept his words and have complete faith in him and acknowledge his authority. He is almighty, merciful, and infinitely beneficent. Who could not place all hope in him? Who could not love him when contemplating the treasures of goodness and love he has poured out on us? Hence the formula God employs in the Scripture at the beginning and end of his commandments: ‘I am the LORD.’"8

2094 One can sin against God’s love in various ways:

• indifference neglects or refuses to reflect on divine charity; it fails to consider its prevenient goodness and denies its power.

• ingratitude fails or refuses to acknowledge divine charity and to return him love for love.

• lukewarmness is hesitation or negligence in responding to divine love; it can imply refusal to give oneself over to the prompting of charity.

• acedia or spiritual sloth goes so far as to refuse the joy that comes from God and to be repelled by divine goodness.

• hatred of God comes from pride. It is contrary to love of God, whose goodness it denies, and whom it presumes to curse as the one who forbids sins and inflicts punishments.

 

[Veronica97]

Well, to me, it means I live my life each day for Jesus. Whatever I do, no matter how mundane, I do it for Jesus. If I make dinner for my family, I do it for love of them and for love of Jesus–even if I don’t like to cook. In your case, if you’re a student but you don’t feel like studying, you do it anyway-- for Jesus. If your mom asks you to set the table, you do it for her and for Jesus. God has placed you where you are–with your parents and siblings–and it is your job to be a son, a brother, and a student at this time in your life. So you live your life each day, following the 10 Commandments, as well as loving God and your neighbor. To me, it also means I make time for God everyday. I read the daily Mass readings, I pray a rosary, I say my morning and evening prayers. And if I struggle with something during the day, I ask for God’s help. It might even be just, “Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in thee”, or “Lord, help me to be patient with this person” or “Lord, send your Holy Spirit that I might have the words to help this person.” I might say a Hail Mary or the St. Michael prayer when I’m tempted. I pray for others too. I often pray for strangers in the grocery store or wherever. I might say, “Lord, please send many graces to this person, that he/she might know you, love you, serve you, and spend eternity with You.” And another thing that “putting God first” means to me, is that if someone else asks me to do something that is wrong (even someone I love), I do what GOD wants me to do–even if it makes the other person upset. I try very hard to do what is right–even if it’s very difficult or costs me money or friends.

 

[RichardG]

Interesting question. Of course, it will always mean you have to choose God before others. However I find it VERY difficult to love Him more than I love someone else. But maybe is choosing to do things - even if a person you love disagrees with it - only for God the greater love after all? I’m talking about the difference between doings and feelings.

 

[Patat]

Interesting question. Of course, it will always mean you have to choose God before others. However I find it VERY difficult to love Him more than I love someone else. But maybe is choosing to do things - even if a person you love disagrees with it - only for God the greater love after all? I’m talking about the difference between doings and feelings.

Interesting statement, I don’t think God wants us to struggle with how much we love Him as opposed to how much we love someone else. I think realy loving someone else, is in a way also loving God. I agree that it is about the difference between doings and feelings. If I go along with someone else and against God in what I do, it is not loving towards that person.

 

[RichardG]

You have a good point Patat… Of course, it is’n’t wrong by living the way of having faith and doing what He wants us to do. Perhaps ‘love’ is a more general term and must not be put into boxes by ONLY looking at what we feel.

 

[ready]

To me “putting God first” means thinking of Him first of all and foremost, that is, before we think of ourselves or of others; it means being concerned with what He wants or with what He asks of us first of all – what we want or what others want from us should never come first.