Ken and Marla (pseudonyms) were five years into their marriage when they called asking to meet. I’d known them for the past four years and to an outsider they seemed to have a “fairy tale” family. It didn’t take long to learn that beneath the façade of great looks, fancy cars, and a huge house in the best location, both of them were ready to call divorce lawyers.

Several weeks ago I received two calls on the same day from First CU Church of Dunkerville (pseudonym). The first call was from the pastor and the other from one of the elders. The pastor was angry and ready to leave because he felt the expectations for his time were unreasonable. The elders were frustrated because the pastor wasn’t helping enough with the church remodeling project.

Yesterday I spoke to a church leader who is trying to navigate through some very heated decisions on where to spend a chunk of money received from an estate. He explained, “It wouldn’t be so difficult if there were only two sides but everyone has an opinion and is claiming their idea to be the most spiritual.”

All three of these situations resulted in one question: “Where are your priorities?”

Worshipping and serving God as a team in a covenant marriage? Or the selfishness of relationships that says, “What’s in it for me?”

Is the advancement of the Kingdom of God the number 1 priority? Or has the church facility become an idol?

What’s more important? Personal preferences and private agendas or the recognition that investing resources in people is what reaches other people for the Kingdom of God?

What is your priority?