1. God
2. Spouse
3. Kids
4. Church
5. World
If I mess with this list in anyway, I am in serious danger. To replace 1 with 2-5 would be idolatry. To replace 2 with 3, would create a weak marriage. To replace 3 with 4, would be hurtful, unfair, and sinful (a particular temptation for pastors.) 4 must always come before 5, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" (Gal 6:10). The desire should be to see 5 become 4.
The "moral" non believer puts 2-3 in the place of 1. The nominal christian puts 4 in the place of 1. The typical unbeliever puts 5 in the place of 1.
I've seen the damage of messing with this list, and it's not pretty. May God help me to keep it in order!
"As she stood looking at it, wondering why there was a lamp-post in the middle of a wood and wondering what to do next, she heard a pitter patter of feet coming toward her..." (C S Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia)
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