GOD’S BURDEN COMES FIRST

What Is Your Priority?

There are moments in our walk with God when He brings us back to a very simple but important question: “What is your priority?”

Priority speaks of the things we consider most important. It is a scale of preference where some things are placed at the top of the list because they matter more to us than others. Naturally, we give greater attention to things we consider urgent or important. In a hospital, for example, greater attention is given to patients in the emergency ward because their condition requires immediate attention.

In the same way, there are things that God considers urgent.

Sometimes, we can become so occupied with our own plans, ambitions, ministries, businesses, responsibilities and personal concerns that we lose sight of what is upon the heart of God.

This brings us to an important subject: the burden of God.

The Burden of God

“And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows.” — Exodus 3:7

Before God gave Moses his assignment, He first explained His burden to him.

God wanted Moses to understand what was happening in Egypt. The children of Israel were being afflicted, and their cry had reached the ears of God. Their suffering had become the burden that God wanted Moses to carry.

God said:

“I have surely seen…”
“I have heard…”
“I know…”

Moses needed to understand the heart of God before he could properly understand the assignment of God.

The mission was not simply about Moses going to Egypt. It was about a people who needed rescue.

“Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.” — Exodus 3:10

The burden was put in place so that Moses would understand that the priority of sending him back to Egypt was not for fun, recognition or personal achievement. It was an emergency case—the rescue of the Israelites.

Don’t Put Your Zeal Above the Burden of God

There is a difference between having zeal for God and understanding the burden of God.

The Bible gives us a serious example in the case of Uzzah. When the ark of God was being transported, Uzzah reached out to steady it when the oxen stumbled. The Bible tells us that God’s anger was kindled against Uzzah, and he died there beside the ark.

2 Samuel 6:6–7

The lesson is not that zeal or good intentions are enough. We must be careful not to place our own understanding, methods or zeal above what God has commanded.

The burden of God must remain the priority.

We need to be very careful not to mix things up.

God Is a God of Order

God also demonstrated this principle with Joshua.

After Moses died, God said to Joshua:

“Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people…” — Joshua 1:2

There was a time when Moses was the leader, and there was a time when Joshua had to take his place.

God told Joshua that Moses was dead before telling him that it was time for him to lead.

There is a divine order in God’s dealings.

God will never put number two in the position of number one.

Joshua had to understand that Moses had completed his assignment before he could properly step into his own.

This teaches us that our priority must not simply be what we want to do. Our priority must be what God wants done at that particular time.

There is a burden for every season. There is an assignment for every generation. And there are people who are waiting for someone to respond to what God is placing upon their heart.

What Is the Burden God Has Placed on Your Heart?

This is where the question becomes personal.

Before you started that ministry, what was the burden of God that He revealed to you?

Before you started that business, what was the burden?

Before you accepted that assignment, what was the burden?

Before you began serving in that capacity, what did God put in your heart?

Sometimes we remember the assignment but forget the burden that gave birth to the assignment.

We remember the ministry, but forget the people. We remember the platform, but forget the purpose. We remember what we are doing, but forget why God asked us to do it.

The burden of God is what keeps the assignment connected to His heart.

Every Soul Matters to God

Jesus made God’s heart toward humanity very clear:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” — John 3:16

Every day, souls are perishing. There are people around us who need to hear the gospel. There are people who need someone to stand in the gap for them. There are people whose lives may be waiting for the obedience of someone who has received an assignment from God.

The question is: Have we allowed the burden of God to remain our priority?

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” — James 4:17

Knowing what God desires and responding to it are two different things.

Peter Understood the Priority

In Acts 2:36–37, after Peter spoke the Word of God concerning Jesus, the people were deeply touched.

They asked:

“Men and brethren, what shall we do?” — Acts 2:37

That question came from hearts that had been touched by the Word.

Peter did not waste the moment. He responded by directing them toward repentance and the way of salvation.

Peter understood the priority.

He had received the Holy Spirit, and when the opportunity came, he showed them Jesus.

This is what happens when we understand the burden of God. We begin to see people differently. We begin to recognize divine opportunities. We begin to understand that our assignment is not primarily about us—it is about what God wants to accomplish through us.

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” — Mark 16:15

The priority is clear.

What Is Your Priority?

At the end of the day, this question cannot be answered by somebody else for you. You must ask yourself:

What is my priority?

Is it my comfort? Is it recognition? Is it success? Is it money? Is it position? Is it the growth of my ministry? Or is it the burden of God?

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” — Matthew 6:33

When the kingdom becomes our priority, our other pursuits find their proper place.

This does not mean that our work, family, business, ministry or personal responsibilities are unimportant. It means that they must not take the place of what God has placed first.

A Final Reflection

God gave Moses an assignment after revealing His burden.

God raised Joshua when Moses’ assignment was complete.

Peter responded when hearts were touched by the Word.

And throughout Scripture, we see God looking for people who will respond to what is upon His heart.

So, before you become busy with everything else, pause and ask:

What is the burden of God for this season?

What has God entrusted to me?

Who am I called to reach?

What does God want me to prioritize?

And most importantly:

WHAT IS MY PRIORITY?

May we never become so occupied with the assignment that we forget the burden behind it. May our zeal never become greater than our obedience, and may the things that matter to God become the things that matter most to us.

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” — Luke 19:10

May the burden of God remain our priority.

God’s Burden Comes First