This post is the final part of a three-part series on Colossians 1. Throughout this chapter, Paul paints one of the clearest pictures in all of Scripture of Jesus’ supremacy. In part one, we saw that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation—the One who must be first in our lives. In part two, we explored how he both created and redeemed us, proving that he deserves first place in every heart. Now the question is: what does it look like to live like Jesus is first?

One Priority, Not Many

For 500 years, the word priority was singular. It meant “the thing that is first.” Only in the last half-century have we turned it into a plural—priorities. But how can there be multiple first things? We do the same thing with primary. We say things like, “Here are my primary goals,” when, by definition, there can be only one.

That small shift in language reveals a bigger problem. We’ve lost the clarity of what life is really about. Paul’s message in Colossians 1 brings that clarity back: Jesus is preeminent—first in rank, first in value, first in affection. Everything else exists to serve him, not compete with him.

The Danger of Competing “Firsts”

When we forget that Jesus is preeminent, our lives quickly become divided. We start to build our identity on things that were never meant to hold that weight. We might say that Jesus is first, but our calendars, our spending, and our ambitions often tell another story.

Before long, we find ourselves saying, “My life is about my job—by my job, through my job, for my job.” Or “My life is about my family—by my family, through my family, for my family.” But Paul’s reminder in Colossians 1 calls us back:

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17)

Everything we do—work, family, money, rest—was designed to flow from Jesus being first, not fight against it.

Building on What Is First

Jesus is not meant to be one stone in the wall of your life; he’s meant to be the cornerstone. When builders set a cornerstone, every other stone aligns with it. If the cornerstone is off, the whole structure is off. That’s what Jesus meant when he said,

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24)

The question isn’t whether you’re building—you are. The question is, what are you building on?

A Life That Reflects What’s First

If you want to know what’s truly first in your life, look at your time, your money, and your dreams. Those three things always reveal the heart.

What do you think about when your mind wanders? What drives your ambitions? Where does your calendar bend and your budget flex? We can say anything with our lips, but our lives will always tell the truth. That’s why Paul’s reminder in Colossians 1 is so powerful: He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

When Jesus is first, everything else finds its place. Work becomes worship. Family becomes ministry. Rest becomes renewal. Generosity becomes joy. When Jesus is first, we’re not just balanced—we’re anchored.

Bringing It Home 

As this blog series closes, take some time to ask yourself:

  • What am I building my life on?
  • What do my habits and decisions reveal about who is truly first?
  • What would it look like to bring every part of my life under the leadership and lordship of Jesus?

Remember: Jesus isn’t one of many “priorities.” He is the priority—from which everything else flows. When he’s first, everything else holds together.

Andrew Hopper