Recently a Pablo Picasso painting sold for a record price of $179.4 million after commissions. 

This price for his "Women of Algiers (Version O)" exceeded the previous record by $37 million. 

A number of reasons could have motivated the buyer to pay such a high price. Perhaps the love of Picasso paintings was the sole motivation. Or possibly the purchase was made as an economic investment. Or maybe conspicuous consumption, the pleasure gained from others knowing you own the painting, was the motive. Most likely the buyer was motivated by a combination of these and other factors; some conscious and some subconscious.

When this buyer decided to pay nearly $180 million for a painting, decisions were inherently made not to spend, invest or give the money elsewhere. Income and wealth are limited, even for the wealthiest members of our society.  Although we may be in a different economic bracket than the Picasso buyer, we still must make purchase decisions regularly. Purchase decisions involve choice and choices reflect values. For those things which matter most to us, we labor, save and when necessary sacrifice to obtain those items. Items of less importance are often not obtained.

What do we value? What should we value? How are we spending our money? How are we spending our time? Are our uses of monies and time representative of the values and priorities we profess? Are our priorities the same as the King's priorities?

A wise person once said, "Show me a person's checkbook and day planner and I can tell you their priorities." Priorities should reflect what we value. Jesus gave clear direction on what we should value.

Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is, 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these" (Mark 6:33).

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you" (Matt. 6:33).

John also spoke about priorities.

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father, but is of the world. The world and its desires are passing away, but the one who does the will of God lives forever" (1 John 2:15-17).

In the name of Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit let us:

1. Rededicate ourselves to the Lord's dominion in our lives;

2. Fully accept the priorities and values of our King; and

3. Align our lives to reflect the Lord's priorities.

Dr. James Russell is a professor of economics and undergraduate chair of the College of Business at Oral Roberts University.

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