The First Person…

The First Person...8-16-25

I took a test about 6 weeks ago that was school related. The test was 123 multiple choice questions, some with multiple parts, and three constructed response questions that were all three part extended answers. It was a timed 3 hour test. The day of testing did not go well. I felt prepared, but had technical difficulties with my new laptop accessing camera and microphone. Then I had to switch laptops, to solve this issue. The proctor didn't like the room, saying it was too large, so I had to move everything to the bedroom. She didn't like my pens, I couldn't have the Kleenex, I lost connection with her, and had to find another way to connect again because our start time had past, and so on. I started the test almost an hour late. I was flustered. I had actually stopped and prayed, and talked to God the whole time. I didn't feel good about the results. I ran out of time and didn't get to complete the constructed response as I would have liked. It just wasn't a good experience.

The first person I saw waiting on me in our spot on the porch was my husband. I sat down, tried not to cry, and he simply told me to schedule the test again. I had to wait the mandatory 28 days, and retook the test. Now mind you, my first scores were not released until August 15th. I didn't know if I had passed or not. He said retake it just in case. I was certain I had failed the first time, and so I did.

In Deuteronomy 6:5, we see where God should be first in our life. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.". Jesus repeats this in Matthew 22:37. He goes on to say in verse 38, " This is the first and greatest commandment.". I have often heard our pastor and others speak of God first, then spouse, children, and then others. We are not listed. Love for oneself is pride and leads to destruction.

In the English language, the first person is the pronoun "I, me, my". But God doesn't want us to be lovers of self. Philippians 2:3-4, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." God wants us to love others. In fact, Jesus goes on in Matthew 2:39 to tell us, "And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"

You see, I go to God first and foremost, but then to my husband. In fact, when I pulled up my scores at 4:16 yesterday, I called him. Before making that call, I talked to God. I thanked Him for blessing me so much more than I deserve. Then I went to my husband where he was unloading hay. He is my first person. Yes. I passed the test.