Norway’s Karsten Warholm, right, competes in the men’s 400-meter hurdles final at the World Athletics Championships, Sept. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” — Matthew 6:33
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Karsten Warholm is one of the top track and field athletes in his sport. The Norwegian runner specializes in the flat 400-meters and 400m hurdles, and has many titles to his name, including 2020 Olympic champion, 2024 Olympic silver medalist, three-time world champion, and world record holder in the 400m hurdles. A feature was done during the Paris Olympics about him and his longtime coach’s unconventional and revolutionary training approach, and how it is changing the sport. In the piece that aired, Warholm’s coach made a comment that “you have to prioritize certain things in order to get the things you want more.”
Whether in sports, business, family matters, personal health, or your spiritual life, knowing your priorities matters. If you don’t have a clear vision for where you want to go and how you need to get there, you will be more prone to getting distracted and losing your way along the journey. Our modern world makes it so easy to lose sight of the most important things, doesn’t it? There are so many things constantly calling for our attention that it can honestly seem as though everything is important, leading us to ultimately live as though nothing is most important. We compromise our divine assignment and mission when we place lesser things in the first position and treat them as if they are the most critical.
Jesus made it clear that, when it comes to living a life of significance, only two things really matter: loving God with all that you have and loving your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31). If we love God well and love others well, most things in life will fall into place as they’re supposed to and God will honor us for that.
Elsewhere in the Bible, we are told of some other things we need to prioritize if we desire to live a life of meaning and purpose: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6); “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4); “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3); “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10); “Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).
There will always be so many things that come at us and try to get us to live by another standard, another way, other than that of the Kingdom of God. Demands at work or in our personal lives or in the field of competition will always be at war for our attention and prioritization, tempting us to compromise in areas that ought to have first place in our hearts.
The world will be constantly trying to tell us that money, career, education, fame, position, titles, and so much more are the ultimate when, in God’s eyes, it’s really simple: Love Me and love those around you. All the rest is just added on.
— Katherine Singer
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