Earlier this week, millions of fans tuned in to watch one of the most anticipated Monday Night Football games in a long time – between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, two of the best teams in the NFL.

When the game began, there were playoff implications on the line, both quarterbacks attempting to add to their MVP resumes, and coaches ready to reveal their strategic game plans.

However, with 5:58 remaining in the first quarter, the game was suspended after Buffalo Bills safety, Damar Hamlin, made a tackle, got up, and collapsed on the field. We know now that he suffered cardiac arrest.

Although it was devastating to see players, coaches, and fans look on with so much uncertainty as first responders cared for Hamlin in such a scary emergency situation, it also proved to be a powerful moment with people linking arms, praying, and rallying around him.

While the broadcasters tried to navigate the challenging incident and help viewers understand what was going on, and whether or not the game would continue, one thing became clear: football was secondary.

Even as football conversations popped up, we were reminded that Hamlin’s health was of utmost importance. The players’ focus was no longer on playing a game, coaches didn’t care about scoring touchdowns, the broadcasters weren’t worried about the marquee matchup anymore, and playoff implications were no longer front and center.

A few hours prior, this game carried a lot of weight for the players on the field, the Fantasy managers in their Fantasy championships, and other teams affected by the result of the game. But those things became insignificant with Damar Hamlin laying on the field in a life-or-death crisis.

His survival and well-being were the first priority and everything else seemed meaningless in light of what happened to him. Even though to some degree not finishing the game was a big deal, what mattered more was Hamlin and the concern everyone had for him.

Football is important to a lot of people, but Monday night reminded us of its place in the larger scheme of life and how truly secondary it is.

As we continue to pray for Hamlin’s healing and God’s light to shine through this situation, I want to encourage us to consider what’s most important to us and what needs to become secondary as we start a new year.

If we do an honest evaluation, what have we been prioritizing and what should be the focus of our lives?

What things do we tend to worry about that in the larger scheme of life, are truly secondary matters?

What things do we deem as urgent when in reality they don’t really matter?

How much time and energy do we spend on secondary areas of life?

Do we talk more about crucial topics or do we use more of our words in secondary conversations?

Are our families and churches seeking what’s most important…or have secondary issues become more concerning?

As followers of Jesus, we must reorient ourselves with what God deems most important by placing ourselves secondary to His leadership and guidance while we seek to do His will above all else.

Matthew 6:33 (AMP) explains, “But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.”

By continuing to focus on God, making Him and the life He’s calling us to live our top priority, we must stand firm on the gospel of Jesus Christ and keep it front and center in all we do.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (AMP), “Now brothers and sisters, let me remind you [once again] of the good news [of salvation] which I preached to you, which you welcomed and accepted and on which you stand [by faith]. By this faith, you are saved [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose], if you hold firmly to the word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain [just superficially and without complete commitment].

“For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold], and that He was buried, and that He was [bodily] raised on the third day according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold]…” (Emphasis my own)

That’s what’s most important, so when the secondary concerns of this world pop up, we need to view them through the lens of the gospel and what matters in light of eternity. We must put everything else is put in its proper place.

Today, let’s be mindful that our faith is what truly matters. As we receive God’s gift of salvation through Jesus and rest in His grace, let’s seek Him first each day and allow everything else to be secondary.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for worrying about so many secondary things. I confess I’ve prioritized the wrong things at times, but I desire to seek You and Your kingdom first and above all else. Please help me focus on what’s most important. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.