According to the Bible, here’s how the priorities you listed could be ranked, based on biblical principles and teachings:
1. God (Implied Priority Above All)
While not explicitly listed, seeking God is foundational to ordering everything else.
• Matthew 22:37-38: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”
• This frames all other priorities. Our health, wealth, and relationships are all secondary to God.
2. Family
Family is emphasized as a key priority after God, with responsibilities to care for and nurture them.
• Exodus 20:12: “Honor your father and your mother.”
• 1 Timothy 5:8: “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
3. Health
Our bodies are gifts from God, and maintaining them allows us to serve Him effectively.
• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit…? Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”
4. Friends
Friends and relationships are vital, especially those that encourage and strengthen our faith.
• Proverbs 17:17: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
• Ecclesiastes 4:9-10: “Two are better than one… If either of them falls, one can help the other up.”
5. Pets (as part of creation)
While pets are not specifically mentioned in the Bible, care for animals is commended.
• Proverbs 12:10: “The righteous care for the needs of their animals.”
• Pets are part of God’s creation, and showing kindness to them reflects God’s love.
6. Hobbies (Rest and Enjoyment)
Hobbies can be a part of God-honoring rest and enjoyment, as long as they don’t distract from God’s purpose.
• Ecclesiastes 3:13: “That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.”
7. Wealth
While wealth is not inherently evil, the Bible warns against prioritizing it above God or others.
• 1 Timothy 6:10: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”
• Proverbs 3:9-10: “Honor the Lord with your wealth.”
8. Time (Stewardship)
Time is a gift to be used wisely in service to God and others.
• Ephesians 5:16: “Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
Final Thought:
These rankings reflect biblical principles, but everything in life must be submitted to God’s will. Proper prioritization begins with seeking God first, which naturally aligns the other areas of life.