What things are first?

"You can't get second things by putting them first: you can get second things only by putting first things first. From which it would follow that the question, 'What things are first?' is of concern not only to philosophers but to everyone. What is a first thing? The only reply I can offer here is that if we do not know, then the first and only truly practical thing is to set about finding out." - C.S. Lewis "First and Second Things" from God in the Dock.

"Seek first the his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you as well." - Jesus, Matthew 6:33

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. - Paul, the Apostle 1 Corinthians 15

First things, are kind of magical. They have a life of their own. They are the forefront of life. But we often place second things first, and try to have second things before putting first things in place in our lives. Without the first things, seconds things, really secondary things will take priority resulting in living life in a topsy-turvy, missing-the-point way. So where to begin...

Faith is a first thing. We can tell because without faith, there is no true life and no true spiritual life.