In January 1936, Ruth Hock, AA’s first non alcoholic secretary typed every word that Bill W dictated, which included First Things First, Live and Let Live, and Easy Does It. This means that AA’s first few slogans First Things First, Live and Let Live, and Easy Does It were used in the late 1930’s. These AA slogans or AA expressions appeared in the first edition of the Big Book. Particularly on the pages 135-149 in the chapter: The Family Afterwards.
First Things First. This has an attachment to a few Scriptural texts such as Matthew 6:33 wherein Jesus tells His disciples to “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.” First Things First, if you want a changed life, seek God first. Don’t seek Him as a last resort when you have tried everything else and failed. So now you seek Him because you have no one else or nowhere else to go. First Things First, Seek God first. Let Him be first. Let God be your priority and everything else will fall into place.
Exodus 20:3 clearly states You shall have no other Gods before me. Is God first in your life?
Live and Let Live is one of AA’s enduring slogans. Sandwich between First Things First and Easy Does It in the chapter: The Family Afterwards. Live and Let Live started in the battlefields around Christmas of 1914 when French, German, and British soldiers laid down their weapons and created a sense of fellowship with one another. Live and Let Live simply means to mind your own business. Run your own life, do not let others run your life, also do not run other’s life. You know yourself better than others know you. And they know themselves better than you know them.
Easy Does It. This AA slogan came from one of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:34 which states “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” It simply means to pray and wait on God to lead. Do not be in a hurry. It’s like saying “take it easy.” Stay still and wait on God. Do not fret about tomorrow. Wait on God’s guidance. Are you in a hurry? Slow down. Easy Does It when you hand over the keys of your life to the One who knows you best. Easy Does It when you pray and let God lead.