FIRST THINGS FIRST [NEW YEAR]
MATTHEW 6:33 [25-34]
Jesus presented evidence that worry is irreverent, for it fails to believe that God is in control, that the God who gave us life is sustaining it. Worry is irrelevant because it does not change things nor help us cope with problems. And worry is irresponsible; it burns up energy that should be used constructively to address the problem. Jesus used the birds of the air to illustrate freedom from anxiety, the lilies of the field to illustrate freedom from status-seeking, and the grass of the field to illustrate our need to assess priorities. [He admonishes us in verse 27 saying that worry cannot add anything to our life; yet it may limit it!]
A reporter covering a COAL-MINE DISASTER wrote a story that began: "God looked at the grief today in this little West Virginia mining town, and He wept." The city editor e-mailed back: "Forget the mine cave-in. Interview God."
Obviously, getting to know God in a personal way should be our greatest priority in life. If we plan on spending eternity with Him then it seems like a good idea to get acquainted with Him now. After all-the disasters of 2011, it may be later than we think. You soon may meet Him face to face.
Understanding how quickly life goes by and how long eternity is should teaches us to have the right priorities. We are, in a sense, here today and gone tomorrow (Jas 4:14). We must have our priorities right in order to take full advantage of life and 2012.
What are your priorities in life? What are your priorities for any given day?
The thrust of Jesus’ lesson is found in verse 33. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Seek first reveals Jesus concern for the priorities of our life. He commands that our first priority be His kingdom and His righteousness. It is fairly easy to be a good Christian when in church. It is more difficult at places such as the home or at the market place where we earn our wages. God wants us to be Christians everywhere, and good Christians at that. It isn’t easy, but He gives us the help that we need if only we will accept what He teaches.
Let’s walk through Jesus’ teaching this morning by using a six point outline.
I. OUR OCCUPATION or focus.
This teaching defines three key issues in life: Shelter, Clothing & Food. These things loom large in importance. We spend at least half of our waking hours with involvement in these things. Probably more concern invested in these than in anything else.
Therefore we are prone to focus on them, just like lost people do. Those who personally know God and understand His loving-kindness and faithfulness should not live with the same anxiety as lost people.
II. OUR OPTIONS or choices.
Jesus indicates that there are two priority options or directions on which we can focus our life. We can go after and be occupied with things as our goal. Or we can seek first the kingdom and righteousness of God as our goal.
Generally, we live life our way. We give ourselves first priority in our life. As a result, we go after the material things that loom large in life.
We give small attention to the spiritual things of life. We expect that somehow spiritual things will take care of themselves.
III. OUR OBJECTIVES (or goals).
Like the lost world we can go after "these other things." We can choose to place the priority for our energies and efforts into providing for ourselves. We can make our primary concern the physical necessities of life: such as housing, food, clothing. If we make these things the goals for our life, they will move it in the direction of the material and earthly.
Or we can go after God’s kingdom and righteousness. These are the Christian’s priority of priorities, a divine priority composed of two parts: God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness.
Kingdom [basileia] is that which recognizes and promotes His rule and reign. [To seek first His kingdom is to seek first His rule, His will and His authority. Seeking God’s kingdom is losing ourselves in obedience to the Lord - to the extent that we can.] To seek first God’s kingdom is to pour out our lives into the eternal work of our heavenly Father (Acts 20:24).
Second, We are to seek…His righteousness. Righteousness-that which is in accord with His character or Christ-likeness. Instead of longing after the things of this world, we are to hunger and thirst for the things of the world to come, which are characterized above all else by personal righteousness or obedience to God (Col. 3:2–3). It is to have Jesus’ own truth, love, and righteousness manifested in our lives, and to have "peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 14:17). To seek righteousness is seek to win people into God’s kingdom, that they might be saved and God might be glorified.
[Peter says, "Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God" (2 Pet. 3:11).]
To summarize, seek first God instead of things, the spiritual as opposed to the material, the eternal instead of the earthly.
IV. OUR ORDER. or priorities.
Let me mention what the verse does not teach. It does not teach that having or pursing things is wrong. It is not wrong to go after other things. We do not need to spend all our time or energy in spiritual pursuits. There is a difference between concern and focus, obsession or anxiety, between our first priority and our responsibility. Jesus says "Seek first," not let it be the one and only thing you seek or go after. God expects us to work and live, while centering our life on Him and His kingdom as we work and live.
What Jesus is teaching us here is to clearly establish priorities in your life. Let you first priority be following Christ. Jesus says, focus your attention and hopes on the things of the Lord. If you are going to be consumed with anything, be consumed with the kingdom.
V. OUR OBTAINING.
Apparently there are two ways of getting things. You can make them the object of life and struggling for them like the world does. Or you can have them added unto you.
Our caring protective good God will always add what we need to our life. The passage calls us to seek first the kingdom and leave the secondary matters to His providential care. If God’s priorities become our priorities, He will take care of our needs. This daily supply is a promise.
Notice that it is a conditional promise. First we seek the kingdom, and then everything else will fall into place. Rather than being like the pagans who are concerned about physical needs, rather than seeking and worrying about food, shelter, and clothing like unbelievers do," Jesus says, "focus your attention and hopes on the things of the Lord and He will take care of all your needs. The Lord’s disciples should be concerned about the things of God, His kingdom and His righteousness. Then all these needs will be supplied in God’s timing. This is the life of daily faith.
VI. OUR OPERATION or our daily life.
This word is for the spiritually wise. We must not expect God’s specific blessings where He is not first in our life.
If the first priority in your daily life is not God’s kingdom and righteousness it may explain some unproductive living and giving. This concentration on doing God’s will is the positive answer to worry. Anxiety is resolved by a lifestyle of seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness first each day. Don’t expect Him to spiritually or eternally bless you, if you are not going to put Him first.
It means that decisions in life must be weighed. What am I putting first? Your daily life and decisions must give priority to God’s kingdom and righteousness.
We must give God sovereignty over our daily lives. This is where the real issue lies. Will we walk or live by faith in Christ (6:30) or will we walk by the sight and wisdom of natural man.
Do you want to follow Jesus as Lord or do you only want comfort, protection, and fire-insurance?
CONCLUSION
Two simple rules should govern life. Set your eyes on the things that advance God’s kingdom and contribute to the establishment of His righteousness and go after them. Allow the heavenly Father to keep His promises concerning the rest of life. Seek first the kingdom, and everything else will fall into place. That is His promise.
When Dr. W.A. Criswell, pastor of the largest Southern Baptist church in the world at one time, was preaching in the North Shore Baptist Church in Chicago, he was entertained at the home of deacon JAMES L. KRAFT, who was superintendent of their Sunday school and founder of Kraft Foods.
Kraft said that as a young man he had a desire to be the most famous manufacturer and salesman of cheese in the world. He planned on becoming rich and famous by making and selling cheese, and began as a young fellow with a little buggy pulled by a pony named Paddy.
After making his cheese, the youth would load his wagon, and he and Paddy would drive down the streets of Chicago to sell the cheese. As the months passed, young Kraft began to despair because he was not making any money, in spite of his long hours and hard work.
One day he pulled his pony to a stop and began to talk to him. He said, "Paddy, there is something wrong. We are not doing it right. I am afraid we have things turned around. Our priorities are not where they ought to be. Maybe we ought to serve God and place Him first in our lives."
Kraft then drove home and made a covenant that for the rest of his life he would first serve God and then would work as God directed.
Many years after this, Dr. Criswell heard James Kraft say, "I would rather be a layman in the North Shore Baptist Church than to head the greatest corporation in America. My first job is serving Jesus."
How about you? What is the first priority of your day, of your life? For 2012 would you consider seeking 1st the kingdom of Christ and His righteousness? I would encourage to come forward at this time and we will seek God’s loving-kindness for you so that your priorities and life will be different in 2012. You come forward as we stand to sing....
[Outline taken from "Sermon outlines for Special Days and Occasions, Vol. 1. Charles R. Wood. Kregal. Grand Rapids. 1970. p 11.]
