Problems with Priorities
Matthew 6:24-34
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
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Introduction: This morning the Lord has led me to this message concerning the issues that we all have with establishing priorities in our lives. Why is this so important you ask? It is important because generally speaking we do what we value the most. Pastor Tony Evans makes an interesting observation when he says, "The problem isn't time, you watch TV, your problem isn't energy, you play softball/baseball, your problem isn't money, you have 2 cars and a smart phone, your problem is priorities." Our Lord puts His finger on the pulse of humanity when he says that, Matthew 6:24 "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Our Lord knew that divided loyalties lead to disorder in terms of what we value and hence what we deem to be a priority in our lives.
Our priorities can only be right if we answer three very important questions. First, there is the question:
I. Is Jesus Present?
The implication is pretty simple and straightforward. If Jesus is not present in your life then you will never have your priorities in the right order, never! Why, you ask? It's easy.
a. If Jesus is not present you will never understand spiritual things.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Unless Jesus is present in you it will be impossible for you to comprehend that eternal things are infinitely more important that temporal things. Your value system will be all out of whack!
b. If Jesus is not present you will never love the right things.
Notice what Jesus says again in verse 2 "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other..."
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
c. If Jesus is not present in you, you will never have peace about your priorities.
A. W. Tozer made a statement that "Trying to have happiness (peace) without a sense of God's presence, is like trying to have a bright day without the sun!"
It just isn't going to happen! How do you know is Jesus is present in you? First, there is the question of confession. Have you confessed your sins? 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Have you professed Him as your Lord and Savior? Romans 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Does the Holy Spirit reside within you? Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Has there been a change in your life since you believed? 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Do you know that there has been a tranformation in your affections? 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
If these things are true in your life then Jesus is present in you! But this does not guarantee that your priorities are where and what they ought to be which brings me to the:
Second question; if Jesus is present:
II. Is Jesus Prominent?
This word means noticeable, pronounced, obvious or conspicuous. But you ask what has this got to do with your priorities? I can think of three things. First:
a. If Jesus is prominent in you it will be evident
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Notice this verse says that if Jesus is prominent in you it cannot be hid! It must come out!
A SWEET SCENT
The story is told of a missionary to China who was in language school. The very first day of class the teacher entered the room and, without saying a word, walked down every row of students. Finally, still without saying a word, she walked around the room again. Then she came back and addressed the class.
"Did you notice anything special about me?" she asked. Nobody could think of anything in particular. One student finally raised her hand. "I noticed that you had on a very lovely perfume," she said. The class chuckled. But the teacher said, "That was exactly my point.
You see, it will be a long time before any of you will be able to speak Chinese well enough to share the gospel with anyone in China. But even before you are able to do that, you can minister the sweet fragrance of Christ to these people by the quality of your lives. It is your lifestyle, lived out among the Chinese people that will minister Christ to them long before you are able to say one word to them about personal faith in Jesus." It is like that with us as well. Though we may not be eloquent speakers, unbelievers we encounter will be ministered to by the Christ-likeness of our daily lives, if indeed we are Christ-like.
b. If Jesus is prominent in your life will be effervescent. This word means animated, vibrant, or lively.
John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
c. If Jesus is prominent in you it will be
Finally, there is the question, if Jesus is present and He is prominent:
III. Is Jesus Preeminent?
Now we get down to the heart of our subject today. Let's look at our line of thinking; if Jesus is present in you then He will be prominent in you and if He is present and prominent then He desires to be preeminent in you. Then and only then will we be able to set our priorities in their proper order. Preeminent means unsurpassed, paramount, highest, and I've saved the most important word for last...He is sovereign. If Jesus is preeminent then He is sovereign, King of Kings and Lord of Lords in your life! Let me share a verse from Paul's letter to the church at Colossia:
Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
When He is preeminent our desire will be to submit totally and completely to Him and we will recognize that He deserves nothing less and we will devote ourselves to His service in three main areas of our lives. If Jesus is preeminent then He will have:
a. The first of our time
One of the greatest areas of concern for me as a pastor is the attitude that makes a separation between the secular and the sacred. Many professing Christians see Sunday as the day of worship and Monday-Saturday as days to be devoted to secular pursuits. When Jesus is preeminent all of our time is His! Every pursuit is sacred, whether it be school or job or recreation, it is all sacred.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
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b. The first of our talents
Matthew 25:19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Most preachers focus on the multiplication of the talents in this passage. I think it is also important that the two faithful servants "brought" or presented their talents to the Master.
c. The first of our treasure
Proverbs 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Let me return to the quote from Dr. Tony Evans in regard to our possessions: "...your problem isn't money, you have 2 cars and a smart phone, your problem is priorities." Money isn't the problem for most of us, it's our priorities!
