Introduction:
Have you ever stopped for a minute and looked closely at your life? If you have, you might have concluded that "I have a lot going on." In this day and time, who doesn't? After asking that question, the next step should be to ask yourself the question, "What matters most?" And if you don't ask that question of yourself and give it serious thought, your relationship with God is going to be put on the back burner. Spiritual things tend to be relegated to the if I have time category or if there is nothing else better to do category in many people's lives.
Jesus says if that is the way you think, you got it all wrong. We are told in Mark 8:36 (NKJV) 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Jesus is saying that if the spiritual matters of life are not at the forefront of your life activities, you don't understand fully that your spiritual condition is more important than anything else you have going on. And it is going to affect you in the here and now and in the life to come.
And in today's sermon, I want to address with you why the spiritual needs to the be the first priority. I want you to self-examine your life to see if spiritual things have that first priority status or whether they are pushed into the "I do not have anything to do better category.
So, let begin. If you have your Bibles turn with me to Luke 12:16-21. Please stand.
Scripture:
Luke 12:16-21 (NKJV) 16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' 18 So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." ' 20 But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
Point #1:
Spiritual priorities must be first because only in God and His Word can we have one hundred percent confidence. If we put too much confidence that things will work out how we plan in this world, we are going to be in for disappointment and experience heartache.
Have you ever made an investment in a stock because you just knew that it was going up only to lose money?
Have you ever started a mom-and-pop business thinking it will go well in the community only to close it because it was not well received?
Have you ever heard people say that I am going to work hard until retirement and then I will enjoy life but never made it to retirement?
This world disappoints.
In our Scripture, this farmer had a worldly confidence that things were going to work out as he planned. He had a great crop year, he built bigger barns to hold his crop and his confidence was that he can take it easy and enjoy his life going forward. Did his confidence in his plan prove reliable? No, because that night, God required his soul. No matter how secure you feel, this world can and will disappoint.
God tells us that it is appointed once to man to die and then the judgement. The only reliable truth in this story is that God came for him as He promised in His Word.
Spiritual priorities must be first in your life because they are the only thing that we can have total confidence in.
Point #2:
Spiritual priorities must be first because the things done for heaven have eternal value. If we put too much value in what we can accumulate in this world it will cause us to make some horrible decisions.
Mark 10:17-22 (NKJV) 17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" 18 So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' " 20 And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Have you ever made a horrible decision, in the name of trying to get ahead in this life?
I know of some preachers who made horrible decisions leaving churches that loved them to go to other churches because they provided either more money, or a better parsonage, or possibly be more prestigious and they turned out to be horrible decisions?
But it is not just preachers. We have some friends who chased after the world's dream by going somewhere else only to spell disaster in their lives.
In this passage of Scripture, the rich young ruler asked the right question to Jesus. What must I do to inherit eternal life? But in the end, he makes the most horrible decision you can make. He chose the temporal things of value over the things of eternal value. It is like his possessions blinded him from seeing spiritual just like Satan does.
It is amazing, but I know the pull of the temporal things, to make a lot of horrible decisions in their favor and preventing us from making the decisions we should be making that have eternal value.
Spiritual priorities must come first because those are the only things that have eternal value. Value the world's thing too much and you may make some horrendous decisions in your life about what really matters.
Point #3:
Spiritual priorities must be first because as I seek them my attitude towards others is in line with a godly attitude. Seek after the things of this world and soon I will develop an attitude that I am better than you.
Luke 16:19-23 (NKJV) 19"There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
This is an interesting story. While both are alive, we are told that the beggar laid at the king's gate. We are not told while they are both alive that the king even knew if the beggar was laying at his gate.
But after both died, we discover that the king knew the beggar, but the king also knew that his name was Lazarus. What made them different in this world is that the king had it all and Lazarus had nothing. And so, the king had the attitude that I am better than you, don't bother me because you are lower than me.
But realize this: death is a great equalizer. But we reminded in the story at this point in the story it is too late to change your attitude about Lazarus; it is too late to change about Jesus, it is too late to change others attitude about Christ.
But if I am making spiritual priorities number one in my life, I have a whole different attitude in this world.
Philippians 2:5-7 (NKJV) 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
If I am seeking the spiritual priorities, I don't see myself better than Lazarus. I don't see myself better than any other church member. I have the right attitude toward God, and I have the right attitude toward people.
Seeking spiritual priorities helps me to keep the right attitude.
Conclusion:
Ask yourself the question: "What matters most?" The right answer spiritual priorities do. Jesus tells that in the sermon on the Mount. Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
And if you seek the spiritual priorities, they will
Not disappoint you.
Last forever reserved in heaven for you.
Give you the right attitude toward God and man.
Let us Pray!
