Priorities - Part Two

1. This morning we considered what it is that fill up our lives. The big items that we think about the most, that we work for the hardest, the things we would fight for the most if someone tried to take them away. The things that are our priorities.

2. We considered that God and serving Him should be most important. He should fill most if not all of our lives, our time and our desires. We talked about how He should be that which fills the jars or spaces of our lives . But if we fill our lives with the smaller, less important things first, then there is no room for Him. Place Him first and there will be space for the lesser desires of our hearts as well.

3. God talked to Solomon in a dream "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." Solomon could have asked for anything in the world. His answer, though, would show that God and serving Him was his priority.

4. How would you answer God? What would you ask for?

5. Solomon had the right priority because of a number of attitudes or beliefs that he had. We looked at some of these and we will look at a few more this evening. My prayer is that we will share these same attitudes and beliefs. That we would meditate upon them and through them to get our priorities straight.

6. I will briefly remind you of what we saw about Solomon this morning:

* this morning we have seen that he could answer in this way because he loved God and showed that love in seeking to live according to His word

* he knew of God’s covenant faithfulness, trusting more in God than in himself

* he understood his role toward God and toward others

* and he humbly offered himself to fill that role

7. Tonight we fist consider that Solomon realized his dependence on God. It is one thing to be humble and to realize that we cannot do something on our own. It is another thing to ask for help. How many times have we not realized that we needed help? Either in a job we were doing or perhaps in dealing with a crisis in our lives. But we do not ask for help. Maybe we are to proud to do so - I’ll find a way to do it. Maybe we don’t want to bother anyone else. Or we don’t think anyone will want to help.

8. One of the things I was taught about being a pastor at seminary is that I am to be an initiator. Don’t wait for people to come to you to say they need help but be sensitive to them and offer your help to them. They may even refuse your help initially, but offer it again without being pushy.

9. This week I made a church business call to someone outside the church. I could sense something was bothering them. I asked them if they were alright. First said "Sure I am." I said "Are you really sure?, You sound like you are not." They said I was right but that then was not the best time to talk about it.

10. We hesitate to put our needs or burdens on others. But God invites us to bring them to Him. That’s why God told us to bring our biggest need to Him. The need for forgiveness and salvation.

Mat 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

11. Solomon knew He could not do the job of governing God’s people on his own. But instead of walking away from the role or hiding among the baggage as Saul did, He asks God to enable Him to do the work

1 Ki 3:9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.

12. Do you feel called by God to do a certain job? Perhaps in the church? Perhaps in the community? Perhaps to share the good news? To care for someone who is lonely? Its on your heart to serve, but you feel inadequate. "Will I say the right thing? Will I know what I am doing?"

13. Have you asked God to give you what you are lacking? As I said this morning I felt inadequate when I was called to be a deaco. I felt inadequate when I was called into ministry. Now, almost 15 years later, I still feel inadequate. But each day I ask God to enable me to serve Him and do be able to do the things I need to do. It is humbling but is also puts the weight of the work on His shoulders rather than mine