What Is Your Priority?
Matthew 6:30-33
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things
shall be added to you”
Introduction
One of the biggest problems plaguing God’s people are priorities.
Sin and error are not always involved.
Most of the time they are,
And most of the time sin and error contribute to one’s priorities.
What Christians are doing may not necessarily be wrong or “unscriptural”.
The problem lies with inverted or misplaced priorities!
Let’s think a minute about priorities.
According to Webster the word priority carries with it the meaning of precedence
or superiority.
Priorities are things that should take precedence, that is, they should precede
or come before other things.
High priority items come first because they are important, because they are superior
to competing alternatives.
Did you ever stop and think: How does something become a priority to us?
It does so simply by the value we place or do not place on it!
If we place great value on something, it becomes a high priority.
If we place small value on something, it becomes a low or lower priority.
If “something” slides down our priority list, it is because in our
minds it now has less value than other things.
That brings us to the text of our lesson: Matthew 6:33: "But seek first the
kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
This statement by Jesus succinctly and completely addresses the question of priorities
for one claiming to be His disciple.
Today, let us briefly analyze this verse and see if our priorities are in the
right place.
SEEK
First, Jesus’ statement tells us our priority insofar as…
What We Are To Do:
Seek
“Seek” means:
(1) Vines: “To seek or strive after, endeavor, to desire…of seeking
the kingdom of God and his righteousness, in the sense of coveting earnestly,
striving after, Matt. 6:33…”
(2) From epizeteo: (The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon) epi=before zeteo=require,
demand, crave Therefore, “seek” here means that “before”
all else, we are to “require, demand, or crave” “the kingdom
of God and His righteousness”
The “the kingdom of God and His righteousness” is something we must
“go after”!
We can’t sit and wait for it to come to us!
Neither does God force or push it upon us!
It is something we must be actively pursuing!
Matthew 13:44-46: "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in
a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all
that he has and buys that field. 45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like
a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 "who, when he had found one pearl
of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Our seeking of “the kingdom of God and His righteousness” must be
done as epizeteo suggests…before all else…it is a craving that surpasses
all others!
Matthew 5:6: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they
shall be filled.
Acts 2:41: Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day
about three thousand souls were added to them.
Thus, we are to eagerly, earnestly…before all else strive for “the
kingdom of God and His righteousness”.
We must be willing to sacrifice anything and everything otherwise we cannot obtain
it!
Luke 9:23-24: Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after
Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 "For
whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for
My sake will save it.
Philippians 3:8b: I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish,
that I may gain Christ
1 Corinthians 15:31: I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus
our Lord, I die daily.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
Second, Jesus’ statement tells us our priority insofar as…
What We Are To Seek:
We are to seek the “kingdom of God” (seek the rule of God in our hearts):
cf. beatitudes,
Matthew 5:3-12
Luke 17:20-21: Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God
would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come
with observation; 21 "nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For
indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.“
It’s not easy!
Consider Paul: Romans 7:22-24: For I delight in the law of God according to the
inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of
my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who
live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live
by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Consider Jesus: Luke 22:44: And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then
His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Luke 22:42: "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless
not My will, but Yours, be done."
We are to seek “His righteousness”:
We must seek God’s plan for making men righteous:
Jeremiah 10:23: O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in
man who walks to direct his own steps.
Proverbs 14:12: There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way
of death.
Matthew 15:8-9: 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with
their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching
as doctrines the commandments of men.'" (cf. Matthew 7:21-23)
Romans. 1:16-17: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power
of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for
the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith;
as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." (cf. Colossians 3:17;
1 Peter 4:11)
Romans 10:1-3: Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that
they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but
not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness,
and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness
of God.
Seeking God’s righteousness also means putting it into application in one’s
life.
This is where the “rubber meets the road”!
2 Corinthians 5:7: For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Romans 14:23b: for whatever is not from faith is sin.
Romans 10:17: So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Zacharias and Elizabeth: Luke. 1:6: And they were both righteous before God, walking
in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
1 Thessalonians5:22: Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Must seek “the kingdom of God and His righteousness” over and above
the material world.
(see context, vs. 24-33)
John 6:27: "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which
endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the
Father has set His seal on Him."
Ecclesiastes 12:13: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and
keep His commandments, For this is man's all. (whole duty of man).
FIRST
Third, Jesus’ statement tells us our priority insofar as…
The Place We are to Give It: First
No priority is higher!
No priority even comes close!
1 Peter 3:15: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to
give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you,
with meekness and fear;
Deuteronomy 4:24: "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
God is jealous, because He always has our best interest in mind!
1 John 5:3: For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His
commandments are not burdensome.
Seeking “the kingdom of God and His righteousness” precedes or is
superior to:
The things of this life:
Matthew 6:30-32: "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today
is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O
you of little faith? 31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?'
or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 "For after all these
things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these
things.
Philippians 3:7: But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for
Christ.
Seeking “the kingdom of God and His righteousness” precedes or is
superior to:
The dearest relationships:
Matthew 10:37: "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy
of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
Mark 10:29-30: So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there
is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife
or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 "who shall not receive
a hundredfold now in this time; houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and
children and lands, with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.
All spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3),
No temptation too strong for us to bear! (1 Corinthians 10:13),
Sympathetic High Priest! Hebrews 4:15-16: For we do not have a High Priest who
cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are,
yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Fellowship and familial relationship with those of “like precious faith”
(Ephesians 2:19; 2 Peter 1:1), (“fellow citizens with the saints and members
of the household of God,”),
As children of God (Romans 8:16; 1 John 3:1) we have a kinship, a relationship
that CANNOT be duplicated or even approximated by any earthly relationship!
Romans 12:10: Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love; in honor
preferring one another;
Service to God is not a part of our life. It IS our life!! (or should be).
Fourth, Jesus’ statement tells us the result of having the right priority…
The Blessings We Receive:
God promises the daily necessities of life: Context (vs. 24-34
Matthew 7:8-11: "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds,
and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 "Or what man is there among you
who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 "Or if he asks
for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 "If you then, being evil, know
how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is
in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Psalm 34:10: The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD
shall not lack any good thing.
1 Timothy 6:6: Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
Philippians 4:11: Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever
state I am, to be content:
True discipleship provides freedom from worry: v. 31: "Therefore do not worry,
saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
Do you think you have a problem too big or too hard for God to solve?
Ephesians 3:20: Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all
that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
True discipleship brings ALL of God’s spiritual blessings to bear upon us!
Ephesians 1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has
blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Ephesians 2:1-7
Col. 1:18-23
Rev. 22:14: Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the
right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
Hebrews 5:9: And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation
to all who obey Him,
Conclusion
What are your priorities? Remember 2 Cor. 13:5!
What value do you place on “seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness”?
First? Second? Third?
Matthew 6:21: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 16:26: "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world,
and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Philippians 1:21: For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
For to me, to live is __________, and to die is_________ .
If we put anything else in the first blank besides Christ, we cannot put gain
in the second blank!
By Carey Scott from an article I read
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