TAKING INVENTORY OF OUR PRIORITIES
(Part 2)
Matt. 6:33
Morning Meditation 5/30/17
Verse 33 says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
During this last week of 1998 it might good if we take inventory of where our priorities have been. Our primary purpose in life after we are saved is to please him. There are some things that we have to do to please Him. Our text is a good verse to begin a Biblical examination.
Jesus said, “seek ye first the kingdom of God . . .” The word “seek” translates “zeteo” and means, “to seek [in order to find out] by thinking, meditating, reasoning, to enquire into.” It is a present active imperative verb. The present tense in the Greek text from which our KJV is translated represents continuous action in the present tense.. So He is speaking of making the kingdom of God and His righteousness something that is continually being sought in our lives. It is not just an occasional thing. It has to have priority. It is also in the imperative mood which means it is a command that expresses urgency. It is urgent for the believer to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” If he does not, the result will not be his that is promised: “and all these things shall be added unto you.” The promise is conditional and the condition is to make the kingdom of God and His righteousness a continual priority in our lives.
What is “his righteousness?” His righteousness is faith-righteousness. Man’s righteousness is self-righteousness. There are some verses that confirm this:
Romans 3:22 says, “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Romans 3:25 says, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Romans 4:5 says, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
To seek His righteousness is to depend by faith on Jesus as our acceptance in His presence (Eph. 1:6). Paul says in 1 Cor. 1:30: “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
If you continually seek this righteousness it will be a continual discipline in your life to abide in Him so that the good works you do are credited to Him as the source. One of Satan’s traps is to get us, after we have started right, to go back on a system of works (Gal. 3:1-4) so that God is not glorified. And I might add, we lose our joy.
Now this doesn’t mean you have to go around button-holing people all the time. It does mean that you are a Christian in all your activities though. There will be things that arise that as a christian you will not be able to participate. And you will, without trying, put a strain in the situation. Most of the time the people will just shrug and go on. But there are times when you won’t get off so easy. Many unsaved people hate Christ and when you remind them of Him they will hate you (John 15:18-21). When this happens, don’t go off whining about it. Go to the Lord and He will be touched by the feeling of your infirmities and you will find grace to help in time of need. We are not just Christians at church or behind closed doors. We are his disciples, and as His disciples, He has sown us in the world to be witnesses. Let’s don’t run from the task.
Someone may say, “Well, we have to make a living. We have to live in the real world to survive.” It is true that work and providing for ones family is honorable. It is a Christian duty. But God has never given us something to do where our Christian faith can be set aside. If the job we have conflicts with the Scripture, then we should quit and find one that is honorable. We should do it for the love of Christ. Even if it means less money. We are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and we have the promise that if we do, He will add all these things to us. The things that He has promised to add are the things that have to do with the body, i.e., food and clothing. Here is where faith comes in. We must believe that He will do what He says or quitting a job for less money, if the job is wrong, will not be an option for us. I remember a young man who was saved early in my ministry. The job he had was making him a lot of money. But it was not something that a Christian should be doing. He quit and began to work at a job that a Christian could do with a good conscience. All of us admired him.. He was truly a great testimony of God’s saving grace. But when the “new” wore off his profession of Christ and he was struggling to make it financially, he went back to the old job. Paul had one that did basically the same thing. This is recorded in 2 Tim. 4:10: “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica . . .” Our priorities will be tested. There is no place to quit in a God-pleasing way. He must come first regardless of the price.
I believe our adamic nature is so strong in us that if we do not seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness that we will not be able to stand the lure of the world. The people that I have observed over the years that have been the most useful and happy Christians were sold out to Jesus. I do not doubt (It is not mine to judge) the salvation of the others. And I must say I love them and have agonized over them in prayer. I want to see them prosper and not be ashamed before Him at His coming (1 John 2:28). But it is clear that the kingdom of God and His righteousness has not been a priority with them. Just a few things in conclusion of this lesson on taking inventory of our priorities.
1.If our priorities are right, we will serve Him faithfully in a local Bible teaching Church (where it is possible).” Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Eph. 3:21).
2.If our priorities are right, we will take time for daily fellowship with the Lord through His Word. Acts 17:11 says, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
Psa. 119:2 says, “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.”
Psa. 119:11 says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
3.If our priorities are right, we will make Him the source of our praise daily. Psalms 72:15 says, “And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.”
4.If our priorities are right, we will occupy ourselves daily in prayer. Psalms 88:9 says, “Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.”
Psalms 86:3 says, “Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.”
5.If our priorities are right, we will grieve daily over the ways of the wicked. Psalms 42:10 says, “As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?” They made fun of David’s faith and his God. Have you ever been treated like that. I think you have. That is normal for the Christian.
6.If our priorities are right, we will see our own shortcomings, and instead of entering a pity party, be honest with God and go to Him for forgiveness and help. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
7.If our priorities are right, we will rid ourselves of anything that does not glorify Him. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” The person who is willing to apply this verse in his life is seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon is a favorite of many of us. His writings are still instructive and inspirational to christains around the world. He commented on the effect this text had on him thusly: “When I had resolved to enter college, walking across Midsummer Common, just outside of Cambridge, revolving in my mind the joys of scholarship and the hope of being something in the world, that text came to my heart, ‘Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not’ (Jer. 45:5); ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.’ All was given up, everything was renounced, the finest prospects seemed to melt into thin air, merely on the strength of that text, believing that God would most certainly fulfill to me his promise if I could keep his precept.”
Then there is an added note: “If CHS had not been sensitive to the voice of God in Scripture, his preaching career would have been postponed for several years. We can only guess how history itself would have been altered as a result.” Quoted from the book: Spurgeon at His Best page 264 by Baker.
Let us take inventory of our priorities in 1998 and seek to make corrections where needed. May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. White
