First Things First
“Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven, and all these things will be added onto you.”
-Matthew 6:33
That was a verse that as a young man, I committed to memory. Sort of adopted it as a life verse. It is a reminder for my heart that the walk with God and our love for him has got to be top priority. If You are like me, however, you do not always seek the Lord first. Tough to admit that (especially as a Pastor!). But the truth is, we have this unfortunate tendency to wake up some days with the misguided notion that we know best, that we can handle whatever comes our way, and that “we got this”. Funny how we lapse back into control mode so easily!
The older I get, the more I realize that I literally have zero control. Oh we think we do, cause there are those rare occasions where we have a plan and are able to execute it well. Then we get impressed with ourselves and soon are in for another rude awakening :) Seems to be the pattern what with our fallen nature and tendency toward pride.
It’s why our Lord's reminder (above) from the Sermon on the Mount is so good and so necessary. In the context he’s talking about food, clothing, and the attendant worry about such things. For Jesus’s audience these were real worries, just as they are for us…we can easily add things like rent and mortgage payments, taxes due, school expenses, braces, car repairs, and a host of the unexpected worries life throws our way! Jesus reminds his followers that he cares for the birds of the air and the flowers of the fields (and that we are far more valuable!) Then he throws in a zinger… when we worry, we’re acting like pagans (people who do not have a trust in God at all).
Here’s the deal, when I lose my way, I’m not seeking him first. When lapse into control mode, I’m not resting in him. When I erroneously think “I’ve got this one”… I’m fooling myself. The Lord of the universe is enjoining us to seek him first, to give him priority in all things, to run into his loving arms everyday. And his part? All these things will be given to you. Not some, not a miserly allowance, not maybe tomorrow. He gives us all we need today. Does he give me everything I want? Hardly. He loves me too much for that. But he’ll give me all I need. Everyday. Always on time.
Seek him…. Love the Lord…. Rest in him and not your own strength. He’s good and he loves you more than you know!
Or…. Act like a pagan. You choose.
-Matthew 6:33
That was a verse that as a young man, I committed to memory. Sort of adopted it as a life verse. It is a reminder for my heart that the walk with God and our love for him has got to be top priority. If You are like me, however, you do not always seek the Lord first. Tough to admit that (especially as a Pastor!). But the truth is, we have this unfortunate tendency to wake up some days with the misguided notion that we know best, that we can handle whatever comes our way, and that “we got this”. Funny how we lapse back into control mode so easily!
The older I get, the more I realize that I literally have zero control. Oh we think we do, cause there are those rare occasions where we have a plan and are able to execute it well. Then we get impressed with ourselves and soon are in for another rude awakening :) Seems to be the pattern what with our fallen nature and tendency toward pride.
It’s why our Lord's reminder (above) from the Sermon on the Mount is so good and so necessary. In the context he’s talking about food, clothing, and the attendant worry about such things. For Jesus’s audience these were real worries, just as they are for us…we can easily add things like rent and mortgage payments, taxes due, school expenses, braces, car repairs, and a host of the unexpected worries life throws our way! Jesus reminds his followers that he cares for the birds of the air and the flowers of the fields (and that we are far more valuable!) Then he throws in a zinger… when we worry, we’re acting like pagans (people who do not have a trust in God at all).
Here’s the deal, when I lose my way, I’m not seeking him first. When lapse into control mode, I’m not resting in him. When I erroneously think “I’ve got this one”… I’m fooling myself. The Lord of the universe is enjoining us to seek him first, to give him priority in all things, to run into his loving arms everyday. And his part? All these things will be given to you. Not some, not a miserly allowance, not maybe tomorrow. He gives us all we need today. Does he give me everything I want? Hardly. He loves me too much for that. But he’ll give me all I need. Everyday. Always on time.
Seek him…. Love the Lord…. Rest in him and not your own strength. He’s good and he loves you more than you know!
Or…. Act like a pagan. You choose.
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