AUGUST 2024 THEME READER’S DIGEST
THE LAW OF PRIORITY FOR KINGDOM LIVING
Priorities are defined as things that are regarded as more important than others. Therefore, the ability to establish the correct priorities in our lives is vital to our success as Christians.
Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.
The author of the bestseller ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ Stephen R. Covey says: “As a longtime student of this fascinating field of life and time management, I am personally
persuaded that the essence of the best thinking in the area of time management can be captured in a single phrase: Organize and execute around priorities.”
No doubt setting the right priorities is vitally important for our success in all life endeavors
including our spiritual life. Thus, Jesus told us to always put God first.
Matthew 6:33 – ‘But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’
Let’s understand the context in which these powerful words were spoken. Matthew Chapter 6 is part of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus provided the most profound sermon in history called ‘the beatitude’. Jesus emphasized the importance of compassion, humility, forgiveness and message of love and selflessness. His messages in these chapters touched on incredible concepts such as loving our enemies, prayer and fasting, providing care and concern for the poor.
Jesus emphasized humility, integrity, kindness, fairness, honesty, and the key to our theme’s text – having correct priority to seek the kingdom of God first and not worrying about worldly possession or appearances.
Jesus addressed the human tendency to worry about material needs—food, drink, and clothing
and reassured us that God, our Heavenly Father, knows our needs and will provide for us. He told us not to be anxious about these things. This sets the stage for the pivotal commandment in verse 33 ‘But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness’.
What does it mean to seek the kingdom of God first?
This is a very important question to consider and understand. Of equal importance to consider is how to practically apply this principle in our daily lives? How can we prioritize those aspects of life that are priorities to God?
Beloved, what are the priorities that control your life today? Is it the kingdom of God and His
righteousness or what the custom and worldly system are making us to believe are the priority?
Pause for a moment and reflect on your life, your priorities, where is God and His Kingdom on your personal list of priorities? If Christ is our priority, are we seeking to be great at following Him daily and obeying His commandment?
Priority setting principles
Pareto rule: The 80-20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, is a familiar saying that asserts
that 80% of outcomes (or outputs) result from 20% of all causes (or inputs) for any given event.
In business, a goal of the 80-20 rule is to identify inputs that are potentially the most productive and make them the priority. Pareto Analysis identifies the problem areas or tasks that will have the biggest payoff.
Applying this to our bible passage in Matthew 6:33, Jesus said that seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (20%) will give you all those material things (80%) we want, therefore concentrate on the 20%.
Set priorities that lead to eternal life
1. God must come first in everything we do
God gave a Commandment in Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before Me”. God does
not want us to place anything before Him. His desire is that we worship Him and Him alone. He
must come first in our lives, decisions, choices, career, marriage and in everything we do.
Jesus told Martha in Luke 10:38-42, that her sister Mary chose the correct priority. “And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her”.
Serving others is highly commended in the Bible, and it is certainly not wrong to serve. But in this instance the priority was an issue. Listening to Christ’s teachings was more important than food preparation.
2. The love of God.
We must love God first and then, love our neighbours. Matthew 22:36-39
Let us ask ourselves this question; How do I demonstrate that I truly love God and want to put His teachings first? Jesus said in John 14:15 – “If you love Me, keep My commandments” Apostle John reiterated on this in 1John2:4-5 and 1John 5:3.
1 John 2:4-5 “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him”
From the above scriptures, the evidence that we love God is our determination and commitment to obey His commandments.
We must be honest with ourselves. Are we putting our personal relationship with God first, or are we allowing other aspects of our lives to come before the worship of the true God?
3. Develop godly, righteous character
Jesus didn’t just urge us to seek the kingdom of God but also His righteousness. Righteousness encompasses living in accordance with God’s moral standards, walking in integrity, and pursuing
holiness. The nature of God must reflect in our daily living. 11Peter 1:4 says we should be
partakers of divine nature.
4. God’s will take priority over our will
When it comes to important decisions, whose will usually take priority in our lives? Is it our self-
will or is it the will of God? Apostle Paul in Romans 12:2 admonished us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
To be driven by the will of God is to surrender to divine instruction and become like Jesus in
obedience. Jesus praying in Luke 22:42 said ‘Nevertheless not my will, but Yours be done’
5. Focus on Eternity.
We are called to keep our eyes on eternity. Colossians 3:1-2 asked that we seek and set our
minds on the things above. These scriptures provide us with clear instruction on where our
priorities should be - on God’s Kingdom not the earthly things.
We are called to look ahead to eternity rather than this life which is temporal. See the long view and avoid the immediate gratification view. Great things come to those who wait on the Lord.
6. Spiritual Growth. Ephesians 4:11-16
When we become believers, we don’t simply walk into spiritual maturity, we grow into it. The
growth process into spiritual maturity is called sanctification. Sanctification is a function of time, and we must be intentional about it. Our priorities to grow into spiritual maturity entails desire to know God, His will, remain in His Word and abide closely to the Vine. John 15:1-5. We ought to want to grow spiritually to avoid being deceived by false teachings and doctrines going on around us and in social media.
Ephesians 4:14 says “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful
plotting”.
Are you reflecting daily on your spiritual growth? If we honestly take stock of our relationship with God, He will reveal where we are either good or not as good.
The payoff is juicy
The teaching to seek God’s Kingdom first comes with an incredible promise. Jesus assured us that when we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things—our needs for good living—will be added unto us, worrying and anxiety which are inimical to our health will be gone. The word of God cannot fail, and God is too faithful to disappoint.
Please note that this promise doesn’t mean that we won’t face challenges or hardships. But be
rest assured of the faithfulness of God to provide for His children.
Have a blessed new month.
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