Title: Priorities in life / Matthew 6:31-34
Content “Introduction”
## Introduction of Testimony: Elder who missed Sunday worship ##
Priority of Faith
Here is a snippet of a story told by an elder I know.
Professor K of K University is not only academically, but also in Korea and the world.
He is a well-known scholar, and he is also very active religiously.
You are the elder who is doing it. Christians I've ever met
He is the person I respect the most, and I have learned so much through him.
I also woke up. You are truly a faithful elder...
But even monkeys sometimes fall from trees, Professor K said
One time, he made the mistake of skipping Sunday worship. The research report at the time
Due to the deadline to submit, I had to write the thesis until Sunday morning.
You were stuck in front of the computer When this person looked at the time, I couldn't
I would not be able to complete it after I went to a Sunday worship service. so just
After completing the thesis, I decided to save it and give a sermon in the evening.
He went to the promised church and preached.
By the way....
When I got home, I turned on the computer again and tried to finish the thesis...
Oh well, the thesis that I worked hard on for half a day on the week came and went nowhere.
It's gone. Obviously I saved the file.
Professor K was originally at the Institute of Science and Technology, and was
You are a very familiar expert. So it's possible he was wrong.
Almost none. Anyway, I skipped Sunday worship and worked hard on the keyboard.
It was a thesis I had completed while tapping, but it just disappeared.
He said that he had no choice but to write again as he stayed up all night that night.
do. So what happened to your first thesis?
Professor K said.
“God told me that I became an elder and missed Sunday worship because of work.
Looks like you've swept it away. haha."
“Seek ye first his kingdom and his righteousness.
All these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 7:33)
We live on this earth and deal with various things.
But among all these things, there is an order. So what kind of a wise person
Considering whether or not tasks should be prioritized one by one, we start with the most necessary, most valuable, and most urgent tasks.
But the foolish man concentrates on the things of little value and misses the important things.
There are cases.
Then, we would like to share the grace with you while pondering the Word about what your priorities in life are.
First, seek his kingdom and his righteousness.
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (verse 33).
This word means 'from the beginning' in Hebrew and 'before' in Greek, and emphasizes priority.
'His kingdom' means the kingdom of heaven.
We must save the world, but we must first save the kingdom of heaven.
If we seek only the things of the world, we become enemies with God (James 4:4). In the Bible, ' means 'a fallen state, a state ruled by the devil, and the world of matter'.
The core of the gospel that our Jesus preached to this earth is the kingdom of heaven.
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17). No matter how evil a person is, when death approaches, they will seek the kingdom of heaven.
When Jesus was being crucified, the robber on the right asked for the kingdom of heaven, saying, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Luke 23:42).
Then he was given the kingdom of heaven by Jesus (Luke 23:43).
We must first seek the kingdom of heaven and the will of God.
When you do that, the Lord will solve everything on the earth.
Second, it is reconciliation.
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift at the altar and go first, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift" (Matthew 5:23,24). 'Familiar and consistent.
It means 'to achieve harmony'.
We must first reconcile between husband and wife, reconciliation between rich people, reconciliation between neighbors, and reconciliation between saints.
You should give priority to things that are harmonious.
Proverbs 17:1 says, "It is better for a house to be at peace than for a house full of flesh and strife with only a dry piece of bread."
So how can we be reconciled?
1. You must know how to respect others. “Praise yourself most in love, and be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thessalonians 5:13). 2. There must be meekness.
“But the meek shall possess the earth, and shall rejoice in abundant peace” (Psalm 37:11).
3. Respect must come first. “Love brothers, show kindness to one another, honor one another first” (Romans 12:10).
Third, it is to provide the cause of blessing.
"Elijah said to him, "Don't be afraid, go and do as you say; but first make me a little loaf of it and bring it to me, and then make it for you and your son" (1 Kings 17:13). According to the word of the LORD, Elijah went to the widow of Zarephath and asked for a piece of bread and water to drink. The woman picked up a couple of tree branches and used a handful of sacks left in the barrel and a little oil in the jar to make one last for herself and her son. He confessed to Elijah that he was going to commit suicide by cooking and eating.
At that time, Elijah had the woman first make a small loaf of bread for him and bring it.
The widow of Zarephath did as Elijah said and was blessed that the barrel of the bag and the bottle of oil did not run out.
The lesson here is that blessings are guaranteed when we first give the cause of blessings to the Lord.
The way to give the cause of blessing
1. First, to be used by God.
2. It is to have the faith to love the Lord (Proverbs 8:21).
3. Knowing that all that I have is not mine, but God's (Acts 4:32). 4. It is planting (Galatians 6:7).
Dear saints, The priority in life is to seek the kingdom of heaven and God's will, be reconciled, and provide the cause of blessing.
Saints who receive blessings from heaven and earth and glorify God by choosing their priorities in life
I bless you in the name of the Lord.