GETTING YOUR PRIORITIES RIGHT
25 “THEREFORE I SAY TO YOU, DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
32 “FOR AFTER THESE THINGS THE GENTILES SEEK. FOR YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS THAT YOU NEED THESE THINGS.
33 “BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU."
Matthew 6:25,32,33 (NKJV)
Jesus was a revolutionary; not in a guerilla warfare, but in His teachings. His ideas were revolutionary ones.
His teaching was somehow different from people’s opinion: “AND SO IT WAS, WHEN JESUS HAD ENDED THESE SAYINGS, THAT THE PEOPLE WERE ASTONISHED AT HIS TEACHING" (Matthew 7:28 NKJV).
God wants His children to depend on Him for their needs to be met (Matthew 6:25-31).
In Jesus’ teaching, He said our first priority should be God’s kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
• Our focus should be how to please God not the self.
• If you please Him, He will take care of any needs in your life.
• Therefore the first thing is to strive to know what He wants and you key into it.
If you strive to know God’s will and started doing it, all other pressing needs in your life would be taken care of.
• We should not worry about everyday life, whether you have enough food, drink and what to wear (Matthew 6:25-31).
• God already knows what you need. If you are lost in your services in the kingdom, He will meet your personal needs: "SEEK THE KINGDOM OF GOD ABOVE ALL ELSE, AND LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED" (Matthew 6:33 NLT).
“THESE THINGS DOMINATE THE THOUGHTS OF UNBELIEVERS, BUT YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER ALREADY KNOWS ALL YOUR NEEDS” (Matthew 6:32 NLT).
The people of the world strive to make ends meet—make just enough money to cover their living expenses—because they do not know God, they are not in a covenant relationship with Him (Ephesians 4:17-20).
This does not mean you should not work to earn money, the word of God admonishes us to work: “LET HIM WHO STOLE STEAL NO LONGER, BUT RATHER LET HIM LABOUR, WORKING WITH HIS HANDS WHAT IS GOOD, THAT HE MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE HIM WHO HAS NEED” (Ephesians 4:28 NKJV).
11 FOR WE HEAR THAT THERE ARE SOME WHO WALK AMONG YOU IN A DISORDERLY MANNER, NOT WORKING AT ALL, BUT ARE BUSYBODIES.
12 NOW THOSE WHO ARE SUCH WE COMMAND AND EXHORT THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THAT THEY WORK IN QUIETNESS AND EAT THEIR OWN BREAD.”
2 Thessalonians 3:11,12 (NKJV)
However:
• The secular work you do should not be a weight that is slowing you down in your Christian race (Hebrews 12:1).
• The secular work you do should not affect your commitment in God’s vineyard negatively.
• You also should not see your secular work as your source, but God.
17 “THIS I SAY, THEREFORE, AND TESTIFY IN THE LORD, THAT YOU SHOULD NO LONGER WALK AS THE REST OF THE GENTILES WALK, IN THE FUTILITY OF THEIR MIND.
18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, BECAUSE OF THE IGNORANCE THAT IS IN THEM, BECAUSE OF THE BLINDNESS OF THEIR HEART;
19 WHO, BEING PAST FEELING, HAVE GIVEN THEMSELVES OVER TO LEWDNESS, TO WORK ALL UNCLEANNESS WITH GREEDINESS.
20 BUT YOU HAVE NOT SO LEARN CHRIST."
Ephesians 4:17-20 (NKJV)
Note the following:
• If you trust in God and you allow Him in the affairs of your life; He will do or accomplish more than you would through your own efforts (Proverbs 3:5,6).
• If you live your life by the principles of God’s Word, you give place to God to operate in your life (John 15:7,8).
• Let God and His kingdom be your utmost priority (Matthew 6:33).
• Discover your place in Him—what He wants you to do—and be committed to it (Romans 8:14). When you do that, you give God a place in your life to prove Himself strong: “FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD RUN TO AND FRO THROUGHOUT THE EARTH, TO SHOW HIMSELF STRONG ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHOSE HEART IS LOYAL TO HIM.”
2 Chronicles 16:9(NKJV)
You will not fail In Jesus’ name. Peace!