I focus on God and His priorities for my life.
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Matthew 6:33 (TNIV)
Ever heard a sentence that just didn't seem to give you enough information? I feel this way about Matthew 6:33. But? But what? All these things? All what things? As well? As well as what? This is simply a verse that begs us to read the verses before it. So...
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Well okay, now we've got something significant to discuss. But gives a contrast between two worldviews. First, is the world of the pagans who ruthlessly pursue selfish desires of the flesh with no regard to anyone or anything but themselves. "What shall we eat?" "What shall we drink?" "What shall we wear?" This worldview is a consumptive view of everything. Get more, get more, get more. Everything is seen through the lens of today and how can we keep up with those around us. Today, this view manifests itself much the same way. Our families stretch themselves beyond their means in order to get certain things. "Where shall I live?" "Where shall my kids go to school?" "What shall I drive?" "What league will my kid play in?" "Where will we go on vacation?" These are just some of today's questions that rattle around within this world view. But...there is an alternative.
Jesus tells his followers to not pursue those things because he is faithful to provide you with what you need to live. He offers an alternative worldview. "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness," he says. The kingdom of God is now. It's seeing life through an eternal lens, rather than a temporary one. It's recognizing that what we do today is an investment in our future, the future of our family and the future of our community. God's kingdom is bigger than our experiences today. When we realize that, we are able to focus on His priorities for our lives. His righteousness has been offered to us. By focusing on his righteousness, we stop demanding perfection from ourselves and from others. His righteousness allows us to love others unconditionally. His righteousness allows us to experience his personal nature. His righteousness covers up our unrighteousness. His righteousness covers up our neighbors' unrighteousness.
Now we can relax. We don't have to be so uptight because we know that Father will take care of us. He will provide. This doesn't mean we cease to work, but it does allow us to break free from the tyranny of the temporary. Because we have a bigger view of our situations than just today, we can rest in the comfort of his priorities for our lives. Those priorities are seen throughout the pages of the Bible, as people embrace the Jesus way of life.
Single-Mindedness: Flows from the foundational belief that God is personal and that he cares about our daily lives. The fruit of single-minded living is found in the list of virtues.
Kid's Q&A:
Big Idea: I love God by focusing on His plan for me.
Hand Motion: Hands on sides of face around eyes signifying focus.
Have you ever had something that you couldn't get out of your mind? What was it? How did it affect you during the day? When we get something "stuck in our mind" it influences everything we do during the day.
How do you think focusing on God's plan for you would affect your day? It might change the way you answer your teacher when she asks you to do something. It might change your response when your parents say to clean your room. It might change the way you think about that video game that you "can't live without."
We can trust God's plan because He promises to take care of us. Just as the birds don't spend time worrying about their clothing or where they will get food, Jesus wants us to know that we don't have to worry about those things either. We focus on Him and He takes care of that stuff.
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