Life...Setting Our Priorities (S4)

The real proof of the transformation Jesus brings is not in the habits we practice but in the lives we lead

(S1) —

Jesus said, I have come so that you may have life…an abundant life. How does knowing Jesus impact every area of our lives? The real proof of the transformation Jesus brings is not in the habits we practice—but IN the LIVES we LEAD.

“THIS THING CALLED LIFE — exploring what it means to live the LIFE of Jesus in the everyday world.

HOW knowing JESUS is to IMPACT our RELATIONSHIPS, when we are in CRISIS, our FINANCES, and today — SETTING our PRIORITIES

PRAYER — BIBLES — NOTES

(S2) —

I can feel it coming, the increase in anxiety, tightening in my chest and the shortness of breath, as my blood pressure rises. Losing my ability to focus; Jittery, anxious and can’ sleep. WORRY seems to consume my every thought, as the extra margin of time in my LIFE disappears…how I feel when my priorities get out of whack.

Life…when your PRIORITIES were OUT-OF WACK?

Over the years, I have talked to many people about difficult areas of their lives. Most often, I hear stories where priorities have gotten out of whack, where the important has been put on the back burner, and the things and people that matter, get less and less attention because of LIFE!

— Couples/2+ jobs/Communication — Failing Marriages/Commitment/Time — Busy parents/Careers/Children — Young adults living for the moment/Future — Church and faith being out on the back burner —

(S3) —

A life with MESSED-UP priorities is an ANXIOUS life.

We live in a world where ~ LIFE IS a COMPETITION for our TIME. And when our priorities get out of whack – worry and anxiety set in hindering our relationships — Loved ones/Jesus.

I have been there and maybe someone here knows what I mean, what it feels like; when what you value the most takes second place in your life.

Charles Schwab—a known name in the investment world, was a key figure in the business empire; US STEEL. Back in the day, Schwab became frustrated with his inability to get everything done he needed to get done—so he reluctantly agreed to meet with a consultant named Ivy Lee—who was recommended to him by John D. Rockefeller. Schwab had little use for consultants, but since Rockefeller recommended Lee so highly—he scheduled the meeting.

Lee’s proposal was SIMPLE. He told Schwab to MAKE A LIST of the SIX MOST IMPORTANT THINGS he could do the NEXT DAY to further the overall health and performance of US STEEL. At the end of each day, he was to REVIEW the LIST—move anything that had NOT BEEN FINISHED to the TOP of the next day’s LIST—and then add enough items to make a total of six again.

The consultation was over in 15 minutes. Lee told Schwab to follow this practice for THIRTY DAYS—and then send him a payment based on how much Schwab thought the advice was worth.

One month later, Schwab sent him a check for $25,000—in today’s money ~ hundreds of thousands of dollars. He would later say it was the best business advice he ever received.

Learning HOW to SET our PRIORITIES can be the MOST VALUABLE lesson we ever learn.

Life…WHAT are YOUR PRIORITIES? — WRITE down three right now

What do I THINK ABOUT? — Where do I spend my TIME? — Who do I spend it WITH? — WHERE do I spend my MONEY?

We don’t often think critically about this, making it easy to weave our way through our days without setting our priorities—Which can leave us without meaning and purpose in our life

(S4) —

“But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.” Ecclesiastes 2:11

Are YOU LIVING for JESUS? Do YOUR PRIORITIES show it?

We all have the SAME 24 HOURS in our day, to do the things that have eternal impact. How we choose to use them is to be a reflection of our living for Jesus.

Billy Graham once said, “Give me five minutes with a person's checkbook, and I will tell you where their heart is.”

A variation of that…could be said about our priorities

“Give me a person’s calendar and I can tell you what they value most.”

One key to limiting worry in our life; is evaluating our calendars to see what has priority...

(S5) —

Jesus’ perspective on priorities is found in his teaching to disciples in the Sermon on the Mount.

The way to live an abundant life with proper priorities.

Blessing others — Salt and light in the world — Lasting marriages — Loving our enemies — Giving to the poor — Prayer/fasting in busy lives.

He shows by his own life, what is most important. And to not let WORRY CONSUME their LIVES, by putting FIRST THINGS FIRST.

“In an age when running around with your hair on fire is desired and admired, important work gets pushed aside.”

Living a Jesus centered life is having a proper perspective on setting priorities .

If you don’t set the important, the URGENT will set them for you.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, quoting Dr J. Roscoe Miller, president of Northwestern University, said: "I have two kinds of problems: the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent." This "Eisenhower Principle" is said to be how he organized his workload and priorities.

It’s hard to imagine the people in ancient times had trouble setting priorities, not having near the distractions we have today — What were their messed up priorities? Too much time spent at the local watering hole, out in the fields...

Verses 25-34 make it apparent that WORRY, was a problem.

Six times in 10 verses Jesus uses the word WORRY…

Their worry seemed to be centered on meeting their basic needs — food, water and clothes. They lived more for the day and the near future — spring planting, fall harvest, fall; winter protection and so on.

They weren’t consumed like we can be, with life-long planning; preparing estates etc.

Jesus simply says, “Don’t worry, because when you choose my way of life, and put first things first, you can live life worrying less, instead of being overwhelmed with what you need.

Why is Jesus worried about worried? Notice how Jesus begins...Therefore

24 "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and here he uses the example of money.

Money sermon last week!

I believe Jesus is speaking to setting of PRIORITIES, in helping the disciples become like him — To live life as his followers. You can’t have one foot in the room and one in the hall and really be in the room. Put another way,

(S6) —

Deciding to follow Jesus is not a line to straddle, but a bridge to cross.

WORRY doesn’t have to be part of your life, when you prioritize from a heavenly perspective.

1 John 2:15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

Jesus knew that LIFE in the days ahead was going to get tough for them, and worry could consume them if they did not have the proper perspective on their priorities.

My goal is not to give you some technique…but to show how Jesus teaching and life, gave the disciples PERSPECTIVE on setting PRIORITIES as a FOLLOWER of JESUS

Four principles on living an abundant life in Jesus, helping us keep first things first and not letting the urgent take precedent over the important.

(S7) — First is understanding...

1. The VALUE of LIFE

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t LIFE more than food, and your body more than clothing?

Isn’t LIFE more than…the things we posses? We are not just flesh and bones — Human mind — Created with PURPOSE

J.W. — Striving for HOLY living — RULES for LIFE —

“Wesley wanted not just to believe the Christian faith, nor only to understand it intellectually. Wesley wanted holiness. He wanted God. He wanted "to LIVE like Christ in heart and actions."

The IMPORTANCE of RELATIONSHIP — Intentionally yielding one's life to completely devoted to living a Jesus-filled life.

Rising at 4 or 5 a.m. to pray — Fasting two days a week until 3 p.m. — Meeting regularly to discuss Scripture and other Christian texts — Accountability — Regular Communion — Study — Helping the poor, prisoners, and the elderly...

The value of life…meant simply living with RIGHT Jesus PRIORITIES!

(S8) —

26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more VALUABLE to him than they are?

Jesus is contrasting God’s care of creation...with created beings.

Diapherō — Differ from — of a certain WORTH — made for a purpose — Set apart

Right priorities start by understanding that YOU...PEOPLE have the greatest VALUE in the EYES of God…

(S9) — 2nd principle on living an abundant life in Jesus, helping us keep first things first and not letting the urgent take precedent over the important.

2. NURTURE the LOVE of God IN you!

Matthew 6:27 “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”

To nurture is to feed into the gift God has given you — LOVE.

1 John 4: 19 We love because he first loved us.

We can either feed worry or feed God’s love...Worry can hinder our relationship with others, and with Jesus.

Woman with mixed up priorities — Worried about what people would think...

John 4: 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

What gets in the way of your relationaship with Jesus? What keeps you from drinking from the well of a LIFE of ABUNDANCE?

What you are trying to achieve? The accumulation of things? Storing up treasures that won’t last?

Jesus said, I AM the ANSWER to your WORRIES, come drink; and discover the love of God I bring! Nurture that LOVE in you!

How often do you drink from the well of life?

(S10) — 3rd principle on living an abundant life in Jesus, helping us keep first things first and not letting the urgent take precedent over the important.

3. TRUST that God’s Got YOU!

28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,”

Jesus...Trust in what you KNOW about God through ME...what you SEE in MY life that reveals God’s PROVIDING Grace? The one who created...can HANDLE anything that is to come your way.

Sometimes we just need to be reminded, that GOD is a BIG god over a SMALL world

Jesus’ question — Does he not provide for the foul of the air and the lilies of the field?

In other words, you can worry less, because I got YOU! YOU who are the apple of God’s eye, your LIFE is in the palm of God’s hands, the shelter of his wings and under the covering of his shadow of GRACE.

Psalm 91:1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

The teaching of Jesus is that they would forego anxiety about daily needs and set the concerns of their hearts on Him who will meet all their needs, by putting their t TRUST in him.

When we worry trust can fade away. We can forget how BIG our GOD IS

What if you were to TRUST more and WORRY less? — Jesus says, “DON’T WORRY…I GOT you!

(S11) —

4th principle on living an abundant life in Jesus, helping us keep first things first and not letting the urgent take precedent over the important.

4. Going DEEPER in Faith!

30 Are you not more valuable than the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more cover you — You of little faith?

Shallow faith leads to shallow living.

Higgins lake — cold water — Once you fully immerse...

We will never know the fullness of a deep faith by staying in shallow waters, only dipping our toes in. We go deeper by diving in.

I thank god every day that I am not the man I used to be, but the truth is, I have still yet to discover the man God fully desires me to be.

When we say yes to Jesus, we are only dipping our toes in...

Connection — Small Groups — Serving

Shallow faith, will lead us to a life of worry — Getting our priorities out of whack!

Have you made going deeper a priority in your life?

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

The good news! You don’t have to carry the burden of worry as unbelievers do. When you see your life has value — NURTURE the love of God in you — TRUST that God’s GOT you — Go DEEPER in FAITH, WORRY can take the back seat by setting RIGHT priorities

(S12) — What does JESUS-CENTERED priority setting look like?

Think of it like a four- legged stool and all life’s worries are sitting on it....

.......

Do your priorities ever get out of whack? I know mine do. Is there was a better way? Jesus said, I have come so that you may have life to the fullest, he did not say, I have come so your life would be full of worry!

The key is in Jesus’ words, which he spoke to his disciples,

33 seek FIRST his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 “So we don’t have worry about tomorrow

So, how are you doing on worry? What and who do you think of when setting your priorities in life? What change would be beneficial for your life and draw you closer to Jesus? So you can truly know what it is to have life and have it to the fullest!We only to Remember…

The real proof of the transformation Jesus brings is found in HOW we set our PRIORITIES!