The Power of Prioritizing

Matthew 6:31–34 NLT

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Matthew 6:33 KJV 1900

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

the lesson is simple and clear - put God first, and He will make sure that you get the things that you need

Prioritize with God at the top of your list, and he will help you get the other things on your list

Message is that there is power in prioritizing

So let’s prioritize and break down this verse

What does it mean to seek?

If you have lost your phone or wallet, then you know what it is to seek

you search diligently, you tear the house up, and you ask people questions. And you ask yourself questions.

tell someone, “Call my phone, call it again”

And you repeat until you find it. You don’t give up easily, you will expand the search to the car

Seek: putting forth a strong effort in finding, going for, striving for

So if you put forth a strong effort in seeking after God , striving to please God, and going after God . . . .then the other things that you need will be taken care of

but many times we don’t seek God, and we miss out on the power of prioritizing

because don’t seek God, we scan for God

we take a quick look around for God

we make a quick check for God

give me a short sermon and I am out

but Psalm 1 says blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his Law he meditates day and night . . . studying, thinking, researching, meditating

But the word is that there is power in prioritizing

What do naturally seek first? Prioritize?

Jesus felt the need to teach this lesson because we often prioritize the same things that unsaved people prioritize: physical needs and material things

you say that’s not me . . . let’s see

The scripture provides a test to see what you are seeking first . . . worry

you worry about whatever you are seeking first

whatever you seek first, you worry about

What do you worry about?

What do you think the most about? What are you most concerned about?

For most of us, most of the time: paying for shelter, food, clothes, transportation, bills in general . . . health (which is often tied in to shelter, food, and clothes)

In essence, Jesus says don’t worry about these things but worry about spiritual things

We don’t often worry about spiritual things

When was the last time, you couldn’t sleep at night because you were unsure of God’s purpose for you?

When was the last time you paced the floor because you were worried about the correct interpretation of a scripture passage?

When was the last time you were concerned if you gave enough money in the offering?

When was the last time you couldn’t stop thinking about your role in the church and how to do it better

When was the last time you were super concerned with improving how you treat people?

When you walked through the church doors, what was your biggest worry . . . Were you worried about giving God enough praise?

Were you so worried about getting a word today that you were praying, “O Lord, send a word through Pastor Caver today, because I’ve got to have a word from you!”

many came in worried about those bills on teh counter

worried about lunch after church

whatever you are worried about is what you are seeking first

And we we think about the connection between worrying and seeking things first, another tell-tell is that for the things we seek first, we will put up with stuff, go through stuff

For food, shelter, and clothes we will put up with stuff at the job . . . bad treatment, bad conditions, unfair practices

that’s why what will keep us from church, will not keep us from the job

tiredness and illness won’t keep most of us form the job (we will limp, medicate, go through some stuff to show up)

test for going to church: would I go to work

when people seek to join special groups, they put up with a lot of stuff: from military, sports teams, fraternities and sororities . . . rearrange your schedule, go through tough training, let people talk to you crazy

we will go through some stuff, put up with stuff, for things that we prioritize

That’s why it is so popular for people to give an example of something bad happening at a church and then say that most famous line, “that’s why I don’t go to church today” . . . they won’t put up with anything in church, go through any stuff at church because in reality they are not seeking the kingdom of God first. God’s stuff is not a priority.

“you don’t have to go to church to be saved!”

but the God that saved you wants Christians to act together as one body . . . and not as separate body pieces laying around

same people will put up with something at work, and if it gets too bad they will seek a new place to work.

if you are truly seeking God, and you don’t like something that happened at a particular church, then seek a new church

and if you are always seeking a new church, you are just like that person who is always job hopping because the get mad at every job (they are the problem, not the job). . . working is not important to you (church is not important to you, not a priority . . . just say that)

because when you seek something first, you will put up with stuff

and there is power in prioritizing the kingdom of God and his righteouness

We are supposed to prioritize God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, but what does that mean?

The general idea is that we promote God’s kingdom: God’s objectives, goals, purpose, and ways . . . and we seek that first, we prioritize that

I live so that God can accomplish his goals through me.

My main aim is to promote God’s agenda

I exist to carry out God’s plans

My energy is directed to fulfilling the purpose that God has for me

I am putting in great effort in living righteously

I am desperately striving to please God

This is my purpose of each day.

The success of the day is measured by if I God is pleased.

How can I know my specific purpose, my specific goals, the objectives that God has for me?

you need to start worrying about it

You have to seek it like you would seek a lost phone

better yet, how you would seek a lost child, I gotta find them

it’s amazing what you can do when something is a priority

some of us don’t know our specific purpose, because it’s not a priority, we are not that worried about it, we are not seeking it

How can I live righteously? (and his righteousness)

seek the word of God - sermon, Bible study, self study

read carefully, read in the word context . . . most won’t put in the effort

thy word have I hid in my heart . . .

That sounds like a lot, but remember that when you put God first, he will take care of the other things on your list . . . that’s the power in prioritizing

step 1 allows you to get to step 2

buying the food allows me to cook the food

turning on the shower, allows me to get in the shower

and when we don’t put God first, when we don’t prioritize God, we are missing out on the step 1 of life

standing in the shower, wondering why we are not getting cleaned. cause we never completed step 1, turning on the water

so prioritizing God should not be seen as an option but as a necessity

life won’t be what it could be if I don’t put God first

Here is something else helpful (for those who say I already prioritize God): there is prioritizing within the kingdom

let God help you prioritize the stuff in the kingdom.

When we do seek God’s purpose and plan, we often seek the end game instead of kingdom step 1, then kingdom step 2, and then kingdom step 3

There are ordered steps!

Moses - raised in the palace

then learn how to live with sheep in the wilderness for 40 years to prepare for leading people in the wilderness

now it’s time to go to the king of Egypt

David - watch sheep, then defend sheep from bear, from lion,

then slay Goliath

then work in the kings household

then live in the wilderness and learn how to lead

now it’s time to become king

Jesus - be born, then spend 30 years experiencing human life

then st’s time to gather disciples

then it’s time travel and teach and do miracles

then it’s time to go to the cross

So prioritize the kingdom step before you, One step at a time . . . that’s why the next verse says don’t worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will take care of itself. each day has enough trouble of it’s own

there is enough trying to stop you from accomplishing step 1 so worry about that . . . because the enemy knows that if you complete step 1, you will get to step 2!

he knows there is power in prioritizing, so he tries to throw your priorities off

Another reason why God doesn’t show us the whole plan. He will show you the end and step 1

he knows the plan, but he gives you the steps one at a time

so focus and seek out and prioritize the next step

some of us are struggling even though we are seeking the kingdom first, because we are focused on step 4 instead of step 1

When things are not flowing, and you are putting in work but not getting results: you might be trying to skip a step

trying to start a business or ministry, but I going to need you to be a good parent, husband, wife

your person trying to get to college, but step one is being an obedient child in school and at home

Trying to get a spouse, but step one is being a good church member

trying to further my career, but I’m going to need you to get in shape

Ask God, “If I don’t accomplish but one thing today, this week, this month” . . . what would you want it to be

and whatever God says, prioritize that!

beware: the answer may not SEEM connected to the end game, but it is

Example of a youth wanting their own car step 1, obey at home - I will have trouble getting a car for a teenager who won’t wash dishes I know I shouldn’t give you a car

dishes take obedience and responsibility, and if i can’t trust you with a small responsibility, I can’t trust you with a much larger responsibility

go where I say not go

won’t come home on time

car brings on a lot of temptation

step 2 - Learn the driving rules step 3 - practice driving

step 4 - get a license

step 5 - drive the old car

step 6 - get a job - gas, upkeep, and repairs

step 7 - help you get a car But if you want a car of your own . . . wash the dishes tonight

there is power in prioritizing

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Jesus

prioritized doing the Father’s will

prioritized loving us

and because he followed each step - he got all of the other things - in fact everything - all power in heaven and earth

there is power in prioritizing