Turn to and read Luke 9:57-62. Pray.

This summer, I have tasked our staff to go through some leadership training that I became acquainted with in the mid 90’s when I was a youth pastor at Pineland Baptist Church in Savannah, GA. I have reflected back on that leadership training several times through the years. Tonight, I want us to consider a Biblical principle that comes from that leadership training and which I have shared before. Although this leadership training is specifically geared toward youth ministry, this Biblical principle which I will share tonight is applicable to every Christian. It is...

The First Claim Principle

In the passage which we read, we are introduced to three individuals:

The first man volunteered to follow Christ but Christ, knowing the individual’s heart, showed him the cost of discipleship.

The second man was called by Christ, “Follow me,” but responded, “Me first.”

The third man also volunteered like the first man but, like the second man, he responded, “Me first.”

All three men had a problem. They had a “Me First” problem.

They did not have an unwillingness to serve God...

...just an unwillingness to serve God first!

I will state it this way:

They had “A” place for Christ, but not first place for Christ!

We must realize that God operates on the “First Claim Principle.” What is the “First Claim Principle?”

Jesus Christ has first claim on the life of all saved people.

The term which is used in business is Right of first refusal (ROFR), also known as first right of refusal, is a contractual right to enter into a business transaction with a person or company before anyone else can.

So, what is it that gives Christ “first claim” to my life and to your life?

This principle is based upon the person of Jesus Christ – Who He is.

Jesus is Lord.

Romans 14:8 KJV 1900

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

Jesus Christ is Lord; we are His servants. As such, we have no right to our lives. We have not right to say what we will do or what we will not do. We have no right to say where we will go or where we will not go.

That is why Paul wrote:

Philippians 1:20–21 KJV 1900

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Jesus is Head.

Ephesians 1:21–23 KJV 1900

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

He is the head; we make up the body of Christ. Have you ever said, “They’re running around like a chicken with their head cut off?” Should it be any wonder then, that we see so many people living their lives in utter chaos when they have failed to recognize the fact that Jesus Christ has first claim on their life?

Jesus is Creator.

Turn to and read Colossians 1:15-18.

We were created by Him and we were created for Him!

We were not created for ourselves. That is why evolutionists do not want to recognize the Creator. For, if they admit that there is a Creator than they must also admit that are responsible to that Creator.

Romans 11:36 KJV 1900

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Because of this, Jesus Christ even has “first claim” to the lives of the unsaved.

Philippians 2:11 KJV 1900

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The “First Claim Principle” is not only based upon the truth of Who Jesus is but it is also based upon what He did!

The “First Claim Principle” is based upon what Jesus did!

Jesus Christ saved me!

Turn to and read Philippians 2:5-11.

The “First Claim Principle” is based upon what Christ is to me!

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 KJV 1900

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Is Jesus Christ and your relationship to Him simply a priority in your life or does He have preeminence?

Are you willing to recognize and yield to the fact that Jesus Christ has first claim to your life?

Does your life seem to be “out of control?”

Is Jesus Christ in His proper place in your life?

Ill: The planets all revolve around the sun. As long as the sun is in its proper place than all the planets stay “in perfect harmony in the universe.” However, if the sun were moved, even slightly, it would throw our universe into complete chaos.

Jesus Christ must have first claim. He can’t simply be a priority!

Someone said, “That’s where your illustration breaks down. The closer a planet gets to the sun it will eventually be consumed by the sun.” That’s exactly my point! Our lives should be consumed by God!

Hebrews 12:29 KJV 1900

For our God is a consuming fire.

John 3:30 KJV 1900

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Whether we want to admit it or not...

Jesus Christ has “first claim” to your life!

Our problem is not with understanding the principle. Our problem usually arises when we seek to apply truth.

Areas of Application for the First Claim Principle

We are going to take the word CLAIM and make it into an acrostic to show how this principle should be applied in our lives.

Calendar (Time)

The first part of each day belongs to Him. (Psalm 31:15; 63:1)

Psalm 31:15 KJV 1900

My times are in thy hand: Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

Psalm 63:1 KJV 1900

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: My soul thirsteth for thee, My flesh longeth for thee In a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

Spend the first part of your day with God in His Word and in prayer.

The priorities of scheduling must consider Him first.

God has already laid claim to our time when He said, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel!”

Life’s Work

Matthew 6:33 KJV 1900

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

If we can help teenagers really get a hold of this principle, we wouldn’t have to “push” them into God’s service.

Young people (and parents) should assume that God will use them in Christian work unless God otherwise directs, rather than assuming He does not want them.

God should never have to turn a saved person toward Christian work.

Unfortunately, most Christian teenagers don’t have a clue as to what they should do once they graduate from high school. This is one of the main reason why I encourage young people to spend at least one year in a good Bible college once they graduate from high school.

Every person is saved to be used!

It is not a question of whether or not God wants you. It’s only a question of where He wants you and when He wants you to go.

Affections

Matthew 22:37–38 KJV 1900

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.

Jesus, in Luke 14:26, said...

Luke 14:26 KJV 1900

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Our love for God should be so strong that every other love looks like hate! Why? Because Christ has first claim. He has first claim to our love; to our affections; to our desires.

Income

Proverbs 3:9 KJV 1900

Honour the Lord with thy substance, And with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

Does Christ have first claim to your finances?

Mind

(2 Corinthians 10:5; Romans 12:1-2)

2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV 1900

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

The battle in the Christian life is a battle for our mind.

This matter of “the first claim principle” will either be won or lost in our mind.

Whoever, or whatever, controls our mind, controls our heart.

Whoever, or whatever controls our heart, controls our lives.

Closing:

Jesus had a single focus—doing the will of the Father.

John 6:38 KJV 1900

For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

The Apostle Paul had a single focus:

Philippians 3:13–14 KJV 1900

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Tonight, let us focus on this – that...

Jesus Christ has first claim to our lives!