Recurrent Thought

Life is a collection of consequences produced by our pursuits or lack thereof. Pursuing God First, guarantees peace and various provisions of His Grace while allowing us enjoy the benefits from other secondary pursuits.

To achieve visions or dreams is to understand the importance of Priorities. The path of a dreamer is littered with many good ideas, causes and tasks that demands one’s attention.  Effective achievers are those who quickly understand the importance of the order of priorities. As a believer you must come to understand that most things you get involved in may be good but not all of them are expedient (1 Cor 6:12, 10:23). Therefore, it is essential to pursue that which was more important among competing interests. To Prioritize is to treat something as being most important and/or categorize it relative to its importance.

In the passage we encounter today, we are given different sets of pursuits and we are at the same time challenged to order or rank them in importance. Our lives produce meaning and impact others through specific achievements we make. There are specific human physical needs that we must have for our lives to be meaningful. These include Food, water, clothing, sleep, and shelter.  Jesus points out that all human beings pursue them.  And they are the first things that human beings desire to achieve first. The rest become secondary. By the way these Physical Needs Math. 6:25-31 are the first layer of Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of Human Needs The others include the need of Safety & Security, Love 7 Belonging, Esteem and Self-actualization. Jesus unequivocally states that in our pursuits of all things, God should be ranked as our ultimate priority (Mathew 6:33).

As we try to understand this brashness about setting God as first pursuit, we have four truths to consider when Putting God First

1. Don’t be Anxious in Your Pursuits (Mathew 6:25, 27, 31)
   • Don’t be anxious over life, food, drink, clothing and your tomorrow.
   • God knows what you need and he would ensure you have them.
   • God takes care of the Birds who don’t hassle as much as you do: But you are of more value than the birds.
   • Your anxiety does not add value to your life. It does non lengthen your life (Mathew 6;27).
   • Jesus warns against being consumed by secondary pursuits of food, clothes, and tomorrow’s worries while neglecting essential pursuits of the Spirit.
   • When earthly needs dominate, anxiety rules.
   • Misdirected priorities lead to misplaced energy and disappointment.
   • Are we seeking possessions more than His presence? Comfort more than His calling?
   • What is taking “first place” in Your life right now?
2. As You Pursue Your Dreams, Be Different from Unbelievers (Mathew 6:32)
   • Both believers and those that are not pursue these Physical needs.
   • Non-believers do not place God in the environment of their pursuits.
   • However, your Pursuit, should be characterized by a trust in a God who is able to do great things.
   • Unfortunately, without the proper order of Priorities we exhibit the same emotional behaviors as none believers: We are stressed as non-believers, we cut corners as non-believers, we bribe as non-believers.
   • How different are you from a non-believer in your pursuits?
3. Make God your First and Ultimate Priority
   • Priorities creates the form of Pursuits: what we place first determines what follows.
   • Many chase money, fame, relationships, or comfort, but Jesus calls us to a higher order.
   • Matthew 6:33 reveals the divine order of priorities: God first, everything else after.
   • Prioritize God in Your Pursuit (Mathew 6:33).  Seek God first before and above other demands in life.
   • Seek His Kingdom: His reign, His rule. His Authority over your life.
   • The Word Seek is very strong, it means an active pursuit, not a casual interest.
   • Seek to understand and pursue what he demands first.
   • Seek His Righteousness: His standards of living. Seek his Ethical demands.
   • Seek His Kingdom first: means first above career, ambitions, wealth, even family.
   • God is not denying the power and importance of seeking these other things, He just demands that we do it in the right order.
   • How can You reorder Your daily routines to seek God first?
   • Illustration: A jar filled with big rocks, then pebbles, then sand. If the sand (small things) goes first, the big rocks (important things) won’t fit. But if the big rocks go first, everything else fits around them.
4. Good Results Follow Right Priorities
   • Life is consequences of decisions, choices, judgment we make.
   • Priorities are like a compass—they determine direction.
   • Most times for believers, life is a consequence of the ordered priorities.
   • When God is first, everything else finds its place.
   • “Put God first, and you’ll never come last in His plan".
   • Provision follows priority. Peace follows surrender. Purpose follows obedience.
   • God Promises that the acquiring of these other things is easier when our priorities are well ordered: “…and all these things shall be added to you.”
   • God takes care of those who put Him first.
   • What “things” have You been chasing that God promises to add if You trust Him?
   • Biblical Example: Solomon asked for wisdom to lead God’s people (1 Kings 3). God gave him wisdom and riches, honor, and influence.

 Prioritizing God Practically

• Prioritize Time with God
• Obey His Word Above All
• Put God First in Finances
• Order Your Relationships Around Him
• Serve God Faithfully
• Trust Him with Your Future
• Live a Lifestyle of a Witness
• Make Kingdom come before Career

Putting God first means He’s not just a part of our schedule but the center of our life—the One we measure all decisions, relationships, and dreams against.

Altar

• Spirit of God teach me and help me in how to make Yahweh be First in my life.