Seek First
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and He will give you everything you need.”
Worship is about focus. In Matthew 7, Jesus tells us that we cannot serve God and money. We cannot have two masters. Now we all know this. I don’t think anyone who goes to church with any regularity or calls themselves “Christian” would say, “Oh yes, I serve money.” But sometimes we do, don’t we?
“I cannot go to church because I have to work.”
“I cannot read the Bible because I have to go to work.”
“I cannot give to the Lord because I don’t have enough money.”
“I cannot give to the Lord because I am so deeply in debt.”
“I cannot give to this homeless person because they might misuse my money.”
I could go on, but you get the point. I have heard all of those things said by people over the years. The god of America is money, and many people who go to church bow down at its altar. Instead, we are told to seek God’s Kingdom first. I could point you to a lot of Scriptures, but instead I just want to share one story:
In 2006, I was the student pastor of a church on James Island, SC. I had an intern who had grown up in the church and was attending the College of Charleston. She was seeking to enter ministry eventually. She got a job at Harris Teeter and told me one week that she wouldn’t be there on Sundays anymore because she had to work. She needed the money. I told her that God told us to keep a weekly Sabbath for a reason and if she would do that, He would provide for her needs. I suggested she try it for two months. She agreed.
For the next two months, she didn’t work any Sundays, which meant fewer hours and less money. However, at the end, she told me that “somehow”, all her needs were being met. She has not worked Sundays since.
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and He will give you everything you need.”
As you prepare for our gathering this Sunday, I encourage you to listen to “Seek First” and consider if you are seeking His kingdom first. If not, what does repentance look like for you, and how can you change your focus and reorient your life?
In His bonds,
Josh+
Seek First
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfAusAxKaaE
Goodness of God
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f4MUUMWMV4
All Creatures
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSFK7UiH5Us
Revelation Song