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Jesus tells us to seek God's kingdom first, but we tend to think about ourselves first; what we will eat, wear or where we will live and how do we make money, then we usually think about God and His kingdom. Jesus puts things in reverse order here saying to seek God first and everything else falls into place. I don't know about you but this can be really hard. It is like living with no physical reassurance that He will fulfill His promise, until we actually start seeing miracles happen we tend to worry.
Now, we don't want to become fools and not care, think or work for these things that we need of course not! :) But we are to get our priorities straight and put God and His domain first.
Proverbs 14:23-24 NIV
All hard work brings a profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
The wealth of the wise is their crown,
but the folly of fools yields folly.
but the folly of fools yields folly.
Here in Proverbs we see that that it is right to work hard. The product of our hard work brings wealth. We need to think about money and food but we are not to make this our focus or worry about it. God should be our focus and be concerned about His heart. When we care more about the kingdom of God then ourselves then He will provide for our needs. Does this mean a fancy home and rich foods? No, but it does mean that we will have enough to eat, clothes on our back and a dry place to live. Keeping up with the Jones' is not part of God's plan for us.
North American's are spoiled, we have the good life, but really is it good without God as number one? Physical comforts do not make for a happy heart, only God can do that. Too many people are seeking the good life. I challenge you, seek God first and I guarantee you will be happier than you ever have been. Why? Because we were created to worship Him and if we don't we are empty, missing something. We start worshiping created things but these things are not alive and cannot give us what we need; love from the Father.
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Amen. You're right-- it is difficult. I pray that we all have the faith and discipline to do put Jesus first!
ReplyDeleteBless you, friend :)
Hi Emily,
ReplyDeleteI like your prayer! You know I am such a failure at this, even though I try to put Jesus first 24/7, Satan sneaks in I find I am focusing on self. :(
Blessings to you too, friend.
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So true. We can get so blinded by thinking that stuff and schedules and all that will make us happy. It's really only Jesus.
ReplyDeleteWould you pray for my Samuel on Thursday? He's having a repeat biopsy.
Thank you so much.
Rachel
Hi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI just left a comment on your cookie post; I will be praying for Samuel. Hoping for healthy biopsy report.
Smiles,
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Like with everything else, I had to learn this the hard way!
ReplyDeleteHi Ma,
ReplyDeleteYea, me too and the hard way can really hurt! :s But it sure does stick when you have scars to remind you to put Him first. :)
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You know this spoke to me and ministered to my heart! I just overheard my hubby telling someone today that Matthew 6:33 is the most important Scripture in the entire Bible, and if we do that ONE thing, seek first the kingdom of God, we can't lose. So true! I am guilty of doing the opposite, or reverse, of seeking "all these things" first and THEN waiting for the Kingdom of God to just, I don't know, appear in the midst. Not cool!
ReplyDeleteHi Kimberly,
ReplyDeleteYour husband is so on! This is the first commandment too.
Don't be hard on yourself, we are ALL guilty of it and I am sure often. :( Ever since we were babies all we really thought about was ourselves, old habits die hard.
Thanks to Jesus we have many opportunities to be redeemed. Praise God!!
Smiling,
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Thank you for this reminder Child of God. Hope you're having a blessed weekend. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Vilisi,
ReplyDeleteGreat weekend so far and today is the best day for it is Sunday and I can go and worship God with my church family.
Hope your weekend has been good and relaxing. :)
Smiles,
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Hi Child of God,
ReplyDeleteThis post nails the truth down... that if we really want to live, then we need to seek the Life-giver first and foremost!
We are citizens of an upside down kingdom, which operates on a totally different economy - that less is more, that the way to greatness is becoming a servant, that the last becomes first, that to enter the kingdom of heaven one has to become as a child, and that to lose our life is to find it!
Thank you for this post! Blessings on your Sunday evening.
Love
Lidj
Hi Lidj,
ReplyDeleteWe are indeed citizens of an upside down kingdom but when we really look close we learn that it is our earthly ways that are upside down. A hard fact to get use to. :s
It is tough trying to do as Jesus especially when the home waters are in torment. I find I often stink when the waves become wild. Throw me in the middle of the ocean in a hurricane and I can keep my eyes on Jesus and walk to safety, but allow rough waters in my home and I sink like a rock. :(
I am very glad God has a lot of patience and will work with us. :)
Blessings,
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Amen! What a powerful message. I often fall short of putting His kingdom first. Trying hard to change all that. When we do manage to stay focused, it's amazing how much simpler life becomes. When He's in control, life is good!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Tammy
Hi Tammy,
ReplyDeleteI am so thankful that Jesus went through all of the temptation, He knows how hard it is! I am so thankful He understands and I am so thankful He was strong enough to resist Satan, in truth, He is the only one that can totally resit. He is our strong Man, I am glad that He is our Rock!!
You are so right when you say when He is in control, life is good. It is just the giving of control over to Him that is tough for we so often want to take it back.
Blessings,
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Blessings,
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