Kingdom Priorities
I have heard it expressed that to truly know a person, you need only to look at this his or her calendar and checkbook. Is this an oversimplification? Probably. However, it does warrant consideration. How do we truly define a person? We typically say that actions speak louder than words – and rightly so. After all, it is not accurate to judge an individual primarily on intentions. Intentions, while helpful, will not reflect everyday decisions and general life practice. Priorities, on the other hand, tend to identify a person very well.
From a biblical perspective, Matthew 6 is one of several good places to study in relation to God’s perspective on our priorities. God is very interested in our priorities. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6.24). In order to understand this a little bit easier, you could simply replace “mammon” with “money.” However, contextually, I believe the better option is to think in terms of materialism. Wealth and possessions, while intrinsically neutral, can easily become the principal objects of our daily existence. The pursuit, or dare I say love, of these things can dominate our day-to-day actions.
Jesus transitions from the impossibility of serving God and wealth to the priorities of one’s life on a daily basis (Matthew 6.25-33). He alludes to necessary items such as food and clothing in the context of not worrying about these things. The word for anxious in this text is interesting. It is the same idea expressed in Luke 10.38-42 with Mary and Martha. In that text, the lesson is clearly defined by Jesus. Luke notes in verse 40 that Martha was distracted. Jesus identifies this in verse 41 as being anxious. He then gives the necessary correction. In that setting, only ONE thing was necessary, and Mary chose correctly.
How does this relate to Matthew 6? On this occasion Jesus taught the same lesson to the crowds about discipleship. The idea of anxious is not the idea of stress and anxiety. Rather, it is about priority and distraction. Having priorities as basic as food and clothing can distract us from seeking FIRST God’s kingdom. Like Martha’s desire to serve, our need for food and clothing is good. However, in view of the reality of God’s kingdom in this world, Christians must prioritize in a way that is fundamentally different than the average person. As Jesus noted, the Gentiles (or those who do not follow the true God of this world) prioritize their lives after these things. However, we know that God is the Creator of this world, Jesus gave His life for a sacrifice, and rules today over His kingdom, the church. That knowledge changed every part of the apostles’ lives nearly two thousand years ago. Similarly, it should alter our priorities as well.
So, take a long look at your life and the life of your family. How much of it revolves around God’s kingdom? Too often Christianity is seen primarily as a religion of not doing certain bad things. While God’s word certainly calls us to abstain from various actions, Christianity is OVERWELMINGLY about doing things in harmony with kingdom priorities. In the spirit of Jesus’ teaching, consider your life. Do your priorities define you? Are those priorities of God or of the world? If they are of the world, then it is time to heed the message of Jesus and change. Start small if you must. Think of just ONE THING that you can do this week in harmony with God’s desire for His kingdom. Maybe it begins with prayer, or simple Bible reading. As you begin to ponder this one thing, hopefully you realize that possibilities exist all around us every day. But realize that as your priorities change, you change also.