FIRST THINGS FIRST

CONTEXT

MATTHEW 6:25-34

25Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you – you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

3 QUESTIONS FOR GETTING YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT

1. What is the Kingdom of God?  

2. What Distracts Me from Prioritizing the Kingdom of God?

3. Am I Seeking the Kingdom of God?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

· Bailey, Kenneth E. Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels. IVP Academic. Downers Grove, IL. 2008.

· Greig, Pete. How to Pray – A Simple Guide for Normal People. NavPress. 2019.

· Keller, Timothy. Why Do We Need the Bible? (Sermon on the Mount Series). 1990.

· McKnight, Scot. Sermon on the Mount (The Story of God Bible Commentary). Zondervan. Grand Rapids, MI. 2013.

· Stott, John. The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (The Bible Speaks Today Series – Matthew 5-7: Christian Counter-Culture). IVP Academic. Downers Grove, IL. 1985.

· Willard, Dallas. The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God. Harper Collins. New York, NY. 1998.