PUT THE KINGDOM FIRST – Pastor Chris
Monday, July 19, 2021
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s (Philippians 2:19-21).
When I came across the scripture above many years ago, it caught my attention. Paul was deeply concerned about the church in Philippi, and desired to minister to them. But he couldn’t personally visit them, because he was in prison. Then he said to them, “Timothy is the one that I can send to you, because the others seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. How enlightening!
There’re many like that in the Church today; they seek their own and live unto themselves; they’re selfish. Yet, the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:15, “…that he (Christ) died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
Selfish people can’t walk in truth, and can’t truly walk in love. Selfishness is contrary to the Word of God. When you have a dream for something you want to do, even if it’s something you want to do for God, it’s important you ask yourself what your real motivation is. You may find yourself struggling between the love of God and the love of yourself, struggling between serving Jesus and serving your interests.
That’s what Paul was referring to; He could only pick Timothy, of the several people he had with him, to send to the Philippian church. Paul was convinced Timothy would do the work from a pure heart; he’d do it selflessly, in love. Paul was writing, not just for that day but also for us to learn.
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus communicated a similar thought when He said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” He didn’t say the first of the things you should seek is the Kingdom of God and after that you can seek other things. No; He said be Kingdom-conscious; pursue Kingdom expansion and the establishment of God’s righteousness; put that first, and you’ll never need to struggle for anything in life.
Trust God with your life; serve Him with a pure heart, and watch Him take you from glory to glory.
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PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you for your words of counsel and admonition. I live every day purposefully, serving you with my life, for your glory. Above everything else, I put the expansion of the Kingdom first, serving you in love, with a perfect heart and a willing mind, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Chronicles 25:1-2 Amaziah [was] twenty and five years old [when] he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name [was] Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2 And he did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart. ||
Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING:
1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Acts 26:2-18 & Psalms 17-18
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Luke 9:37-48 & Joshua 15
