SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS

MATTHEW 6:3

A. WHAT HAVE PEOPLE NOT UNDERTAKEN IN THEIR ADVENTURE FOR EARTHLY GAIN?
  1. Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage: Gen. 25:31-34; Heb. 12:16
  2. Lot chose Sodom because that valley was very fertile: Gen. 13:13, 14
  3. Balaam sought to curse Israel for gain: Num. 23:1-3; Jude 11
  4. Judas sold the Prince of life for thirty pieces of silver: Matt. 26:15, 16
  5. Ananias and Sapphira attempted to lie to Peter because of the filthy lucre: Acts 5:1-11
B. "SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD"
  1. Its value is immeasurable:
    1. In it dwelleth righteousness - 2 Pet. 3:13
    2. It is eternal - Heb. 12:28; Dan. 2:44, 45
    3. Its glories cannot be comprehended by us - 1 Cor. 2:9-11
    4. It is without money or price - Isa. 55:1-3
    5. It includes all God's promises - 2 Cor. 1:20; Gal. 3:16
  2. "And his righteousness":
    1. Jesus Christ is the embodiment of God's righteousness - 1 Cor. 1:30, 31; Jer. 23:6
    2. God's law is righteousness - Ps. 119:172
  3. God's requirements are most reasonable:
    1. Our temporal needs are not overlooked by our heavenly Father - Matt. 6:24-34
    2. "My God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" - Phil. 4:19
    3. They, too, are the gift of God -
      1. "Give us this day our daily bread" - Matt. 6:11
      2. They are added unto us - Matt. 6:33
    4. For our heavenly Father knows and supplies our needs - Matt. 6:33
    5. If we could learn this lesson and have childlike faith in God.
C. SOME REASONS WHY WE SHOULD TAKE HEED TO THE ADMONITION OF OUR LORD
  1. We must heed the admonition:
    1. Because of our natural tendency to be preoccupied with the cares of this life - Luke 21:34; Matt. 13:22
    2. Because of our ignorance of true values - John 6:27
  2. There is a great risk in our delay:
    1. This is illustrated in the parable of the five foolish virgins - Matt. 25:1-12
    2. Our own life is so uncertain - Luke 12:20; Gen. 33:17-20
    3. God's appointed time is Now - 2 Cor. 6:1-3; Heb. 3:7-9
  3. Rule of God's kingdom:
    1. First things come first -
      1. Moses had to remove his shoes first before he could commune with the Lord - Ex. 2:5
      2. His hands had to be held first before the army could win against the enemy - Ex. 17:11
      3. Abraham had to go all the way in offering Isaac before the Lord demonstrated that he provided for himself a sacrifice - Gen. 22:1- 12
  4. Why so few seek the kingdom of God first:
    1. God's kingdom is light, and sinners love darkness rather than light - John 3:19-21
    2. God's kingdom is based upon truth and righteousness, but the world would rather believe a lie and refuse to comply with the principles of the kingdom.
    3. The kingdom of God requires self-denial, and so many people do not want to deny themselves - Matt. 19:16-22
    4. There is a price attached to seeking the kingdom of God, stated by the Son of God - Matt. 10:34-36; Mark 10:28-30; Matt. 19:16-22
    5. The kingdom of God is based upon love, and the world does not possess this heavenly gift.


Design © John Bryant 2011