What are your priorities this summer? What would you say they are on a more long-term scale? We all have priorities. These are the things that are important to us and direct our time, resources, and energy. Priorities inform our to-do lists. They shape our decisions and the way we see the world.
As we study the Sermon on the Mount, we see that Jesus isn’t simply interested in helping us to become people who appear to be good, moral people. He wants to transform who we are, and from there, our outer lives will change. He wants us to live the life of the Kingdom from the inside out.
Kingdom Priorities
Message by Josh Mutter – May 30, 2021
Matthew 6:19-34 NIV
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
“Therefore 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? Look 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If 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? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Jesus teaches us that we are faced with conflicting priorities.
Jesus teaches us that our hearts are shaped by what consumes our focus.
Jesus teaches us that you can only have one ultimate authority.
Jesus teaches us that when God is our priority, the other things of life find their proper place.
Application:
Living Simply:
We value uncluttered lives, which free us to love boldly, give generously, and serve joyfully.
- We practice simplicity by building margin into our schedules.
- We practice simplicity by decluttering stuff.
- We practice simplicity by giving generously of our resources.
About Josh Mutter: Josh Mutter is the Lead Pastor at Westheights Community Church. Josh is married to Michelle and they have two very busy little boys named Silas & Isaac. Josh enjoys long walks on the beach and smooth jazz – well, not really. But he does enjoy time with his family, spending time outdoors, watching baseball, sipping coffee and reading a good book.
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