Priority

Let us read the words of Jesus Matthew Chapter 6 verses 25-33:

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31 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.

This portion of the Sermon on the Mount taught by Jesus is about the need for those who claim they trust in God to establish a priority.

It is a priority that even the fowl of the air and the lilies of the field have mastered. The proof of that is that they are fed and clothed by their creator without any effort on their part. God is responsible for their care by virtue of their existence in his world. He created them for his pleasure and guarantees their provision.

Are ye not much better than they?

Now, the challenge for humans lies in the gift of free will the author of life has implanted in our souls.

See, Jesus in no way exempts us from personal responsibility nor does he promote slothfulness. His goal is to focus our occupation on divine purpose.

So while we should take no thought of the three necessities of life Jesus mentions, that is what to eat, what to drink, and what we shall wear, the promise comes with an attachment.

The first element we must comprehend is that of life itself. Jesus asks,

Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Some folks live to eat. And others are obsessed with the latest fashions and the most popular designer of the day. Neither of these lusts should be a part of the life of that one who is in personal proximity to the God of the universe. Gluttony and covetousness are discouraged. When in the care of the great provider and the master designer those concerns are illegitimate.

Humans so preoccupied with these low shelf emotions are not closely linked to God. They are narcissistic and void of life appreciation.

Secondly, Jesus asks, Are ye not much better than they?

Another need humans have is that of knowing their rank in the divine order of placement. Humans, particularly those in covenant with the eternal Father, need consciousness of their elevated position above all other creation and non covenant beings. We are much better because he has willed it so. Privilege belongs to the family. Those birthed of the Spirit sit at the table of the King. Lack has no place there.

Notice, Jesus prompts our thinking with questions.

The third interrogative is, Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

The human powerlessness to effect radical change by taking thought, or worrying, is manifested. Worry is needless wear on the psyche. It is a non productive use of energy.

In verse 30 the converse force for good is addressed. The question Jesus places before us is, Shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? In the question is the identity of the source of our dismay.

O ye of little faith.

Let us then find the solution. Jesus deals with the matter all the way through. He does not leave us wondering what to do. Jesus addresses our needs questions with his enlightening questions. And then he states the unequivocal solution to the matter.

We read on to verse 33. It is a well known word but today we have reinserted it into context to make better application.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

You have no need of the Greek lexicon to know the meaning of those words.

We started out by saying, This portion of the Sermon on the Mount taught by Jesus is about the need for those who claim they trust in God to establish a priority.

The priority is in your search. When the kingdom of God becomes your primary spiritual google you will enter into God’s addition plan of constant supply. Amen. -PJF- 5/15/15

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