The Most Important Need
Griffith Baptist Church – 1/27/08
A.M. Service
Text: Matthew 6:25-34
Key verse: Matthew 6:33a
The Introduction
Two blondes were flying to Miami from Cleveland. Fifteen minutes into the flight, the captain announced "One of the engines has failed and the flight will be an hour longer. But don’t worry we have three engines left".
Thirty minutes later, the captain announced "One more engine has failed and the flight will be two hours longer. But don’t worry we have two engines left".
An hour later the captain announced "One more engine has failed and the flight will be three hours longer. But don’t worry we have one engine left".
One blonde looked at the other the other blonde and said "If we lose one more engine, we’ll be up here all day"
Said the Robin to the Sparrow: "I should really like to know Why these anxious human beings Rush about and worry so." Said the Sparrow to the Robin: "Friend, I think that it must be that they have no heavenly Father Such as cares for you and me." Elizabeth Cheney
But we do have a heavenly Father who has something more important to talk about than worry.
1. Let’s take a look at what Christ is actually getting at in this teaching:
“Take no thought” is mentioned in verses 25, 31, 34
o V. 25 – no thought for: food, clothing (i.e. basic necessities). Life over all.
o Question: (v. 25d) – Isn’t life more than about getting our basic needs met? Survival?
o 4 Illus. – (1) birds fed by God-26, (2) height determined by God-27, (3) lilies beautified by God -28, (4) grass grown and nourished by God -30
o V. 30 - O ye of little faith – All this evidence and your still worried!!!
o Vs. 31-32 – God knows so don’t worry about it. Your way more important than all of these.
o Now the main thought in verse 33: BUT, Seek ye first . . .
2. What we do is spend our time worrying about all the things that could happen and not fully understanding what it means to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first – Philippians 4:6 - Be careful (anxious) for nothing; . . .
3. The main point of Christ’s teaching is not that we should not worry because our needs will be provided but that we are to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness?
A. Christ doesn’t want us concerned about this life first. We are to be upward focused.
i. John 14:27 - . . . Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
ii. John 16:33 - . . . be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
4. Seeking does not mean looking for what is lost but continually pursuing and highly valuing that which is found – Matthew 13:44-46 - 44Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
An Evangelist of long ago named Henry Drummond said this: “Above all things do not touch Christianity unless you are willing to seek the kingdom first. I promise you a miserable existence if you seek it second”.
Key Question: What does it mean to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness?
Body
1. Seeking God’s Kingdom means to live under the authority of the King
A. It requires you to be born again – John 3:3, 5, 7 – (verse 7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
i. 1 Peter 1:18-23 – 18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, . . . 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
ii. Without this first step of faith, it is impossible to enter the kingdom of God – Matthew 18:3 - And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
B. It requires sanctification
i. A lady was going away to meet some friends and bring them home with her. She had left her children at home with the understanding that they were to be clean when she returned with the company. She said to the children upon leaving, "Now here is plenty of soap and water and here are your clothes and I will expect you to be clean and dressed up when I return." What she had made provisions for and had demanded she would require. So it is with the Lord. Provisions have been made, at awful cost, for the cleansing of the heart. Holiness! God demands it. "Be ye holy." And what he has provided for and demands He will require. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."
ii. Two main parts to sanctification for us here:
a. Separation from evil - Leviticus 11:44 – For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: . . . (Lev. 20:7; 1 Thes. 4:3)
b. Dedication to God and His service – Galatians 2:20 - 20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
2. Seeking God’s kingdom means that what is important to the King is important to you
A. The Proclamation of the Gospel
i. The ongoing command of the church - Acts 1:8 - . . . ye shall be witnesses unto me . . .
ii. Jesus saying to the man who had been possessed of the devil - Mark 5:19 – Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
B. Each Christian is to be a witness (reconciler) - 2 Corinthians 5:18
C. Reliance upon and obedience to His Word
i. It is light for a dark and dangerous way - Psalms 119:105 – Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
ii. It is understanding in a complicated and confusing world - Psalms 119:130
iii. We can and must trust it and obey it - John 17:17
D. Eagerly anticipating His return
i. Titus 2:13 – Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
ii. A crown is reserved for us who love His return - 2 Timothy 4:8 – Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (Romans 8:23)
iii. Waiting for a glorified body that is indestructible - 2 Corinthians 5:2 (1 Cor. 15:53-54)
iv. The last prayer in the Bible sums up what we should all be looking forward to - Revelation 22:20 - He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
3. Seeking God’s righteousness means living God’s way
A. Our philosophy of life; our lifestyle
i. That which is our driving force
ii. That which is a way of life for us; our values.
iii. It directs us – 2 Peter 3:11 - Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
B. God first
i. Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning God . . .
ii. In Gen. 3 it all fell apart – when God is replaced and His righteous demands ignored, everything falls apart
C. Nothing is more important - Philippians 3:8-9 – Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
D. A strong desire to know Him and obey Him - Matthew 5:6 - Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Conclusion:
What comes first in your life, God or you?
God says that the most important need in your life is Him.
