Matthew 6:33 - Make Christ First And Last And Best In Everything!!!
Matthew 6:33 (NLT) Seek the Kingdom of God
above all else, and live righteously, and he will
give you everything you need.
INTRODUCTION
To seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness means to give him first place in your
life. It means to turn to God first for help, to
fill your thoughts with his desires, to take his
character for your pattern, and to serve and obey him
in everything. What is really important to you?
People, objects, goals, and other desires all
compete for priority. Any of these can quickly bump
God out of first place if you dont actively
choose to give him first place in every area of
your life. [Life Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARLS
We are to make Him first and last and best
in everything. We are to engage in no business,
follow no pursuit, seek no pleasure, that would
hinder the outworking of His righteousness in our
character and life. Whatever we do is to be done
heartily, as unto the Lord If we follow His
example, His assurance to us is that all things
needful in this life "shall be added." MB99
Make Christ first and last and best in
everything. Constantly behold Him, and your love for Him
will daily become deeper and stronger as it is
submitted to the test of trial. AH106
Whatever our department of labor, be it
housework or field work or intellectual pursuits, we
may perform it to the glory of God so long as we
make Christ first and last and best in
everything. 5T459
COMMENTARY
The Key to a Balanced Life: Jesus
If you want to live a truly balanced
life, you can only look at one person in all of
history as your model: Jesus. When you put him at
the center of your life, your life will be more
balanced.
Think of your life like a wheel. The
center of the wheel is a hub. All of the spokes of
your life (which represent your relationships,
your family, your career, your goals, and so on)
come from that hub. We all build our lives around
some sort of hub. The question is, what will be
your hub? Will it be your family? Will it be your
career? Will it be money?
Or will it be Jesus?
How do you know what youre building
your life around? Take a look at whatever you
think about the most. Thats what is driving
you.
The center of your life is critical to
developing a balanced life. A solid center leads to a
solid life. A weak, flimsy center leads to a weak
life. When people tell me their lives are coming
unglued, it usually means one thing: They have a
faulty center. Something other than God has taken
priority in their lives.
Not only does the hub create stability,
but it also controls and influences everything
else about your life. Whatever you put at the
center of your life will also be your source of
power. The power of a wheel always emanates from
the center outward - never the other way
around.
Make Jesus the hub of your life, and
hell provide the stability, control, and power
you need. The Bible says, Seek first Gods
kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other
needs will be met as well (Matthew 6:33 NCV).
When you choose to put Jesus at the
center, all the other areas of your life - from your
family to your career to your goals - will find
balance in him. He will direct your life, empower
it, and give it stability. [Daily Devotional by
Rick Warren: https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
CLOSING THOUGHTS
I once wrote this resolve:
Today, I will live today. Yesterday has
passed. Tomorrow is not yet. I'm
left with today. So, today, I will
live today.
Relive yesterday? No. I will learn from
it. I will seek mercy for it. I
will take joy in it. But I won't live
in it.
Worry about the future? To what gain? It
deserves a glance, nothing more. I
can't change tomorrow until tomorrow.
Today, I will live today. I will face
today's challenges with today's
strength. I will dance today's waltz
with today's music. I will celebrate
today's opportunities with today's
hope. Today.
May I laugh, listen, learn, and love. And
tomorrow, if it comes, may I do so
again.
A new day awaits you, my friend. A new
season in which you will worry less and trust more.
A season with reduced fear and enhanced faith.
Can you imagine a life in which you are anxious
for nothing? God can. And, with his help, you
will experience it. [You Can Count On God by Max
Lucado]
Worry is blind, and cannot discern the
future; but Jesus sees the end from the beginning.
In every difficulty He has His way prepared to
bring relief. Our Heavenly Father has a thousand
ways to provide for us, of which we know nothing.
Those who accept the one principle of making
the service and honor of God supreme, will find
perplexities vanish, and a plain path before their feet.
DA330
"Prayer does not change God, but it changes
him who prays." [The Practice of the Presence of
God: 40 Day Devotional by Brother Lawrence/Alan
Vermilye]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Matthew 6:33 - Make Christ First And Last
And Best In Everything!!!
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220117-0850.html
Matthew 6:33 - Put Jesus First and All These
Things Will Be Added.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201002-0935.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/