Matthew 6:33 NKJV “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”.

Someone once said, and I quote “If you focus on the priority, you eliminate all the confusions.” For the Christian, this should mean putting God first in your life. Jesus summed it up this way: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). We are sometimes obsessed with what we will eat, drink, wear, and other necessities of life. These are not necessarily bad things to think about, but Jesus is saying that we should not make them the focus of our lives. Instead, we should put God first. We should seek first the kingdom of God: the rule and reign of Christ in our lives. When the Bible tells us to seek the kingdom of God first, that means simply putting Jesus first in our lives. Make yourself available for the work of the kingdom. It has been said that one of the greatest ability in the kingdom of God is availability. Think about God’s will when you make decisions. Do not put money first, career first, politics first or even ministry first. Put God first in your life, and the rest will be blessed (Matthew 6:32). What it means is that God will “supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NKJV). So put Him first.

Proverbs 29:25 NLT “Fearing people is a dangerous trap.”

If your goal in life is to have the approval of people, you will never really feel secure, because the time will come when you do something they disapprove of; then what? The Bible says, “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety” (Proverbs 29: 25 NLT). A trap is just another word for a prison. If someone other than God can determine your worth as a person, that someone can make you feel like a prisoner anytime they decide to. When a critic’s opinion becomes your own opinion, you are living in a prison of your own making. The reality is, some of the people you are trying so hard to impress will never be impressed. Knowing that enables you to work alongside people without allowing yourself to be controlled by their moods and governed by their opinions. Each time Paul went to another town, people were meeting and hearing him for the first time. Some of them liked him, and some did not. He writes, “For some say, ‘Paul’s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!’” (2 Corinthians 10:10 NLT). So how did Paul handle this? He writes, “Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant” (Galatians 1:10 NLT). In order to feel secure in life and fulfilled in what God has called you to do, you must reach the place where you can be confident that you are loved and approved by God, and that is what matters!

2 Timothy2:3 “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

The Christian life is greatest life to live, because God takes a life that was empty, aimless, and headed for destruction, then turns it around and transforms it. He forgives all our sin, removes our guilt, and literally takes residence inside of us through the Holy Spirit. Most importantly, He changes our eternal address from a place called Hell to a place called Heaven. This all comes about as a result of the power of the gospel proclaimed and believed. But in this day and age some have believed what I would describe as a watered-down version of the gospel, a gospel that promises forgiveness but rarely mentions the need to repent of your sin, a gospel that promises peace but never warns of tribulation, a gospel that says God wants you to be healthy and wealthy and never have any problems to speak of, a gospel that says you will so find the favor of God that everything will be at your call and beckon. But that is not the gospel of the New Testament. The Christian life is not a playground, but a battleground (Ephesians 6:12). Not only is there a God who loves you and has a plan for your life, but there is also a devil who hates you and wants to oppose God’s plan. I am not saying that once you become a Christian, you will be sick, poor, and miserable, but the fundamental nature of the Christian life is to continuously know and walk with God through His grace and love. It is about sticking with Him when the sky is blue and also when it is filled with clouds. It is for better or for worse. Jesus made it clear that storms will enter every life (John 16:33). But as we seek to know and follow Christ, we will live in peace and victory (Psalm 34:19).