September 4 | Week 1: Grace and Devotion
Run After His Kingdom & His Righteousness
Matthew 6:31-34
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
1. What do people who do not know God run after (v. 32)? They run after food, drink, and clothing. “Food, Drink, and Clothing” are all necessities. If we don’t believe in God, then we “run” after them, because we lack the faith that he is going to take care of us. It is a matter of priority – and anyone faithless would say, “What am I supposed to do? Quit my job!?”
Believe, God Is In Control!
2. What are we told to seek first? What happens to the rest when we do? This is such a simple, exposing, and powerful teaching. I am called to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.
God is in control of everything. In 2009 I was blessed to be interviewed by the Walt Disney company for a Systems Engineering job. I finally got an interview after several stages of analysis, paperwork, and questionnaires. We were in dire straits financially, and we had little Paisley to consider. Certainly, I felt “a lot” at this point and was wrestling with this very sense of worry.
The Walt Disney Group Internview
I was walked into a conference room at the Glendale campus where five other engineers were sitting ready for a “group interview.” I was barraged with questions both techincal and professional and it was overall a positive experience. However, I thought of these very words and was prompted by my conscience to ensure everyone on this team knew exactly where I stood when it came His Kingdom and His Righteousness.
Respectfully, I explained that my faith is a priority for me, and that because of it I have more integrity, dilligence, and investment. Furthermore, my faith also protected my spiritual health, which reflects my emotional and mental health as well. Lastly, my faith encourages me to show kindness and respect to others, and therefore I believe helps me be a much better employee.
Standing On Seeking First His Kingdom
The room fell dead silent. I could hear a few of the East Coast engineers sighing a little on the phone – especially when I made it clear that this meant I did not work Sunday mornings, Wednesday evenings after 6:30, nor Friday evenings after 6:30. Honestly, I wanted to make certain every team member and the manager all heard about his kingdom and his righteousness so where I stood would be crystal clear.
I was escorted out of the room. I stepped outside where I immediately prayed and then called Rafi Basmadijan, the recruiter who set me up with this Disney interview/opportunity. Anxiously, I tripled checked with him regarding explaining my church (“kingdom”) committments. “I did tell (the manager), he knows and we talked through it – it should not be a problem” Rafi said confidently. Therefore, I did the only thing I could do, I prayed.
God’s Promises When We Seek First His Kingdom
To my surprise, despite the disdain and sighning of some of my fellow engineers, I was given the job. Confidently I can say, “this job was from God.” Why is that? Because God allowed me to have a career defining job that did not call me to compromise on this expectation of Jesus. I’m certain that God’s promises are true, if I seek first his kingdom he will give me all that I need. Thankfully, I did not need to compromise missing church or my conscience.
3. What does it look like, in real life, to put God’s kingdom first in your week, your finances, and your time? That means I make all the meetings of the body and prioritize my giving to God, including missions! That means I investing in disciples, in relationships, in evangelism and devote time to discipleship, bible studies, and outreach.
Where Is My Heart?
Luke 12:32-34
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
1. Where does verse 34 say your heart will be? Where my treasure is.
2. Look at how you spend your time and your money. What does it say about where your heart really is? Oof. Entertainment pulls on my heart and drains my time. Also, worry can infect and tug at my heart as well. It will be good to track everything I watch and my screentime this week. I am certain that will be convicting!
Give Careful Thought To My Ways!
Haggai 1:3-9
Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the LORD. “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the LORD Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.”
Am I Busy With My Own House?
1. What were the people busy building? What were they neglecting? The “people of God” are busy building their paneled houses and they are neglecting building God’s house.
2. Are you spending all your energy on your own house while God’s work waits? In what area? I don’t sense that I’m spending all my energy on my own house right now. We moved here to riverside to downsize. I do think about what the house needs, but it is more about how I am spending my time right now. Additionally, stuff around the house can totally distract me. Lastly, I should reflect – what am I doing to build God’s house actively?
APPLICATION: Look at your calendar and your bank account. Pick one way you can put God’s kingdom first this week, ahead of your own comfort, and do it.
I will change my calendar and plan bible talk. I’ll speak to Amy and insure that we invest in the people directly in our bible talk. Furthermore, we will discuss our giving to missions and our overall spending.
Amen
