(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)
We all face challenges in life, although some of them are more demanding than others.
Matthew describes an event where Satan tries several times to sidetrack Jesus before the rabbi even begins his public ministry. The final attempt is a blatant challenge to the sovereignty of God in which Jesus' response shows that he understands what is foremost.
III. The Foremost Commitment1
...which promotes...
Knowing that there is more to life than what is happening here and that there is someone caring for you while you are here, enables you to think "outside the box," outside the natural realm, to view the big picture of what God is doing and actually take part. So, Jesus says in v. 33...
1. Your purpose—the direction of your life here—must stress spiritual concerns.
That is where you must concentrate, what you must "seek first,"5 because there, in that endeavor, is where you can make the most meaningful contribution to advancing God's agenda. In so doing, by making God's priority your own...
2. Your purpose—if it accords with His purpose—will resolve physical concerns, as well.
That is, you will position yourself optimally (in the center of God's will) to receive God's provision for your needs, "all these things" most people think are most important.
That assurance is not always easy to see. Food does not simply appear on the table, nor do clothes suddenly appear in your closet. You must work to provide them, and even then there may be some uncertainty whether you will have sufficient funds. Jesus' point is that you must not be anxious over what you cannot control,6 like meeting your temporal needs, but you must take action where you can contribute, namely advancing God's program, "His kingdom" (v. 33).
It is not that the (so-called) necessities of life are unimportant or that the believer might at times be in want of them. The apostle Paul recounts to the Corinthian church his own experience...7
With all that vies for your energy and anxiety, it is vital that you not settle for a limited contribution to what God is about but that you have the foremost commitment clearly before you at all times. Your life must showcase the program of God, demonstrating that spiritual concerns are primary, clearly evident in your desire to advance God's priorities more than your own, and demonstrating that physical concerns are secondary, trusting God to meet the needs that cause others distress and distraction. As with the passion for God, the program of God is worthy of nothing less, and He demands nothing less.
Having considered The Foremost Commitment, we will look next at The Foremost Comportment, which exhibits the piety of God, in 1 Tim 4:8.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
A pig and a chicken were walking by a church where a large and colorful sign announced a fair that weekend featuring games, rides, and a prize-winning, breakfast cook-off. Getting caught up in the spirit, the pig suggested to the chicken that they each make a contribution toward the breakfast. "That's a great idea," the chicken exclaimed, "and I know just what will win. Let's offer them ham and eggs?" ..."Not so fast," said the pig. "For you, that's a limited contribution.... For me, it's a total commitment."We all face challenges in life, some of them more demanding than others. The question is how to decide which challenges warrant our limited contribution and which challenges warrant our total commitment.
Matthew describes an event where Satan tries several times to sidetrack Jesus before the rabbi even begins his public ministry. The final attempt is a blatant challenge to the sovereignty of God in which Jesus' response shows that he understands what is foremost.
Matt 4:8 ...the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only."Jesus' answer is from Deuteronomy 6 (v. 13) and restates what he identifies later as The Foremost Commandment, which is to possess a passion for God. This should certainly be at the top of every believer's list of What Is Foremost, but it must not be the only thing on the list. Jesus then talks about The Foremost Complement to that command, which is the pairing by God with another command. In an earlier sermon, Jesus says that catalog should also include...
III. The Foremost Commitment1
...which promotes...
- The program of God (Matt 6:31, 33)2
Matt 6:31 [Jesus admonished his disciples: D]o not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ...33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.Concentrating on the foremost commandment to love and serve God does not mean a disciple is oblivious to other matters, like the need for food and clothing.3 These can be a significant cause for anxiety, especially when they are lacking, yet Jesus makes them a matter of trust. There is a popular saying: 'Let go and let God.' That is, a person must let go of the common compulsion he has to meet his own needs, and let God meet those needs. This does not mean that he can shirk his responsibility to support himself or his family,4 but that he must not allow whatever difficulty he encounters in such a task to bring him despair. Reaching the limit of one's ability is not cause for anxiety but is an opportunity to witness God's ability. Annie Flint (1866-1932) addressed this issue in her hymn, He Giveth More Grace.
...When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,The biblical principle behind the adage—Let go and let God—is that one should not assume a responsibility that properly belongs to Him. As Jesus says earlier in the chapter...
Our Father's full giving is only begun. (V. 2)
...For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth and giveth and giveth again. (Chorus)
Matt 6:25 ...do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?God established a hierarchy in creation that has people close to the top, just "a little lower than the angels" (Heb 2:7), and only those at that upper level realize there is more to life than what they see here. If people were in charge of the universe, they would see to the survival of those who matter most, namely themselves, yet God cares for all His creatures, even the least of them. So, He will surely care for His people.
Knowing that there is more to life than what is happening here and that there is someone caring for you while you are here, enables you to think "outside the box," outside the natural realm, to view the big picture of what God is doing and actually take part. So, Jesus says in v. 33...
1. Your purpose—the direction of your life here—must stress spiritual concerns.
That is where you must concentrate, what you must "seek first,"5 because there, in that endeavor, is where you can make the most meaningful contribution to advancing God's agenda. In so doing, by making God's priority your own...
2. Your purpose—if it accords with His purpose—will resolve physical concerns, as well.
That is, you will position yourself optimally (in the center of God's will) to receive God's provision for your needs, "all these things" most people think are most important.
That assurance is not always easy to see. Food does not simply appear on the table, nor do clothes suddenly appear in your closet. You must work to provide them, and even then there may be some uncertainty whether you will have sufficient funds. Jesus' point is that you must not be anxious over what you cannot control,6 like meeting your temporal needs, but you must take action where you can contribute, namely advancing God's program, "His kingdom" (v. 33).
It is not that the (so-called) necessities of life are unimportant or that the believer might at times be in want of them. The apostle Paul recounts to the Corinthian church his own experience...7
2 Cor 11:27b I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.Paul's experience, difficult as it was, does not discount God's concern for His people or His ability to meet their needs. The apostle writes elsewhere...8
Phil 4:19 ...God will supply all your needs [On what basis?] according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.That unwavering confidence in God is what enables Paul—and should enable you—to "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [you] heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:14), whatever your financial state may be.
With all that vies for your energy and anxiety, it is vital that you not settle for a limited contribution to what God is about but that you have the foremost commitment clearly before you at all times. Your life must showcase the program of God, demonstrating that spiritual concerns are primary, clearly evident in your desire to advance God's priorities more than your own, and demonstrating that physical concerns are secondary, trusting God to meet the needs that cause others distress and distraction. As with the passion for God, the program of God is worthy of nothing less, and He demands nothing less.
Having considered The Foremost Commitment, we will look next at The Foremost Comportment, which exhibits the piety of God, in 1 Tim 4:8.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Relevant and civil comments are welcome. Whether there will be any response depends on whether Dr. Manuel notices them and has the time and inclination to respond or, if not, whether I feel competent to do so.
Jim Skaggs