First Things First

Peter G Kuskie, Australia

Introduction

·        2 Cor 8:10  And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; ¹¹but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. ¹²For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

·        Ecc 9:10 What ever your hand finds to do do with all your might.

·        Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least. Goethe

 

Different stages of life

·        Some young - life in front of you – many possible roads to take.

 

·        Some working - house payments to make, loans, family etc.

 

·        Some retired – different phase of life with new possibilities

 

·        No matter what stage we are at, we woke up this morning with choices to make – important choices, life affecting choices

 

·        In the scheme of life the are really no big or small choices – just choices with more immediate and discernable consequences

 

·        We are responsible for our choices & how we choose impacts both our lives and the lives of those around us – whether a river is in flood or a trickle, it is carving a course.

 

There are those that would have us believe we are not responsible

3 social maps to explain the nature of man

 

1.  Genetic determinism – your grandparents did it to you – that’s why you have a temper – it’s in your DNA.

2.  Psychic determinism – your parents did it to you – upbringing, childhood experiences, rejection, fears

3.  Environmental determinism – boss, spouse, economy did it to you – someone or thing is responsible for your situation

 

Ø            To blame any of the above for our actions is a cop out.  As human beings we are responsible for our own lives

Ø            Response-ability – the ability to choose our response

 

·        What are the most important choices I can make? Trouble is we have a multitude of choices and decisions to make – how do we know what is the right thing for us to do?

·        Study on the word “first” in the New Testament

 

1.  Seek God’s kingdom

Matt 6:31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

 

·        Seek - search for something hidden\

·        First – in time, place, in succession of things or persons, order or importance, influence, honour, chief, principle, at the beginning

·        Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and everything else will fall into place

 

What stops us?

·        The nearer something is to our heart the more potentially dangerous it is

1. Activity

ü      Lk 9:59  ⁵⁹Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” ⁰Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” ⁶¹And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” ⁶²But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

 

ü      All about the spontaneity of our response – did not say “when you are ready follow me.”

 

ü      Who knows but if the person goes back and buries their father they may get caught up in the will, managing the estate etc – call of God becomes distant.

 

ü      The person who bids farewell may have a girl who he is interested in, family member may get sick – again the call of God is put off due to the clamour of every day life.

 

ü      Illustration – picking flower petals to show passage of time in putting off God’s call:  teenager – my friends are more important; young adult – embarking on a career; 30’s – family to raise; 50’s – peek of career; retirement – earned a break.

 

ü      Disciples Simon, Andrew, James & John – Jesus said follow me & they followed immediately (immediately left their nets, arose from receipt of customs)

 

ü      Paul talking about the Macedonians in  2 Cor 8:5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God..

 

2.                Money  Pro 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: ¹⁰So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

 

3.                Relationship – there is no greater disservice we can do to another human being then to put them before God.

 

·        Man looks on the outside – God looks on the heart.

·        Can have many priorities that are reasonable and right but must be ready to drop everything and respond instantly to God’s voice and call.

·        Test – how loosely are we holding on to the things around us?

 

2.  Count the Cost

Lk 14:28  For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—²⁹lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

 

·        It is possible to be a follower of Jesus & not a disciple

·        In the world it is the financial members that are the back bone of any organization

·        Counting the cost is determining to give all we have in the pursuit of Gods kingdom - time, talents, resources, weaknesses.

·        By counting the cost of seeking first God’s kingdom and remaining true to that commitment, we build strength of character which makes possible every other positive thing in our lives.

·        Starting is nothing – finishing is everything – the cheering at the starting line is nothing compared to what it is at the finish.

·        The world is full of people that have started but have not gone on with it – particularly true in church.

 

What stops us?

1.      Moods

·        Ecc 9:10 What ever your hand finds to do do with all your might.

·        What is the point of doing anything half heartedly?

·        To see results give it all you got despite your feelings!

·        Are we ruled by a deep commitment to God or by our emotions?

·        Wonderful to get caught up in the emotion of worship and the inspiration of a message and fellowship but there are times when we are alone & not only are there no good feelings, but there is also a tug of war in our hearts.

·        When we count the cost there is a burning “yes” inside that makes it possible to say no to other things.

·        Counting the cost is functioning out of our commitment & values rather then out of impulses or desires at any given moment.

 

2.  Self Will

Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least. Goethe

Song 2:15  Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vineyards; For our vineyards are in blossom.

·        Illustration – Our will (clock) & God’s will (compass)

Clock (progress of time, heading away from God’s plan) – wood work course – marrying - hobbies dominate life

Compass – (heading in God’s direction, seeking his will) God says no to wood work course but says join chess club, make friends – some saved – harvest for God – marry God’s choice – joint ministry – multiplied blessing.

·        So often we concentrate on doing things right without asking are we doing the right thing.

·        It is doing what matters most – including the things we don’t want to do. 

·        Means what we do is determined by & subject to the strength of our purpose.

 

3.  Examine yourself

1 Cor 11:28 let a man (first implied) examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.
Gal 6:4  But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵For each one shall bear his own load.

 

Ability to examine ourselves is one of the unique human endowments that sets us apart from the animals

1.                  Self aware – ability to take a look at ourselves – examine thinking, motives, habits, beliefs -  Self awareness enables us to stand apart & examine the way we “see” ourselves

2.                  Conscience – internal guidance system – acting or not according to principle

3.                  Creative Imagination – ability to create in our minds beyond our present reality

4.                  Independent will – capacity to act free of all other influences

5.                  Spirit – communion with God

 

·        Common saying “you think it is all about you don’t you?”

·        It is all about me when it comes to relationship with God.

·        Jn 21:22  Then Peter, turning about, sees the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrays you? ²¹Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? ²²Jesus said to him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you? You follow me.

·        “Man why is God is blessing so & so when I am faithfully working for Him?” – What is that to you – you follow Me!

·        “If the boss knew what I know about that person they would have never have given the promotion.”  What is that to you – you follow Me!

·        “How come that person has found someone & I have been praying for years for a partner?” What is that to you – you follow Me!

·        Examining ourselves is not a case of navel gazing or misguided introspection but of examining ourselves in the light of Gods word.

·        Jewish Rabbi saying “The true disciple learns in order that he may do, not in order that he may merely know or teach.

 

What stops us?

1.  Don’t like what we see.

Ø      Jms 1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

Ø       Illustration (God’s word – mirror and water)

Word of God – mirror – we look in it and we see ourselves and don’t like what we see, so we choose not to read word for fear of conviction

Ø      Word of God – water (Eph 5:26) – however the word does not only convict but it cleanses when we respond with repentance and commitment to God’s purposes.

 

2.  Too busy comparing ourselves with others

·        2 Cor 10:12  But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

·        Quit looking at others – their abilities, weaknesses – there will always be people more or less gifted then yourself.

·        It is what we do with what we are given that counts.  2 Cor 8:12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

 

Conclusion

 

Now what?

Nero fiddled while Rome burned – may have been playing right but not doing the right thing.

Questions to ask:

Ø      Am I seeking first God’s kingdom and righteousness, knowing that as I do everything else will fall into place?

Ø      Am I counting the cost by giving my all and not giving in to mood swings or my own will?

Ø      Am I examining myself honestly in the light of Gods word and availing myself of its cleansing, transforming power?

 

Am I doing the right things, before doing things right?

 

Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least. Goethe

 

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