WHAT ABOUT OUR PRIORITIES?

  1. Who or What is #1?
    1. "We’re #1, We’re #1, We’re #1!" This is the competitive chant of every athletic team. And why?
      Because every team wants to win and end the season on top. Coaches don’t send their teams in to lose.
      • And what corporation desires to be number 5 or 6 in their field? In the business world it’s dog-eat-dog out there and we need to get ahead of our competition to gain customers and bag the big account that’ll pay off big time and put us individually or corporately in the top position.
      • The sad reality is that even churches get into a competitive mode when they start quoting Sunday School or worship attendance, number of conversions, or a multiplicity of projects and programs.
      • Now don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. It’s not wrong to win the championship and be #1.

      It’s not a sin to be successful in the business world. And it’s certainly not wrong for us to desire having a larger attendance in our assemblies and seek to have more conversions … We’re supposed to help the Kingdom of God grow and expand! But is it simply about larger numbers?

      But we have to ask ourselves, "Who or what is number 1 in your life?" And before we just rattle off the answer from the top of our heads, let's take a few moments to examine what dominates our thoughts, our dreams and ambitions, and where we spend our finances and our time.

      Have you ever found it difficult to put anything in front of your career? … your goals or your desires?
      At times it is difficult because the reality is that we are number 1 in our own eyes.

    2. One small indication that we are #1 in our own eyes is what happens when we look at the newly developed pictures. When we first look at the pictures our eyes are drawn toward … ourselves.
      It may be a great pose of everyone else, but if I didn’t smile right or if I had my eyes closed … the picture just wasn’t that good.
      So we’ll spend some time looking at and considering our priorities.

  2. It goes without saying … or does it?
    1. So who should be #1 in our lives? We know the right answer is God, Jesus, His Kingdom.
      Matthew 6:33
      "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

      We know this to be true, but that doesn’t mean that it automatically happens in our lives. It comes down to a matter of choices. In fact, our entire life is made up of a series of choices. These various alternatives can even appear equally attractive but will lead to entirely different destinations.

    2. The priorities that we possess function as a signpost to help determine which road to travel.
      Think about the challenge Joshua gave to the Israelites as they hesitated at a confusing crossroad …
      Joshua 24:14-15
      "Now fear the LORD and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

      Joshua knew that devotion couldn’t be split in two directions because divided loyalties couldn’t maintain balance for long. In the end, we’ll always lean toward one direction or the other.

    3. Jesus also knew this to be true and He taught about it in the Sermon on the Mount.
      Matthew 6:24
      "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

    4. It should be obvious that God must occupy first place in our lives because He created us and He is the absolute authority for us.
      Consider Colossians 1:13-18
      Jesus should have first place in everything!!! EVERYTHING!!!
    • How about it Mom and Dad, son or daughter, is Jesus the Lord of your life? Does He have 1st place?
    • As a husband or wife, is Jesus in the center of your relationship with your spouse?
    • If you’re single and are dating, does Jesus occupy first place in that relationship or do you find yourself making moral compromises because of a divided loyalty?
    • To you who are in the marketplace, in your professional life when it comes to your career, do you consider what Jesus wants for you before you make that decision?
    • Regardless of your life situation, does He have first place in everything for your life?
    God’s desire is to be in the center of every facet of your life, but the choice is yours to make.

  3. The Great Banquet
    1. In Luke 14:15-24 Jesus told a parable about priorities that centered around a dinner party.
      v. 15-20
      If the host in this parable had been important enough to those invited, they would have made his dinner a top priority.
      But there were other interests that had their attention. Property … possessions … passion for another person.
      These things are not wrong if they are put in proper perspective. Our love for the Lord has to come first!!!

      v. 21-24
      Contextually and historically, the parable refers to the Gospel invitation that was refused by the Jews and was extended instead to the Gentiles.
      But this parable also has some application to us as well. If we’re too occupied with other priorities, then we can hardly expect to enjoy the feast of fellowship He has offered to those who put Him first.

    2. The Ultimate Choice is up to YOU!
      Today, God is still inviting people to a huge banquet - This delicious meal has been prepared and is spread out … ready for you to sit down and enjoy. He invites you to a great life in His Kingdom.
      What are you doing with His personal request that you dine and live with Him forever?
        Imagine how God felt when people ignored His invitation.
      If you’ve not given it serious thought yet, isn’t it time for you to answer the invitation & come to Jesus today?
    Luke 9:57-62 - The Cost of Following Jesus
      Perhaps you’ve answered the invitation to come to Jesus but have since turned your back and walked away like these individuals …
      God’s feast will be filled with people who love Him and put Him first. Will you be there?

Ted Edwards

West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR
Morning Sermon, 19 September 1999

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