Message topic: What is most important to you?
Scripture text: Galatian 6: 1-10
How many of you are among the large percentage of people who does not like to be questioned by anyone at any time? Since you do not enjoy this, how often do you question yourself about anything? And how do you grade your answers to yourself?
We may not like the idea of being questioned, but we cannot avoid being questioned by someone at some time about something for one reason or the other, and how honest are you in your answers when you have not forget the remark which you believe was unfear to you?
Time and time again we have been encouraged to forgive those who have trespass against us, and we sing, all to Jesus I surrender, all to him I freely give; I will ever love and trust him, in his presence daily live. As I surrender all, but how many of those words are true?
The bible is known as the greatest book in the world by mankind everywhere: within its pages are many stories so I am going to shear a story with you this morning that is found in the bible, and another which is not found in the bible, but has a relevance to our lives.
First the story which is not in the bible: a well-known wealthy man who met a new friend and wanted to show him all that he owned, he took his new friend to a point on the property which he owned and said to him, all this oil field that you can see by looking north is mine: and if you turn and look east, all the cattle you can see, they belong to me, if you turn and look as far as your eyes can see west, all the farm land which you can see, it all belongs to me.
This super rich man did not know that his new friend was a doctor of divinity, who turn and look at him, point his finger up to heaven and asked, how much do you have up there? But he got no answer.
Now, I am not going to tell you of a story that is in the bible, I am going to remind you of the rich farmer who looked at the rich harvest he was expected to have and concluded that he will not have enough space to store all his goods, he will have to destroy the old barns, build new and bigger ones, then he will be able to sit back and say to myself, I have much for a long time to come.
Then God said unto him, thou fool, this night your soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layette up treasures for himself, and is not rich towards God.
You may be among those who does not likes to be questioned, but I am going to ask you this question: are your treasures laid up hear on this earth or is it in heaven with God?
What does it mean to put God first? And how do we go about it? The Lord desire is for you to place Him first in your life, but he knows it can be hard with the worries of life. He wants you to place Him first, for he is the one who ultimately establishes your steps.
Placing God first in our lives is extremely important for us as believers. If we place God as the first and forefront of our lives, our lives will be full of joy, love, and grace. Choosing to place other things at the top of our lives will only leave us feeling hollow, hurt, and alone. Busy schedules, entertainment, technology, careers and success, even our children can take first seat in our lives.
While these things may be good for us, only God can satisfy our soul and it is His plan for our lives that will bring true fulfillment. Putting God first means making Him the center and highest priority in your life. it involves giving God supremacy over all aspects of your existence, including your thoughts, actions, decisions, and values. Here are a few key verses that emphasize the idea of putting God first.
Matthew 6:33: but seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you. This verse from the sermon on the mount encourages believers to prioritize God’s kingdom and righteousness above worldly concerns.
Exodus 20:3. You shall have no other gods before me. This is one of the Ten Commandments, explicitly stating that God should be the foremost and exclusive object of worship and devotion.
Deuteronomy 6: 5 says we must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all soul, and with all your might. This verse emphasizes wholehearted love and devotion to God.
Proverbs 3: 6 remind us to in all our ways to submit to God, and He will make your paths straight, acknowledging God in all your actions and decisions is a way of putting God first.
Putting God first means aligning your life with his will, seeking his guidance, and prioritizing the fruit of the Spirit, those qualities and characteristics of a follower of Christ. It involves living in a way that reflects your love and devotion to God above all else, even in the midst of worldly distractions and challenges.
We put God first because He is the solid foundation to build our lives upon. The second reason why we need to put God first in our lives is because God needs to be the solid foundation that we build our lives upon. Jesus shared a parable of this truth during His earthly ministry.
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who build his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the wind blow and beat against that house and it fell with a grate crash (Matthew 7: 24-27.) We put God first, to live our lives for Him. when God is placed first and foremost in our lives, we will be able to better live our lives for him.
The Holy Spirit can help us live our lives to please God by walking in his steps. Paul tells us this about walking in accordance with the Holy Spirit, so I say walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh, for the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.
They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
You may still not like to be questioned, but let me ask you this question? What do you think of the man who had more than he could ever enjoy in his investments, and the rich former who will have to build greater barns to store his goods?
Then what about the man who built his house on the sand? Are you willing to follow in the steps of any of these men and loose it all in eternity? Or, are you willing to listen to the intercessor who is residing at the right hand of the father in heaven pleading for you?
The rich man after showing all his positions, has come to realize that he had noting, if he did not have a hope of heaven through the Christ the intercessor. Are you willing to forgive those whom you believe had trespass against you and let your friend and savior teach you how to forgive as he have forgiven you of your trespasses against him? forgive he said, and you will also be forgiven through the intercessory of the one who is sitting at the right handoff the father in haven and interceding for all mankind.