INTRODUCTION
God has given every believer the responsibility of living according to His Kingdom and His purposes. However, it is possible to become so occupied with work, family, finances, career, relationships, personal ambitions and the cares of life that the things of God gradually take a secondary place. When we allow this to happen, it comes with dire consequences.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN KINGDOM PRIORITIES ARE NEGLECTED?
Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:25–32 addresses anxiety about food, clothing and material needs. He concludes by directing His followers toward the Kingdom.
When Kingdom priorities are displaced, several things can happen:
1. We Become Consumed By Material Things
Jesus said: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:21).
▪︎ What we treasure becomes our ultimate focus, captures and eventually rules our heart.
2. We Give Room For Satan To Attack Our Treasures
Satan’s plan and ultimate aim is to capture our hearts and, he will employ every means possible to achieve his aim. See Genesis 3:6. Compare 2Corinthians 11:3.
▪︎ When satan knows where our focus is, he will attack such areas in order to gain access to our hearts.
3. We Become Anxious About Things God Has Promised To Provide
Matthew 6:31–32 shows that excessive concern about material needs can distract us from trusting God. Check Philippians 4:6,19; Hebrews 10:23.
4. We Can Lose Sight Of Our Divine Assignment
Haggai 1:5,6,9 presents a people who were busy building their own houses while neglecting God’s house.
▪︎ Their activities were not necessarily wrong, but their priorities were wrong.
▪︎ When we put personal interests above God’s Kingdom, our efforts may become unproductive and our lives may lose their proper focus.
5. We May Achieve Things Without Experiencing God’s Purpose
Success outside God’s purpose can become an empty achievement. This leads to insatiable search for success through greed and covetousness. Check Hebrews 13:5.
▪︎ Psalm 127:1 says: “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”
Reflection Guestions:
1. What are the signs that God’s Kingdom is gradually losing its place in a person’s life?
2. What can we learn from the people of Israel in Haggai 1:2–9 about misplaced priorities?
CONCLUSION
When Kingdom priorities are neglected, the consequences may not always be immediately visible. We may continue to be busy, successful and active, yet lose spiritual direction, become distracted from God’s purpose, and gradually weaken our relationship with God. May this not be our experience in Jesus’ name.
PRAYERS
1. Merciful Father, have mercy on me and deliver me from every consequence of not making You the priority in any area of my life.
2. Father, help me to give You Your rightful place in my life.
3. O Lord, deliver me from every distraction, anxiety and worldly pursuit that is taking my attention away from You and Your purposes.
4. Heavenly Father, wherever my passion for You has grown cold or my commitment to Your Kingdom has weakened, restore me.
5. O Lord, reorder my priorities according to Your will. Give me wisdom to know what deserves my time, attention and resources.
6. In this assembly O Lord, we choose Your Kingdom above every other priority. Let all our plans and doings be aligned with Your purpose and will for Your Church.