INTRODUCTION
Our theme for the month of September is: “Pursuing Kingdom Priorities for All-round Fulfillment.” This is a clarion call for believers to reorder their lives according to God’s values.
Matthew 6:33 makes it clear that fulfillment is not primarily found in pursuing possessions, position, comfort, or personal ambitions, but in putting God’s Kingdom and His righteousness first.
We must note that, nothing is necessarily wrong with seeking or pursuing good things of life. The problem arises when good things become ultimate things and take the place that belongs to God in our lives. Check Matthew 22:37; Exodus 20:2-3.
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus gives us a divine order: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness…”
The word “first” is significant. Jesus is not merely asking us to include the Kingdom among our many priorities. He is asking us to make the Kingdom our highest priority (topmost on our scale of preference).
▪︎ Kingdom priority means arranging our lives around God, His will, His purposes and His righteousness.
▪︎ When our priorities are correctly ordered, our pursuits become properly directed and our lives become positioned for God’s intended fulfillment.
▪︎ All-round fulfillment therefore begins when we stop making ourselves the centre of our pursuits and make God’s Kingdom the centre of our lives.
5 KINGDOM PRIORITIES THAT SHOULD GOVERN THE BELIEVER’S LIFE
Priority 1: God Before Everything Else
“I am the LORD your God… You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:2–3)
▪︎ God must not compete with career, business, family, money, ministry, relationships or personal ambitions.
▪︎ God first—not because everything else is unimportant, but because everything else is properly understood when God comes first.
Priority 2: God’s Kingdom Before Personal Ambition
Apostle Paul said: “But what things were gain to me, those I have counted loss for Christ.” (Philippians 3:7).
▪︎The question should not merely be: “What do I want to achieve?”
We should also ask: “What does God want to achieve through my life?”
That is a Kingdom mindset.
Priority 3: Righteousness Before Recognition
Matthew 6:33 says: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness…”
▪︎ God is concerned not only about what we accomplish, but also who we become.
▪︎ Character must accompany achievement.
Proverbs 16:8 says: “Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice.”
Priority 4: God’s Will Before Personal Convenience
Jesus demonstrated this perfectly in Luke 22:42: “Not my will, but Yours, be done.”
▪︎ Kingdom living sometimes requires us to choose God’s will when it is inconvenient.
▪︎ True Kingdom pursuit is demonstrated by obedience, especially when obedience costs us something.
Priority 5: Eternal Things Before Temporal Things
Paul writes: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2).
Jesus also counsels in Matthew 6:19-20: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…”
▪︎ Earthly things have their place, but they must not become our ultimate focus.
We should live with eternity in view.
Reflection Question: Illustrate how we struggle to pursue Kingdom Priorities in the following areas of our lives: Time, Finances, Career, Business, Ambition, Service, Decisions, Relationships, Character, Eternity.
CONCLUSION
Kingdom Priorities entail a holistic perspective of a believer’s life. It involves putting God (first) into every area of your life. The goal is not to have a “church life” and a separate “ordinary life.” The goal is to make the whole life kingdom-centerd. May the Lord help us so to do in Jesus’ name.
PRAYERS
- Father, help me to seek You and Your Kingdom above every other pursuit.
- O Lord my God, deliver me from misplaced priorities, worldly distractions, and ambitions that are outside Your will.
- Today, I receive grace to put God first in my time, decisions, relationships, finances, careers, business, ambitions, character, and service.
- At every point in time, Lord, let my life reflect Your Kingdom and Your righteousness.
- Father, as we pursue Your Kingdom in this assembly, lead us into the fulfillment of Your purpose for our lives, families, church, and ministries. In Jesus’ name, Amen.