THAT WAS A JOKE! This year brought a new level of political distraction. For the last several months, our phones have been bombarded with text message after text message from politicians trying to gain our vote. It was annoying and a huge waste of time!
The discussion of politics has grown into an ever-present beast of distraction. I remember a time when presidential candidates campaigned for only the year of the election. Now, it is nonstop campaigning year after year. I don’t know about you, but I have given up way too much time to politicians.
Now that the election is over, it’s a good time to refocus our attention. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells us exactly what our priority should be. He says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” If we truly believe the Bible and that we have eternal souls, then the only thing that matters is where we will spend that eternity. So, the number one thing that should be on our minds is getting to heaven.
In the verses leading up to this amazing statement, the Lord exposes the problems with placing our priorities elsewhere. Whether we are talking about prioritizing possessions, money, or daily needs, Jesus is clear that, in the end, none of them are more important than your eternal destiny.
In verses 19-23, Jesus talks about “treasures on earth” (AKA: possessions). They may bring plenty of temporary convenience or entertainment, but they all share the same fate. Eventually “…Moth and rust destroy…” or “…thieves break in and steal” (v. 20). Many choose to satisfy their wants instead of serving others. What possessions matter in eternity?
In verse 24, Jesus brings our attention to money. Money is exchanged for just about anything in this world. You need money in order to survive. So, to make sure we can live comfortably, we spend a lot of time making money and putting it away in banks or investments. But Jesus warns us, “You cannot serve God and mammon.” Many people will put making the next buck before serving the church. How much money is your soul worth?
In verses 25-32, Jesus takes this concept to its ultimate degree—daily needs. Some things are necessary to live. He summarizes them as what we eat, drink, and wear. Jesus says “…do not worry…For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (vv. 31-32). Many cannot accept that even our needs cannot take priority. If we trust in God to take care of us in eternity, then we must trust Him to take care of us in life.
A lot of things have taken our attention. Let’s refocus our priorities and put the kingdom of God first in our lives.