It is interesting the way money issues are coming up in our society.  Recently a group of men won the lottery which gave each of them 15 million a piece overnight.  A popular TV show is “Deal or No Deal” in which people win one hundred to three million dollars in less then a half hour.  A game show is called “Who wants to be a millionaire?”  A popular song a while back had the lyrics, “If I had a million dollars.”  People often ask the question, “What would you do with a million dollars?” 

The answer to this question often shows the priorities of people.  You hear them say, “I will give some to my grandchildren, or part to a charity, or I am going on a trip around the world, buying a car or a house, getting married,” or some other answer.

           As Christians we think a little different than the world around us about our money and our possessions.  We affirm that everything we own belongs to God.  We also affirm that what we have is given to us to manage, to take care of, for God. 

           So when we come to the issues of “what are my priorities” we bow to God’s priorities.  If it belongs to him, then we use it the way God wants us to use it.  If he is owner, he also sets the priorities.

           The main verse I see that discusses priorities is in Matthew 6. 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 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. 25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Mt. 6:19 -33).

What is a priority?  The dictionary defines it as “a thing that is regarded as more important than another.”  The Ed Hatch definition is similar but a little different.  “A priority is what we do when faced with a choice.”  The difference is that the dictionary says we “regard” something as more important.  My definition speaks about taking that regard and putting it into action.  In other words, our priorities are clearly seen in what we do when faced with a choice.

For example, a person can say that family is important to them.  But after work, they stop off at the gym for a workout, grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant, attend a meeting for the preservation of the Maine ostrich in the evening, socialize after the meeting, come home, kiss their spouse and go to bed.  I would say that the priorities of that person for that day did not include family.  Our priorities are what we do, not what we say.

So what are our priorities?  I want to start with a negative.  The accumulation of worldly possessions is not a priority for the Christian.  Jesus is very clear on this point.  Notice that Jesus tells us that our heart is found right beside our treasure. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

Some people treasure food.  Others treasure clothing.  But Jesus makes a clear distinction between those who run after food and clothing and those who don’t. 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  So often, as our affluence increases, our hearts treasure and run after food and clothing.

I hesitate to go in this direction, because I feel the guilt as well, but Jesus is advocating a simple lifestyle.  Worrying about what we eat or drink or wear is what pagans do.  Trying to dress to please our friends or fit into our culture’s expectations is a pagan idea.  The world is trying to force us into a mold.  We need to resist.

We are a consumer driven economy.  It’s natural and normal to want what our neighbors have.  But though it is natural and normal, it doesn’t make it Christian.  Some day we may face God’s judgment as a nation because we used God’s resources, the things he owns, to make life easier for ourselves.

Our heavenly Father knows what you need and will provide it.

When it comes to priorities, we have two. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

The first is the God’s kingdom and righteousness; the second is everything else.

In the scenario I put forth earlier in which I described a person whose priority was not their family, though you might have thought I was critical of that person, I was not necessarily thinking that way.

If God wants us at work, then work is our priority. If God wants us with our family, then family becomes a priority.  If God wants us to be involved in community events, then those events for that period of time become a priority. 

Picture if you can a wind chime. Hanging from the chime on strings are each individual chime. They are attached together at the top of the wind chime.  In the middle is a pendulum.  The pendulum only strikes one chime at a time.  Each chime is important, but only one note is sounded. 

So God calls us to a balance in our lives.  But it is under his supervision, under his direction that we decide what the priority is for that minute. 

What is central to this picture is the hub and the hub is Jesus Christ.  We are not to seek riches or wealth or fame.  We are to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness.  If we get a lower paying job because we have to be honest, we do so because righteousness is more important to us than money.  If we are called to ministry and it means downsizing, we do it, because we want the kingdom of God with all of our heart.

It is at this very point that we are mixed up.  We spend our lives running after things.  Our Father knows what we need.  Run after God.  Make his kingdom, his righteousness your priority.

It may be that you will be given riches.  Last week we saw in the parable that each person was given a different amount of money.  The key was that they invested it wisely for the master.

Under this priority of seeking the kingdom of God, I would like to list two areas that are stressed in the Bible.

The first is found in Romans: 13: 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour. (Ro 13:7).

This tells us to pay our debts.  I would like to say three things about debts.

First, debts are promises that are to be kept.  You are not in debt if you have agreed to pay someone a hundred dollars a month and are doing so.  Certainly what you owe is considered a debt, but the debt you owe is what is either required of your or what has been agreed up.

This payment of debt is so important for those who are seeking the kingdom of God.  I don’t know about you, but I would hate to have anyone think badly of Christ because I didn’t keep my promises.  The kingdom of heaven suffers when Christians don’t pay their bills on time.  For those we know who know we are Christians, the non-payment of our bills is a black mark on our Christianity.  We can talk about how much the person is rich and doesn’t need the money as much as us, we can talk about how corrupt government is and doesn’t need our taxes, we can talk about how hard our situation is and be callous towards those whose money we have spent, but we need to understand that from the other end, our Christian testimony is hurt by this.  We get a little extra money and say, “I am going to eat out.  My debtors can wait.”  But God has given the little extra money to take a little of the pressure off, not to squander on yourself. 

I know that sometimes people cannot help get into debt.  But as a second thing to say about debts, I would like you to understand the parable of the pond.  The parable of the pond is simple.  As there are two ends on a pond, so there are two ends on our financial condition.  One end of the pond represents our income, the other represents our outgo.  As water comes into a pond though one end and goes out the others, so our money also comes in and goes out.

If what goes out of the pond is more than what goes in, the pond will be start to dry up.   There are only two solutions to this problem.  One either has to have extra water come in at one end, or build a dam and slow down the water leaving the pond.  In other words, if we are in debt, we either must increase our income or decrease our expenditures.

Which brings us back to the priority issue.  If we are seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, what are we spending our money on that may conflict with the righteous act of paying our bills?  Do we have extra telephones, television, credit cards, food costs, fun activities, eating out, or other things that can be eliminated?  A righteous person will get rid of these things in order to put their house in order.  Getting out of debt, being a righteous person, will take priority over having things.

Third, avoid debt to begin with if possible. We need homes and it is tough to have homes without bills.  But we need to consider what we have for homes in light of our first priority, the kingdom of heaven.  In our society, we need cars.  But what we own for cars needs to be a responsible use of God’s money.  I think you will agree with me that buying things on credit cards that you cannot immediately pay back without incurring interest is a bad use of the money God has given for you to manage.  You increase the cost of an item by almost 30% when you make minimum payments on a credit card.  The item on sale for 10% off is going to be about 20% more expensive or more than the original price when you pay it off over time.  Don’t buy what you can’t afford.  Be a good steward of what God has entrusted you with.

Then, finally, not only is our first priority the kingdom of heaven and not only are we to pay our debts, but a third area is helping those who are in need.

28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. (Eph. 4:28). 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Ga. 6:9 -10).

The New Testament church was a giving church.  The deacons in the church in Jerusalem were collecting money from other Christians to help the widows in the church survive.  Paul was provided support as he traveled from the churches in Macedonia who gave out of their poverty.  When there was a famine in Jerusalem, the churches in the rest of the Roman Empire sent money through Paul to help their brothers and sisters in Christ.

This church has been a giving church.  Today is an example as we took an offering to help the Flints with the special needs they have at this time.  Our deacons have worked behind the scenes to help those who have needed help.  Many in our church have given of their monies, their time, their expertise to provide assistance to people who have needed help.  The Exchange shop has helped ease the budget of many families inside and outside the church.  Some of us have benefited from the generosity of others.

And in these practical aspects of love comes one reason the church has grown.  As each does their part in love, the body grows.  There is a direct correlation between our testimony as a church and our willingness to help those in need.  I heard an interview on MPBN radio of a man who I think came from Thailand and was a witness to the efforts during Hurricane Katrina.  She asked him what impressed him and his answer was one that I have not seen get much press.  He said, “In a country where a lot of people depend on government help, pastors in pulpits were telling their people to get involved.  Churches were providing or building shelter and sending money and workers to rebuild homes. “  He was impressed at the generosity of the church. 

So what are our priorities?  Our priority is to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness.  This affects how we get our money and how we spend it.  We are to pay our bills and help the poor.  We are to advance the kingdom of God on this earth.

This leads us to our next question, “Where is my vision?”  This will discuss the issue of the real treasure of our hearts.  Come next week for that.

           The first priority is to the kingdom of heaven.

           The second priority is providing for needs.

           The third priority is helping the poor.