Seek first the Kingdom of God is a command, not a suggestion.

God’s people have to stop seeking the kingdom of man. Men build their own kingdoms so they can do what they want. The kingdoms of this world are becoming the Kingdoms of our Lord and Christ. This means that He will swallow up every kingdom that is not based on His.

Jesus said we were to seek first His Kingdom. Our first priority, above everything else we do in life is to seek, and find His Kingdom. Without being born again a person cannot even see the Kingdom of God much less enter into it.

Disorder is a manifestation of the fall and is satanically inspired. Order is a work of the Holy Spirit in the regeneration of the principles and Presence of the King and His domain [Kingdom rule].

When our world is filled with chaos and confusion it is a clear indication we are not seeking His Kingdom, or that we have not found it, or we are not living according to its principles.

His Kingdom is a Kingdom of order!

“Let all things be done decently and in order” [1 Corinthians 14:40]. It is all about our priorities.

1] Let ~ Allow, make the time and take the effort
2] All things ~ Everything I am responsible for
3] Be done ~ Get er done! Do not allow things to stack up so high we get discouraged and stop trying.
4] Decently ~ According to the accepted standards of respectable, ethical, legal and moral behavior.
5] Order ~ The state in which everything is in its correct or appropriate place; the overall condition of something

It is much better for us to not take on responsibilities we are not prepared or willing to handle. “It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, and afterward to reconsider his vows” [Proverbs 20:25].

I think I have heard most, if not all the excuses people come up with to explain why they cannot [or will not] follow through on their commitments. I am no longer amazed by the lack of integrity, even among Christians.

Most all of us have the best intentions, but when we will we start being responsible?

Responsible ~ The obligation to do something, or having control over something, or properly managing something or ourselves. Responsible also means capable of being trusted. It also carries with it the idea of being answerable to a superior.

Irresponsible ~ Not showing a proper sense of responsibility.

Jesus said this about responsibility, “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches” [Luke 16:10,11]?

The King looks for faithfulness in what we consider to be unimportant matters. These are areas where no one else can see how we conduct ourselves. How do we act in the privacy of our homes? What is the condition of our homes? Is there disorder there?

Jesus also looks at the way we handle material things such as money and our possessions. The way we take care or do not take care of our natural possessions gives Jesus a great deal of information of how we will steward true riches. True riches are those things that are spiritual in nature. These are eternal in nature.

Jesus also said this about faithfulness, “And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own” [Luke 16:12].

How do we handle other people’s stuff? What do we think of our boss’, or pastor’s vision? How do we conduct ourselves with the responsibilities that we have given and taken as our own?

You see, if we cannot or will not come into alignment with what belongs to someone else and treat it and them with respect then how do we think we can be trusted with our own business, vision or whatever?

David understood this even though he served a king that did not deserve his loyalty. Saul tried three times to kill David because he was jealous of him but David kept trying to serve Saul faithfully. It finally got to the point where David had to distance himself in order to save his own life.

David was faithful to Saul because he was a faithful man. He had proven his faithfulness in the far side of the pasture lands tending his father’s sheep. This is how God knew He could trust David with his people Israel, who were called the sheep of His pasture.

God said of David, “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel” [2 Samuel 7:8].

And yet there are kings, leaders, and bosses who serve the people they oversee with dignity, honor and respect and what they get in return is excuses. “Well if you only knew of my situation.” People say this not even realizing most kings, bosses and leaders do not start at the top.

Most people who have been promoted have worked from the ground up. I realize there are exceptions. Most every person that has ascended to a place of leadership has had to overcome all kinds of challenges. These numerous challenges stood in the way of the commitments that they had made.

Friends, it is all about priorities. I know there are times when unforeseen things pop up and we have to make other arrangements. But we do not live out of those few situations that are out of the ordinary. We live out of our core beliefs and the decisions we make tell us all a lot about our core beliefs.

For instance, a person takes on a responsibility and they are forever late in delivering what they promised to do. What does this say about that person? Well, it may say they are busy, or it may say that their lives have changed dramatically since they made the commitment. Or, it may be a tell tell sign that they are living from disorder and not order.

It may tell us they have no disciplines in their life. If most of our world is chaotic then we need to take a look at what kingdom we are functioning out of.

Jesus is watching us my friends. Promotion comes from the Lord and He loves promoting people. But He does not want to promote us past our character and our ability or willingness to be responsible.

“Lead us not into temptation” does not mean what it appears to mean. God never tempts anyone. God also never leads us to do something we are not equipped to do. That would be abuse and God is not an abuser.

If the Lord leads us to take on responsibilities then the Lord believes we can accomplish all the tasks associated with the responsibilities. The failure is never with the Lord. If we fail to be responsible it is because we have not managed our priorities.

Now, if we have assumed we were to take on some responsibility and we are way out of our league then the best thing to do is help with the transition of responsibilities to someone better suited to perform the tasks.

There is no shame in trying and not accomplishing what we wanted to do. Failure is being afraid to attempt things.

Seek first the Kingdom of God. His Kingdom has principles for success because He is a principled success. His Kingdom operates differently from the kingdoms of this world.

In His Kingdom ~

Life flows out of honor
Life comes when we die to ourselves
Giving is better than receiving
Promotion comes through faithfulness not giftedness
Greatness comes through service

You see, in His Kingdom He is King and He has already set the example for us to follow.

For HIS Glory!

Dr. Kevin M. Drury
A Hisstorymaker