Focussing our life on the right things
Read this if you want to:
Understand the importance of focussing our life on the Kingdom of God
Know how to do this
1. Two chairs
We need to decide which of ‘two chairs’ to sit on:
What this world can offer.
or
The Kingdom of God.
If we try to sit on both - it won’t work and will be uncomfortable!
2. Which 'chair' should we sit on?
This is what Jesus told us in Matthew 13:44-46
44Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field;
the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
45Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
When God gives us the same message twice - it’s important.
Jesus told us to focus our life on what’s important - the Kingdom of Heaven.
(= the Kingdom of God)
Illustration
It’s like having a meal - when we place:
The main course food in the centre.
The cutlery & drink around the food.
God is our ‘main course food’ and we should fit everything else around Him:
We shouldn’t let the little things (= the day-to-day stuff in our life) determine the big things.
Instead - we should let the big things (= the Kingdom of God) determine the little things in our life.
Hudson Taylor would often say to his young recruits in the China Inland Mission:
“Satan will always find you something to do. You must understand that the hardest part of a missionary career is to maintain regular, prayerful Bible Study.”
Matthew 6:21 / Luke 12:34 ~ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Our ‘treasure’ is our: time, money & energy:
What do WE DO with our ‘treasure’?
This tells God & us what’s most important in our life.
3. Jesus gave us a great challenge in Luke 14
Verse 33
33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.
--> Jesus said that we CAN'T be His disciple, unless we PUT HIM AHEAD of everyone / everything else in our life.
Verses 34-35
34Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
35It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Q - What’s the main purpose of salt?
A - To flavour food.
Q - What if the salt no longer does that?
A - It’s useless --> so we throw it away.
Jesus is reinforcing His tough message:
If we DON'T put Him first in our life --> We’re USELESS to Him as a disciple.
Further reading
Exodus 20:3 / Deuteronomy 5:7 & 11:16-17
Matthew 7:21-23, 8:21-22, 16:24-25
Luke 9:23-25, 14:16-33
Acts 11:23
Revelation 2:4-5
4. Q - What happens when we do put God first?
Mark 10:28-30
Verse 28
28Then Peter began to say unto Him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed Thee.
--> Peter told Jesus: ‘We have left everything to follow You.’
Verses 29-30
29And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you (= pay attention: this is very important),
There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My sake, and the gospel’s,
30But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands,
with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
--> Jesus said THREE things happen when we DO put God first:
#1 Jesus pays us back many times:
We’re now part of the biggest family on earth - we have millions of brothers & sisters in Christ: some of whom we meet in church, when on mission etc.
We probably have more in common with Christians from the far side of the world, than with our non-believing neighbours!
Further reading
Deuteronomy 1:34-36, 11:13-15
2 Chronicles 15:1-2, 26:3-5 & 7
Psalm 37:4
Isaiah 65:10
Lamentations 3:25
Luke 18:29-30
Philippians 2:19-22
#2 Let’s not forget the persecutions.
(Mark 10:30 above)
#3 But most important of all - we have the incredible, priceless gift of ETERNAL LIFE to look forward to!
(Mark 10:30 above)
5. We should focus our life on the permanent things of eternity
Psalm 103:15-16
15As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
--> Think about where we live - does anyone know or care who lived here 100 years ago?
--> One day, we’ll fall into that category - no-one on earth will know or care about us!
Let's learn from Demas' mistake
Colossians 4:14 ~ Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.
Philemon 24 ~ Marcus (= Mark), Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas (= Luke), my fellow-labourers.
--> Demas made a good START - he was in the same ministry team as Paul!
Q - But how did he FINISH?
2 Timothy 4:10 ~ For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica …
A - Demas chose the 'wrong chair’:
He put the things of this world ahead of God - and gave up his ministry.
How do you think Demas feels now? What a waste.
Psalm 39:4-5
4LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure (= number) of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.
5Behold, Thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before Thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity (= transitory). Selah.
Think of the massive difference between our life:
On Earth
This current / first part of our life is fleeting.
After we die & go to Heaven
The second part of our life is everlasting.
1 John 2:17 ~ And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth (= lives) forever.
--> It’s daft to focus on this world - because our human bodies & this earth won’t last.
--> So we should put our main effort into the Kingdom of God - which is PERMANENT.
Illustration
It’s like the difference between:
A cheap newspaper - which we dispose of after a couple of days.
An expensive book - which we keep in a bookcase, because it’s of lasting value.
Luke 10:41-42
41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful (= full of cares) and troubled about many things:
42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Example
CT Studd was an international cricketer, from a wealthy background:
But he gave this all up when God called him to: China, then to India and finally to the Congo in Africa (where his body died).
He wrote a well-known poem, with this strikingly true verse:
‘Only one life, t’will soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.’
John Wesley wrote in 1786:
‘I went to Wentworth House, the splendid seat of the late Marquis of Rockingham.
He lately had forty thousand a year in England, and fifteen or twenty thousand a year in Ireland.
And what has he now?
Six foot of earth.’
Ecclesiastes 9:10 ~ Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;
for there is no work, nor device (= intelligence), nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
--> When we get to Heaven - we can no longer extend God’s Kingdom on Earth.
--> This life is our window of opportunity to evangelise & to make disciples - so let’s not waste this time.
Further reading
Deuteronomy 32:9
1 Chronicles 29:15
Job 8:9, 14:1-2, 16:22
Psalms 37:18, 73:25-26, 78:39, 90:5-6, 10 & 12, 119:19, 144:4
Ecclesiastes 2:16
Isaiah 40:6-8
Daniel 7:18
Matthew 16:26-27 / Mark 8:34-37
Matthew 22:1-5, 8 & 14
Luke 22:28-30
2 Corinthians 4:18
Hebrews 11:24-26, 12:28
James 4:4 & 14
1 Peter 1:3-4 & 24-25
6. How do we focus on the Kingdom of God / the things of eternal value?
Nehemiah 4:10 ~ And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens (= labourers / porters) is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.
Q - Why were the Jews unable to build the wall around Jerusalem?
A - Because of OTHER STUFF in the way.
Illustration
It’s like having a cupboard where we can’t find what’s useful - because it’s clogged up with lots of things we haven’t used in years.
But if we have a good clear-out - we can then make much better use of what’s still of value.
In the same way - maybe we need to DECLUTTER our life, to focus on what God wants us to do:
Most stress is caused by trying to do too much.
To do what we’re supposed to be doing, we have to stop doing what we’re not supposed to be doing.
Example: Elisha gave his servant Gehazi an important task - to reach a critically ill child
2 Kings 4:29 ~ Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way:
if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.
--> Elisha told Gehazi to:
Focus 100% on his mission.
Not allow other people to slow him up.
--> Like ambulance staff are completely focussed on reaching an emergency quickly - they don’t stop for a coffee on the way!
Example: Paul said the same to Timothy
2 Timothy 2:3-4
3Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Illustration
Imagine being a soldier in an army base:
The Sergeant comes in and says: ‘Time to go out on patrol - let's go’.
Imagine the Sergeant’s reaction if we said: ‘Not now Sarge - I want to watch this TV programme’.
But how often do WE say the same sort of thing to God?
Some people call TV: ‘The thief’ - because it steals our time and never gives it back.
It’s the same with: social media, magazines etc.
It’s fine to relax & have hobbies / other interests - we all need these: for our physical & mental health.
But we should NOT put leisure in FIRST place
- such that we don’t have enough: time / money / energy to do what God's called us to do.
Further reading
Genesis 24:54-56 (Abraham's servant)
Exodus 23:31-33
Joshua 23:12-13
1 Samuel 12:20-21, 17:20
1 Chronicles 12:33
Nehemiah 6:1-4
Ezekiel 14:4-8
Matthew 13:22 / Mark 4:19 / Luke 8:14
Luke 5:11 & 27-28, 10:3-4
1 Corinthians 6:12, 10:5-7, 14, 23 & 31
2 Corinthians 5:15, 8:5
Philippians 3:8
Hebrews 12:1
1 John 5:21
7. Don't make excuses
Ecclesiastes 11:4 ~ He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
--> We can ALWAYS find excuses NOT to do God’s work:
Especially if we focus on the difficulties - conditions are never ideal!
Think of the excuses which CT Studd could have made, for not going as a missionary to China.
Instead - we should just get on and DO God’s work.
Then trust Him to sort out any difficulties.
8. God wants us to look forward to the future - not back at when we were unsaved
Philippians 3:13-14
13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended (= I've concluded that I don't yet have a full knowledge of Jesus):
but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
--> Focusing on our future in eternity:
Keeps us on track.
Helps us to make the right decisions in life.
Q - What happens if athletes look behind?
A - It slows them down, which can cause them to lose the race.
God gets upset if we look backwards at our past, worldly life - instead of forwards to the much better life that He’s prepared for us in eternity.
He told Lot’s family not to look back - but Lot’s wife disobeyed, so God then turned her into a pillar of salt.
(Genesis 19:17 & 26)
Jesus didn’t mince His words:
Luke 9:62 ~ And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.
Illustration
If we’re making a long journey and using a map / satnav to guide us:
We don’t look at the places we’ve already passed through - they don’t matter anymore, because the past is gone.
We only look at the places which lie ahead.
In the same way - we should LOOK FORWARD to our final, eternal destination.
Hebrews 11:13-16
13These (= Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham & Sarah) all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off,
and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out (= if their thoughts had dwelt on where they had left),
they might have had opportunity (= they might have found a way) to have returned.
16But now they desire a BETTER country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.
Further reading
Isaiah 65:17
9. God wants us to have four key attitudes - memorised by their initials: ZDDF
Z = Zealous
This is what Jesus told the church at Laodicea in Revelation 3:15-16
15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth.
Q - How can we avoid Jesus ‘Spewing us out of His mouth’?
Revelation 3:19 ~ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
A - We need to be ZEALOUS for the things of God.
Zealous = passionate & enthusiastic.
To revive a dead church - someone has to be 'on fire for God'.
Think of the contrasting level of passion between many:
Football fans - for their team: spending lots of time & money, travelling long distances to watch the matches.
Christians - for the church / things of God: unwilling to become involved, if it involves sacrificing a lot of their: time / money / energy.
Jesus set the right standard for zeal, when He cleared the Temple:
John 2:17 ~ And His disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of Thine house hath eaten Me up.
In Numbers 25:1-13
The Israelites bowed to foreign gods & had unlawful relationships with Moabite women.
So God sent a plague which killed 24,000 Israelites.
Phinehas took firm action to stop the misbehaviour.
God then stopped the plague, and BLESSED Phinehas & his descendants - because Phinehas was: ‘ZEALOUS for My sake’.
(vs. 11-13)
Q - Are we LESS zealous for God than we used to be?
If ‘Yes’ - why?
Maybe we need to learn from Nehemiah's time, and clear away the ‘rubbish’ which is getting in our way.
Further reading
2 Kings 23:25 (Josiah)
Psalm 69:9
Isaiah 59:17
Jeremiah 29:13
Luke 19:1-5 (Zacchaeus)
Romans 12:11
1 Corinthians 15:58
2 Corinthians 9:2
Galatians 4:18
D = Determined
King David told his son Solomon:
1 Chronicles 28:10 ~ Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
--> God called Solomon to build the Temple.
(1 Chronicles 28:6)
--> But Solomon still had to be strong and DO the work.
Q - How did Solomon manage to build the Temple?
2 Chronicles 2:1 ~ And Solomon determined to build a house for the name of the LORD, and a house for His Kingdom.
A - Solomon was DETERMINED to do what God had called him to do:
It took seven years! (1 Kings 6:38)
So if we’re ever tempted to give up - we should copy Solomon’s determination.
Determination means:
Do it.
Whatever it takes.
Don’t give up.
Further reading
Haggai 2:4
Matthew 11:12 / Luke 16:16
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
1 Timothy 6:12
Revelation 2:3 (the church at Ephesus)
D = Diligent
In Ezra 7:23, King Artaxerxes said:
23Whatsoever is commanded by the God of Heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of Heaven:
for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
--> When God tells us to do something - we should work hard & do our best.
--> Whether it seems to us like a big thing or a little thing.
1. Let’s get the BAD news out of the way first
King Artaxerses said that God would be angry if the Jews did not do the work of God diligently.
God also said in Jeremiah 48:10 ~ Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully
(Deceitfully here = being negligent / idle / slothful / lax)
Being negligent / idle etc. is not the same as making a mistake - we can all make mistakes, because we’re not perfect.
But if we DECIDE not to be diligent in doing the work God’s allocated to us, and so DON'T do our best --> God won’t like it!
Further reading
2 Chronicles 29:11
Zechariah 11:17
Matthew 25:14-15, 18-19 & 24-30 / Luke 19:20-26
1 Corinthians 4:2
That’s the bad news out of the way.
2. Let’s now look at the GOOD news
2 Chronicles 31:21 ~ And in every work that he (= King Hezekiah) began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God,
he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
--> If we do God’s work diligently and to the best of our ability - God will BLESS us.
We all have a choice - blessing or curse.
I’ve found that:
Whenever I’ve put God’s work first - He’s blessed me.
Whenever I’ve put God’s work way down my list - things don’t go well.
So let’s go for the blessing!
Further reading
Deuteronomy 10:12
Psalm 119:2
Matthew 25:14-17, 19-23 & 28-29 / Luke 19:16-19 & 24-26
Luke 2:49 (Jesus in the Temple, aged 12)
1 Timothy 4:13-16
Hebrews 6:11-12
F = Finisher
John 4:34 ~ Jesus saith unto them, My meat (= food) is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.
Which is exactly what Jesus did, as He said to God His Father at the Last Supper:
John 17:4 ~ I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.
Jesus finished the work He was given to do.
He didn’t give up (unlike Demas).
Q - Are WE going to follow the example of Jesus or Demas?
Illustration
Builders don’t stop at floor level - the house isn’t finished until they add the: walls, windows, roof & much else.
In the same way - WE NEED TO FINISH the work which God's given us.
2 Timothy 4:7 ~ I (= Paul) have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
Further reading
2 Kings 13:18-19 & 25 (Elisha to the King of Israel)
2 Chronicles 8:16
Acts 20:24
Hebrews 3:14, 6:10-11
RECAP of ZDDF
Z = Zealous
D = Determined
D = Diligent
F = Finisher
10. Conclusion
We’ve all been offered ‘two chairs’ in this life.
We should focus our life on the RIGHT chair - our place in the everlasting Kingdom of God:
Colossians 3:2 ~ Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Hebrews 13:14 ~ For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Let's do our best to follow the advice in the words of this hymn:
Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things,
Give heart and soul and mind and strength
To serve the King of kings.
Amen