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Matthew 6:31-34 Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat Matthew 6:31-34  Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32  For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

FIRST THINGS In the scriptures there are some things which God puts first. What God puts first, we must not put second. The order in which we do things is sometimes very important. Put your shoes on before you tie them. Measure before you cut. Think before you act. There is a reason God put some things first. When the scriptures say “first” God is letting us know that this is something very important.

FIRST, CLEAN THE INSIDE OF THE CUP. Matthew 23:25-28  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26  Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. 28  Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

FIRST, CLEAN THE INSIDE OF THE CUP. God is always more concerned with the inside - 1 Samuel 16:7  But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Peter 3:3-4  Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-- 4  rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

II. FIRST, REMOVE THE PLANK FROM YOUR OWN EYE. Matthew 7:1-5  "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2  For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3  And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5  Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Seeing clearly is extremely important when removing a speck from the eye. I don’t want someone helping me who has a lot worse problem than I do.

III. FIRST, BE RECONCILED TO YOUR BROTHER. Matthew 5:23-24  Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24  leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. This shows our need of being right with our brother. Our relationships with others is very important to God 1 John 4:20-21  If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21  And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

IV. FIRST, GIVE YOURSELF TO GOD. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5  Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2  that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3  For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4  imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5  And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. When we give ourselves first, then we will give all we have. 2 Corinthians 5:15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

V. FIRST, SHOW PIETY AT HOME. 1 Timothy 5:3-4  Honor widows who are really widows. 4  But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety (godliness) at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. The first place to practice Christian principles is at home. The most difficult place to manifest Christian principles is at home.

VI. FIRST, SEEK THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Matthew 6:31-34  Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32  For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. At the first of this year. At the first in order and first in importance. Doing the will of God should be of utmost importance to us. Forethought not afterthought. Primary not secondary.

VII. FIRST, PRAY FOR ALL MEN 1 Timothy 2:1-4 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. First in importance not necessarily order. Supplication, Intercession, Thanksgiving

VIII. FIRST, TEST POTENTIAL DEACONS 1 Timothy 3:8-10  Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9  holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10  But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Reverent Not double-tongued Not given to much wine Not greedy for money Holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience Blameless 

IX. FIRST, JUDGMENT BEGINS WITH CHRISTIANS 1 Peter 4:16-19  Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 17  For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18  Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" 19  Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. Obey the gospel Glorify God Be willing to suffer Do good

ARE YOU PUTTING FIRST THINGS FIRST? Are you putting the things God put first, first in your life Are you putting self before God? Are you prepared for judgment to begin with you? Can we help you to be sure of your salvation?

HAVE A PRIORITIZED WEEK