First Things First Luke 9:57-62

First Things First Things must be done in order of priority. – Collins English Dictionary, 5 th edition The most important task gets priority, as in “I very much wanted to see that movie, but first things first, the paper's due tomorrow.” This adage was first recorded in – Dictionary.com

First Things First “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).

First Things First First Be Reconciled To Your Brother – First postpone worship. The worshiper should stop what he is doing and leave his offering at the altar (Matt 9:13; Mark 12:32-34). – Second, find the offended brother and make peace with him. Reconciliation takes priority. Attitudes that shut others out, shut Him out (I Peter 3:7). – Third, only when we have settled our differences are we ready to resume worship (“then come and offer your gift”).

First Things First “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

First Things First Seek First The Kingdom Of God And His Righteousness – Jesus challenges us to identify life’s priorities. – The true servant of God must seek His kingdom and His righteousness above all else. – When God’s rule and righteousness control our lives, it will profoundly affect every facet of our lives.

First Things First What or whom do you “seek first”? – Money & Possessions (Lk. 12:15; I Tim. 6:9-10)? – Social connections (Prov. 18:24; Col. 3:2)? – Family members (Matt. 10:37)? – Job (Eph. 4:28; 2 Thess. 3:10; Heb. 10:24-25)? – Sports/Hobby (I Cor. 9:24-27; Matt. 6:24)? “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).

First Things First “And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 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? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye” (Matthew 7:3-5).

First Things First First Remove The Plank From Your Own Eye – A man who is oblivious to a plank sticking out of his own eye is not qualified to remove a “speck” from his brother’s eye. – To claim the clarity and sharpness to solve another’s minor problem, while failing to recognize major faults in our life is hypocritical. – Sometimes it appears that people criticize others to divert attention from their own sins.

First Things First First Remove The Plank From Your Own Eye – Passage does not mean that we must be absolutely perfect before we seek to correct other people. – “Specks” are also to be removed. Just b/c a fault is a small one doesn’t mean it should remain. – Such correction ought to be offered in love, humility, and gentleness (Gal. 6:1-3; Titus 3:2-3).

First Things First First Be Reconciled To Your Brother (Matt. 5:24) Seek First The Kingdom Of God And His Righteousness (Matt. 6:33) First Remove The Plank From Your Own Eye (Matt. 7:5)

First Things First Matthew 5:24; 6:33; 7:5