1. Best… Fruits, Gn.43:11 Egypt, Gn.45:18 Soldiers, 2 Sm.10:9 Friends, Pro.16:28 Places / seats, Mt.23:6 Best synonyms

2. I. Does The Bible Teach Us To Give God Our Best?

3. Mt.6:33 But contrasts believers w. Gentiles  Doesn’t say seek for the kingdom Perseverance present tense Priority first; single focus Purpose Kingdom of God SEEK Our problem: Kingdom competition

4. Mt.22:34-40 Jews counted 613 laws  “the great” (36): most important  “the first” (38): foremost; number 1 Mk.12:32-34 Jews debated; should have obeyed

5. Romans 12:1 Ro.1-11, what?Ro.12-16, so what? Living sacrifice: not after we die. “Consecration is handing God a blank sheet to fill in with your name signed at the bottom.” Therefore Ro.5:1 justification Ro.2:1 condemnation Ro.12:1 dedication Ro.8:1 confirmation

6. 2 Co.8:1-5 Their ‘best’ exceeded expectations Value of gift is determined not by quantity but sacrifice (Mk.12; Ro.12)  First: “above all, especially.” Lk.15:22  Gave themselves: Mt.22:37-39 “The sacrifices of the new order do not consist in taking the lives of others, like the ancient animal sacrifices, but in giving one’s own”

7. Ep.6:5-6 5, fear, trembling: work reflects on Lord 5, sincerity: opposite of eye-service (6) 5, as to Christ: the best workers 6, doing will of God from the heart If you would not do second-rate work for Christ, then don’t offer this kind of work to your boss

8. Col.1:18 Be first, hold the first place (Th.) ; that he might come to have first in everything (BDAG) 2 Tim.2:15 To be especially conscientious in dis- charging an obligation, be zealous / eager, take pains, make every effort, be conscientious

9. “God has hidden every precious thing in such a way that it is a reward to the dili- gent, a prize to the earnest, but a disap- pointment to the slothful soul. All nature is arrayed against the lounger and the idler. The nut is hidden in its thorny case; the pearl is buried beneath the ocean waves; the gold is imprisoned in the rocky bosom of the mountains; the gem is found only after you crush the rock which encloses it; the very soil gives its harvest as a reward to the laboring farmer. So truth and God must be earnestly sought” – A. B. Simpson

10. Col.1:18 Be first, hold the first place (Th.) ; that he might come to have first in everything (BDAG) 2 Tim.2:15 To be especially conscientious in dis- charging an obligation, be zealous / eager, take pains, make every effort, be conscientious Rv.5

11. I. Does The Bible Teach Us To Give God Our Best? II. How Do We Give God Our Best?

12. 1. Worship, 2 Sm.24:24 1 2 34 Biblical instruction: 1 study (Ec.12); 2 requires knowledge of audience; 3 heeds correction; 4 improves 123 Singing: 1 choose; 2 improve; 3 study Clothes: Ja.2; Mt.22 Active participation: Ezk.33; Ja.1

13. 2. Work, Rv.2:19 Cut? Clean? Invite? Visit? Help? Jn.9:4 1 Co.15:58 2 Co.9:8 Ga.6:4 Ep.4:12 Tit.3:8 Hb.6:10 Mark 1 Pt.5:13 2 T.4:11 Col.4:10 Ac.15:39 Ac.13:13 Mark

14. 3. Personal relationships, 2 Co.13:5 Easy to criticize others; not ourselves, Ja.2:12-13 Fervent love, 1 Pt.1:22 4. Family, Ep.5 Extensiveimmorality Future of church