Who's First?

A young boy by the name of James had a desire to be the most famous manufacturer and salesman of cheese in the world. He planned on becoming rich and famous by making and selling cheese and began with a little buggy pulled by a pony named Paddy. After making his cheese, he would load his wagon and he and Paddy would drive down the streets of Chicago to sell the cheese. As the months passed, the young boy began to despair because he was not making any money, in spite of his long hours and hard work.

One day he pulled his pony to a stop and began to talk to him. He said, "Paddy, there is something wrong. We are not doing it right. I am afraid we have things turned around and our priorities are not where they ought to be. Maybe we ought to serve God and place him first in our lives." The boy drove home and made a covenant that for the rest of his life he would first serve God and then would work as God directed.

Many years after this, the young boy, now a man, stood as Sunday School Superintendent at North Shore Baptist Church in Chicago and said, "I would rather be a layman in the North Shore Baptist Church than to head the greatest corporation in America. My first job is serving Jesus."

So, every time you take a take a bite of Philadelphia Cream cheese, sip a cup of Maxwell House, mix a quart of Kool-Aid, slice up a DiGiorno Pizza, cook a pot of Macaroni & Cheese, spread some Grey Poupon, stir a bowl of Cream of Wheat, slurp down some Jell-O, eat the cream out of the middle of an Oreo cookie, or serve some Stove Top, remember a boy, his pony named Paddy, and the promise little James L. Kraft made to serve God and work as He directed. (From Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, Baker, p. 331.)

Today is Monday and the beginning of another week of work for most of you. As much as I value hard work, and as much as the Bible teaches and values hard work, hard work alone will not bring true success and fulfillment in life. That comes from putting God first. Matthew 6:33 reminds us to seek first the kingdom (the rule, the ways, the principles) of God and His righteousness and all these things (food, clothing, shelter, the things that worry us) will be added to our lives.

I think it is interesting how that admonition is worded. It doesn’t say to ADD to our lives the value of seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness. Too often that is what we do. We try to find a way to add God to all that we are already doing and involved in. Try to squeeze Him in. No, it says to clear the calendar, clear the desk and put God there first. Then He will ADD everything else that we need back to our lives. Jesus can’t just be an added feature in our lives, an added venture in our lives. He must be our life and to Him everything else is added.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to get this principle right. It is so difficult in the world we live in. I am sure it was no easier when Matthew 6:33 was penned that it is today, but ot just seems so much more difficult right now. I really do want You to be first in my life so that everything else will find it’s proper place. Give me the courage, the wisdom, and the strength to do it. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger