Sunday: Kingdom Priorities
As was made clear in the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament writers, those who choose to live as members of the kingdom of God live by a different set of values and priorities than does the world.
Read Matthew 6:25-33. What is the reassurance we are given in these verses, and how should this reassurance impact our priorities?
Priorities
Jesus taught that “life [is] more than food, and the body more than clothes” (Matt. 6:25, NIV). These things are important, of course, but we must see them in light of the kingdom of God, which means we must reprioritize our lives in real and practical ways. When we recognize the call throughout the Bible to lift up and care for others, this call also becomes one of our priorities as we who seek to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Ideally this call should help us focus less on ourselves and more on others.
This different set of priorities also changes our relationship with those in power over us and over the oppressed. While the Bible instructs Christians to respect and obey their governments, as far as possible (see, for example, Rom. 13:1-7), there also comes a point where we need to echo the words of Peter: “We must obey God rather than human beings!” (Acts 5:29, NIV). Jesus put these two principles in balance in His answer to those trying to trick Him on this question: “give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (Matt. 22:21, NIV).
Those who have power, whether in government or otherwise, often enforce and maintain that power by threats or force. As we have seen in the life of Jesus, faithful living does not always and in every situation require passivity in the face of evil. For example, dealing with slavery in America, Ellen G. White wrote: “When the laws of men conflict with the word and law of God, we are to obey the latter, whatever the consequences may be. The law of our land requiring us to deliver a slave to his master, we are not to obey; and we must abide the consequences of violating this law. The slave is not the property of any man. God is his rightful master, and man has no right to take God’s workmanship into his hands, and claim him as his own”. – Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, pages 201, 202.
| Where is the line between obedience to authorities and standing up for those who might be victims of an oppressive authority? |
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The example of Ellen White speaking out against slavery is pertinent when we consider some of the situations we face today. In many countries, we are experiencing rampant illegal immigration where people are being treated inhumanely. Immigration policy is something that governments need to work on, but the inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants is something where the voice of compassion and mercy needs to be heard. The fact that they are illegal does not grant a license to treat them badly.
Here are some verses from Leviticus that come to mind
We are not going to solve the problem of illegal immigration easily, and the treatment of such folk is going to be costly and time-consuming, but we can make our voices heard that such people need to be treated as human beings and shown the respect they deserve.
Hi,
The "Ten Commandments" photo caught my attention. I looked for an explanation why this wrong "Ten Commandments" was posted, but I did not see one, or maybe I just did not notice it. The first is just half of the commandment, the second and the fourth which are the longest are very short and should be on one tablet; and commandments five to ten, we know, on the second tablet. Was it accidentally posted? Just like the cover of Patriarchs and Prophets which should be one to four and five to ten. I'm sorry if I offend someone, just so particular as what the Bible says how it was written. Thank you...God bless...Happy Sabbath!
I am not sure that a symbolic representation needs to be carefully analysed in terms of physical distribution. I would have thought that it was more important that the Ten Commandments be written in our hearts and minds.
Yes,that is true. It is more important that the Ten Commandments are written in our hearts & minds. But, God could have just written it in one table of stone and not in two; maybe, there is a purpose. But it is just me; I am just used to see it that way. Anyway, it is not a matter of salvation.
Hi Mayette could you please refer me to where in the Bible it says how the ten commandments were written? I would greatly appreciate it.
Hi Caroline, honestly, I do not know. Maybe, I was not just used to see it that way. God asked Moses to hew two tables of stone, just like the first which he broke. Exodus 34:1-8 and Deuteronomy 9:10. And it was written on both sides. Exodus 32:15. I was just wondering why God asked for two instead of just one and He did it twice, in which He could have just done it in one tablet. I just thought He has a purpose. But again, it is just me, just my opinion.
What do you think? Sorry Caroline, I really don't have an answer. All I know it was written on both sides with the finger of God. On both sides so it means one tablet has 1-10 and the other table has the same. I did not know it before until I watched 3ABN and then check the verse and it was so. Thank you...God bless!
It is easy to obey God’s command to submit to our earthly rulers when they rule wisely. It is much harder, on the other hand, to submit when we think our rulers are corrupt. The Lord often calls us to do hard things, however, and this includes obeying the rulers with whom we disagree. They are not to be followed absolutely, that is, we cannot justify sin by saying “the government told me to do it.” But the civil authority is to receive our obedience and honor
Some of the laws and regulations in our country may seem unnecessary. Nevertheless, in obedience to Scripture we must obey even these unless they lead us to sin. We should not be known as those who try to find ways around the laws of the land; rather, our scrupulous obedience should be a model for the unbelievers around us. We must never give the ruling authorities just cause to view us as a lawless people.
We are not to be known as rebellious people of the land.
Have you been defiant to the law of the land?
How often we find Christians disobedient and marred the character of Christ.
Thought provoking as it relates to Matthew 22:21. The Pharisees tried with evil intent to snare Christ. Matthew 22:18. It is is interesting to note in Sketches From the Life of Paul, page 22 the Holy Spirit revealed to Ellen White the evil of the Pharisees in respect to Saul. “He saw his folly in resting his faith upon the assurances of the priests and rulers, whose sacred office had given them great influence over his mind, and caused him to believe that the story of the resurrection was an artful fabrication of the disciples of Jesus.”
According to 1John 3:17 “ if someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God‘s love be in that person? (NLT). For John, the pattern comes down to seeing needs, having compassion, and using our resources to respond. (The Least of These, chapter 12). This is how we are to treat homeless people and illegal aliens (which is a big problem in our country), also veterans; with compassion and resources in response to their needs. If we have enough money to meet our basic needs and have some left over, then we need to share it with those who don’t.
in the book mount of blessing pg 71 the father,s presence encircled Christ and noting befell him but that which infinite love permitted for the blessing of the world here was his source of comfort and it is for us praise GOD
Do you mean Maurice, that when someone , comes here and brakes our laws, that we should then have to take care of them???
Irrespective of whether they have broken the law on not, they should be treated with compassion. I am not suggesting that they not pay the penalty for breaking the law, but that should not be used as an excuse to show lack of compassion.
I recently preached on the ten commandments and did some research into the Hebrew and got some answers from a Rabbi as to how and why they divide up the 10 Statements (as they call them) the way they do. He shares that they call them 10 statements, and as 5 pairs based on 5 Principles. The strength of the second 5 statements is based on the truth in the first 5.
1. I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. The correlating commandment is 6. Thou shalt not murder – the only reason that people accept that everyone starts out with the right to life and we are not allowed to murder is because they accept that God exists and that He is the life giver. (Note murder and killing are not considered the same. They believe that some people give up that right to live and can be executed but that is not murder.)
(The introduction establishes the identity of God by both his personal name and his historical act of delivering Israel from Egypt. The language and pattern reflects that of ancient royal treaties in which a great king identified himself and his previous gracious acts toward a subject king or people.)
2. Thou shalt have no other gods before me & thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image correlates to 7. Thou shalt not commit adultery - Both of these statements recognise exclusive relationship. Idolatry is often paralleled with adultery in scripture. Idolising anything destroys that exclusive and sacred relationship. Sadly the most prolific adultery cause today is the image making of the pornography industry.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain correlates to 8. Thou shalt not steal. God respects ownership of property and ownership of name, character and reputation. We are not to take what does not belong to us and we are not to use what is not ours inappropriately.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy correlates to 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour - this highlights reputation. We all have a reputation. By keeping the Sabbath we are upholding and defending God’s reputation as creator which the world denies. The same applies to telling the truth and best about others.
5. Honour thy father and thy mother correlates with 10. Thou shalt not covet (neighbour's house, neighbour's wife, neighbour's slaves, animals, or anything else. This is about acceptance that there will always be those who have higher authority than you, more possessions than you and greater success than you. Discontentment and envy are two great drivers of mental health problems and crime today,
I don't know for sure how they are divided on the stones, but this made real sense to me.
Interesting to see the division of the 10 commandments on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Commandments
Yes, I don't know if there's a Bible text for the division of the Ten Commandments. All I know is that the first four shows our love to God and the other six - our love to our fellowmen. Thank you. Happy Sabbath!