Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
Former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam tells an interesting story about our focus areas in his book Faithful Presence. It centers around a business development trip he made to Hangzhou, China during his tenure as governor to recruit business to Tennessee.
He describes how governors are treated as VIPs when they travel within the United States, but experience little to no fanfare when they travel internationally. In light of his previous experience, he was caught off guard when he landed in Hangzhou. Stepping off the airplane, Governor Haslam was greeted with a band, military fanfare, and gifts before being whisked away in a fancy limousine.
On the ride to his first meeting, he asked the host of the greeting delegation about the ceremonial arrival. The reply: “Do you really want to know?” After insisting that he wanted to understand the pomp and circumstance he just experienced, the host reluctantly shared an important truth: “It’s not about you. Hangzhou is hosting world leaders for the G20 Summit in a month, and we were practicing.”
Governor Haslam and his wife had been used as a training aid – a prop. It wasn’t about them!
Guess what Christians?! It isn’t about me and it isn’t about you. While God loves us and sent His Son to die as a sacrificial atonement for our sins, we must get our eyes off of ourselves.
We are to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. We are to get our minds away from focusing inward and instead shift our attention outward and upward. We are to think on things that are true, just, pure, lovely, virtuous, praise-worthy, and of a good report. We are to guard against ever thinking that it is all about us.
PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD SEEK TO HONOR, PRAISE, AND WORSHIP GOD AS OUR ABSOLUTE AND UNQUESTIONED PRIORITY. Who is it all about? It’s not about us, and it must always be about Him.
