SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD: MATTHEW 6:33 \u2013 34 ; ECCLESIASTES 2: 1 -11<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Introduction : What does \u201cSeek \u201d mean? \u2013 to look for, go after, or search for, to strive after, to aim at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 To seek something first \u2013 means to make something a priority \u2013 that thing is more important than anything else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 In this passage, Jesus was addressing what most people worry about \u2013this life \u2013 what to eat\/drink, what to wear, the future of our children, production, achievement and the like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 In contrast Jesus tells them that the most important thing they need is the kingdom of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In relation to the subject of seeking first the kingdom of God, king Solomon gives us a reflection of his own life, how he spent most of his time, resources, wisdom, knowledge and skills investing in this kingdom and the demands of this life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the end of his life he realizes that the wholepurpose of man\u2019s existence is to \u201cFear God and keep His Commandments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lessons: why should we seek first the kingdom of God?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. The Kingdom of God is Eternal 2: 4 \u2013 9;18 – 19<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022This kingdom and its Achievement is Temporary Ecclesiastes<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 your life is temporary<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022Your achievement is temporary<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022Everything you are worried about is temporary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022The things that you are busy with \u2013 just as Solomon was are temporary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Solomon\u2019s earthly achievements <\/strong>Eccl. 2: 4 – 9<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 A. Solomon\u2019s Projects<\/p>\n\n\n\n He accomplished great projects, he built houses using gold<\/strong>, planted vineyards<\/strong>, he made gardens, parks<\/strong>, he had great farms with all kinds of fruits<\/strong>, he made reservoirs of water <\/strong>(artificial lakes).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 He built a palace with gold<\/p>\n\n\n\n b. He acquired wealth<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 He had slaves<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 He owned herds, flocks, than anyone before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 He accumulated gold and silver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 He acquired singers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 He had a harem\/a campus <\/strong>for wives and concubines 700+300<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Every article in his house was pure gold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 To show that this kingdom is temporary, he realized he had to leave his kingdom soon.<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n Eccl. 2: 18 \u2013 19 Solomon says:<\/sup><\/strong> I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because <\/em>I must leave themto the one who comes after me.<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>19 <\/sup><\/em><\/strong>And <\/em>who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet<\/em><\/strong> they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into <\/em>which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun<\/em><\/strong>. This too is meaningless.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022Invest in God, and his kingdom, invest in worship, Bible study, prayers, service to God, giving towards the work of God and helping the needy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthew 6: 19 \u2013 21 Jesus says: 19 <\/sup><\/em><\/strong>\u201c<\/em>Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, <\/em><\/strong>where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 <\/sup><\/em>But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, <\/em><\/strong>where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 <\/sup>For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. In the Kingdom of God there is Fulfillment Eccl.1:14; 2:10 – 11 <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Achievement in this Kingdom will never Satisfy your Heart<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022True satisfaction is found in God alone<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022The meaning of life is found in our relationship with God.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022Solomon had acquired more than he needed, yet he felt empty.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/em>Eccl. 1:14 says: <\/strong>I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are <\/em>meaningless<\/em><\/strong>,(pointless<\/em>)<\/em> <\/em>a chasing after the wind <\/em><\/strong>\u2013 (appears 34 times)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022The pleasure of this world too cannot satisfy your heart \u2013 Only God can satisfy your heart.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Eccl. 2:10 – 11<\/em><\/strong> I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. \u2022 Possession, pleasure, power, position, cannot satisfy your heart<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Solomon\u2019s foolishness – <\/strong>pleasure<\/p>\n\n\n\n He provided everything that his eyes desired and everything that his heart wanted.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet he was never satisfied.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Solomon\u2019s wisdom – <\/strong>position<\/p>\n\n\n\n He had wisdom, knowledge and skills than anyone before him. Yet he was never satisfied.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In Solomon\u2019s madness to seek pleasure: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 700 wives, 300 concubines \u2013 he gained nothing, only to be led astray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022Solomon\u2019s daily provision for his family: 10 cattle, 100 sheep, 100 goats, 100 deer and, 100 gazelles all from his park plus other things. 1King 4:22<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Nothing was lacking in his home (1King 4:27)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Yet he felt no satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eccl. 2:11 Solomon says: <\/strong>\u201cWhen I surveyed all that \u2026 everything was meaningless, a chase after wind.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022We can learn from Solomon\u2019s conclusion: Eccl. 12:13 \u2013 14 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.<\/em>14 <\/sup><\/em><\/strong>For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022The only important <\/em><\/strong>thing we can do in this world is to fear the Lord!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n CONCLUSION<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do a reflection of your life<\/strong>. What is your priority \u2013 this temporary kingdom or the Kingdom of God?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Are you real committed to God or you are overwhelmed by the demands of this life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Remember this life is too short, and you will never achieve it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Rededicate your life to seek first the kingdom of God and all other things shall be added to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Commit your life to love God and serve him with all your heart.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD: MATTHEW 6:33 \u2013 34 ; ECCLESIASTES 2: 1 -11 \u2022 Introduction : What does \u201cSeek \u201d mean? \u2013 to look for, go after, or search…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6263,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"ctc_sermon_topic":[],"ctc_sermon_book":[],"ctc_sermon_series":[],"ctc_sermon_speaker":[273],"ctc_sermon_tag":[],"class_list":["post-7871","ctc_sermon","type-ctc_sermon","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","ctc_sermon_speaker-getrude-majaliwa-thomas"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dpc.or.tz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon\/7871","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dpc.or.tz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dpc.or.tz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/ctc_sermon"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dpc.or.tz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dpc.or.tz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7871"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dpc.or.tz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon\/7871\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7875,"href":"https:\/\/dpc.or.tz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon\/7871\/revisions\/7875"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dpc.or.tz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dpc.or.tz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dpc.or.tz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fctc_sermon_topic&post=7871"},{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_book","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dpc.or.tz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fctc_sermon_book&post=7871"},{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dpc.or.tz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fctc_sermon_series&post=7871"},{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_speaker","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dpc.or.tz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fctc_sermon_speaker&post=7871"},{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dpc.or.tz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fctc_sermon_tag&post=7871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil.<\/em>11 <\/sup><\/em><\/strong>Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n