Seek Ye First

SERMON TITLE:  “Seek Ye First”  
SERMON TEXT:    Matthew 6:25-34
PREACHER:           Rev. Kim James
OCCASION:           October 10, 2021, at First UMC  (Stewardship Drive #1)
 
 
INTRODUCTION
 
                On Tuesday, October 12, actor William Shatner is going to go where no 90-year old has ever gone before.  He’s going to fly into outer space on a Blue Origin rocket owned by Jeff Bezos.  Despite his many brave adventures as Star Trek’s Captain Kirk, Shatner admitted that he’s got “pre-flight jitters.”  Of course, he’s also feeling “excited and fortunate to be embarking upon such a historic mission.”*
                This news of “Captain Kirk’s” new adventure got me to thinking about the Star Trek “Prime Directive.”  Do you remember that?  The crew of the USS Enterprise was never supposed to introduce any actions or information to a culture, people, or place that would change their natural course of development.  As they encountered a new civilization somewhere out in the universe or went back in time on planet Earth, the Enterprise crew had to be very careful to obey this foundational law, this basic and essential rule, this Prime Directive.  Before the USS Enterprise officers could seek out their own new learning or their own well-being, they had to obey this Prime Directive first.
                As Christians, we also have a prime directive, which was clearly stated by Jesus in Matthew 6:33.  Using the King James translation of it, the verse reads, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”  Whatever else we’re aiming our rockets toward, our prime directive is to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness.
                Not only is that verse the key to today’s sermon, it’s also the theme of this year’s stewardship drive.  Beginning today and going through October 31, for four Sundays, we will focus our worship services on what it means to set our priorities in proper order and put God first in our lives.  So let’s get started here in Matthew 6.  This prime directive seems like one of those things that’s easier said than done.  How exactly to do we seek God first?

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