Your foundation for your personal values is what allows God to build a masterpiece. The Bible gives us direction on a variety of key values that should be forefront in our lives for our Life Palette. But there is one value that we must get right. It’s not one I’ve made up or discovered on my own; it comes from Jesus Christ Himself, and here it is:
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously,
and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33)
Since God is the one who has created us as masterpieces, it’s logical that we make Him and His kingdom our top priority and the foundational core value in our lives.
Make God’s Kingdom Your Foundation
What is your primary concern in life? What is it you are pursuing above everything else? When you answer these questions, you will discover your core foundational value. The masterpiece of your life will never rise above your core foundational value, so it’s imperative your top priority be something that will last and be something of worth. When you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern, all of your other values will align with it, and you can be assured that your life will be the masterpiece God intended it to be.
What is the “Kingdom of God?” Simply put, it’s the “authority, will or rule of God.” To live righteously is to take on the righteousness or character of Jesus. It’s the greatest purpose of any human; we were created for God’s will. We were created as objects of His love, to love Him, serve Him, worship Him, and have a relationship with Him; in doing so, we reflect His will and character—His kingdom—in our lives. It’s the place of greatest freedom and ultimate fulfillment.
Make One Thing Your Foundation
The story of two sisters, Mary and Martha, gives us a real life snapshot of what it means to make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. It’s found in Luke 10:38-41, and the setting is a dinner party for a very important guest, Jesus. I can’t even imagine what kind of preparations I’d be doing (okay, my wife would be doing) if the Lord were coming over to my house for dinner. To say I’d be distracted would be a bit of an understatement.
As any good hostess worth her salt, Martha went above and beyond what was needed for her guest of honor, and she was certainly distracted by it all. You can hardly blame her, yet I can’t help but wonder, “What was Martha’s primary concern?” Could it be her attention to the details of throwing a grand party and serving her guest an incredible dinner was more for her glory than for Jesus’ benefit?
Mary, on the other hand, spent her time sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to what He had to say. Her desire was to learn all she could from Christ while He was in her home. Her primary concern was the relationship she had with Jesus. Martha, frustrated that her sister wasn’t doing anything to help her with dinner preparations, complained to Christ. Funny, isn’t it? Here’s Martha, whining to the guest of honor about how she wasn’t getting help in preparing for whom? The guest of honor. It’s downright convoluted.
Jesus’ response was merciful yet direct. “My dear Martha, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it—and I won’t take it away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)
Jesus confirmed Mary’s value was right and good—and properly prioritized. Seeking Him was her primary concern, and according to Jesus, it must be yours as well.
Next Steps:
Take a moment and rate yourself on a scale of 1 – 10. (1 being not at all and 10 being all in)
- My primary concern in life is God’s Kingdom.
Make it your prayer today; Lord, I choose to make your Kingdom the primary concern in every area of my life, my relationships, my work, and my spiritual journey. Give me your strength and power to live this as the foundation for all my values.
(My book, Life Palette will available in October)