Are you 2nd?

People spend a large part of their time seeking money and possessions, but God wants us to have a different priority.

¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ~ Matthew 6:19-20
**The treasures of this world are fleeting, but the treasures of the next world are eternal. We will have to spend some time on the treasures of this world in order to provide for our family and our needs, but Christ’s message is that our real treasure is in heaven. Let us not spend so much time in earthly pursuits that we neglect the spiritual treasure that God offers us.**

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." ~ Matthew 6:24

**The Greek word used here for mammon means worldly riches. There are two masters struggling for control of our time and our commitment -- God and worldly riches. Whom do you serve? Is God more important to you than the wealth and the possessions this world has to offer? The treasures of heaven far exceed anything we can conceive or imagine. Let us not be torn between two masters. Let us be willing to serve God and put him first.
Have you ever observed that those who walk the tightrope at the circus always look straight ahead while on the rope? They never look down at the rope or the crowd. They know that if they were to do that, they would lose concentration and be in danger of falling. So it is in our Christian walk. We must keep our eyes focused on God and spiritual matters. When we look down at the treasures or pleasures of the world, we will surely fall.**

³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." ~ Matthew 6:33
**Here is what we must do -- seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness. If we do that, the other things will take care of themselves. It is all a matter of perspective. When we are at work, is our focus on buying a new fishing boat, or is our focus on being a blessing to others? Is our focus on pushing others aside so that we can get the promotion, or is it on ministering and serving others? The one thing that I have learned is that Christians who live their lives by godly principles find that they are the ones who get the promotion or who are blessed with a raise anyway. So why should we make worldly pursuit our focus? Make God your focus, and you will find that he will abundantly bless you and meet your every need. It all begins when we learn to put God first.**