A 100% COMMITMENT

A 100% COMMITMENT
MATTHEW 6: 33

Intro:
I would like to begin this lesson with a challenge to each of you. If you are to experience any benefit from our study today, then there are two things which you will need to do. First, you must agree to examine yourself, and put other people out of your mind. I have designed this lesson for each of us, not just a select number. Second, I want you to commit to listen with both your heart and mind, and not try to hold some internal debate with me. In other words, I want you to listen to what I have to say without trying to come up with excuses. With that being said, I want to invite you to join me and let’s consider the idea of making a 100% commitment to God.
If we could take a look at the Church as a whole, we would find something very troubling. We would discover that our numbers are dwindling away a little at the time. At one time, we were the quickest growing religion in the U.S. However, recently we have fallen to the twelfth position on that list. This tells me two things. First, we are losing our current members. Secondly however, we are no longer reaching out and bringing new souls to Christ.
The explanation for this is simple to say, but difficult to hear. Our problem is that we are not committed as we should be. We have lost sight of what it is that we need to do. Our attendance is down, our contribution is down, and the enthusiasm for the work of the Lord is down.
This morning we want to rediscover a Biblical method for one committing him or herself to God. As we conduct this study, I want you to understand that we are speaking of 100% commitment, not 99.9, or 50, or 30% commitment. Instead, using the words of the savior found in Matthew 6: 33, we want to find out what it means when Jesus said, “SEEK YE FIRST.”

I. SEEKING IS OUR PURPOSE

1. Man has long searched for his purpose in life.
a. Just stop and consider all the many books which man has written attempting to explain why we are here.
b. Think about all the religions which have been founded based upon the idea that they will reveal the purpose of man’s existence.
c. However, the truth is that here Jesus tells us that our true purpose in life is to seek God and his will.
d. There are THREE things that you need to know about this seeking that we are commanded to do.
2. Seeking is A PERSONAL PURPOSE
A. Luke 15: 8-9 here we see this woman making up “HER” mind to seek after that which was important to her.
B. Also, it is worthy of noting that she made a personal decision to share that which she had sought.
3. Seeking is also a prepared purpose.
A. 2Timothy 3: 16-17 God gave, or prepared, the scriptures for our seeking.
B. Ezra 7: 10 that which we seek is prepared, we must likewise make certain that we are prepared to seek.
C. Deut 4: 29 to seek effectively, make sure that you prepare the proper attitude.
4. Seeking is a profitable purpose.
A. Matthew 7: 7-11 when we seek, we find: when we knock, the door is opened.
B. In the results oriented society in which we live, it is rather amazing that more people don’t seek God, because when you go looking for him, you’ll find that he isn’t that hard to locate.

II. YE ARE THE PEOPLE

1. I want to encourage you to keep this verse in context.
A. Matthew 6: 25-31 Christ is specifically speaking to those who believe that by their worry, they can provide for themselves.
B. Matthew 6: 32 however Christ points out that no amount of worry on our part will supersede the ability of God to provide for his children.
C. Instead, Christ uses the word “YE” to illustrate two concepts.
2. First, ye are the one who must establish a personal relationship with God.
A. 2Corinthians 5: 10 we want a personal relationship because we have a personal stake in the outcome.
B. This means that you and you alone, can make the decision to follow God as you should.
3. Secondly, ye are the one whom God wants to possess.
A. 1Peter 2: 9 God wants you, every ounce of you!
B. God wants to possess you, but he leaves the choice up to you.

III. FIRST IS OUR PRIORITIES

1. Allow me to say this as plain as I can: “Seeking God first is to be the First thing in your life.”
A. Luke 18: 22 you must seek him first over your job and the pursuit of money.
B. Matthew 19: 29 you must seek him first over friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, and all other associates.
C. Luke 14: 26 you must even seek Christ over your mother and father, husband and wife, children and grandchildren.
D. In other words, first means first!
2. How do we make seeking God our number 1 priority?
A. Philippians 2: 5 we accomplish this goal by having the mind of Christ.
B. Matthew 26: 39 Christ’s attitude was very simple: “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
3. Also, we put God first when we refuse to compromise.
A. 1John 2: 15-17 the scriptures make it very clear to us that we are not to “Love the world.”
B. James 4: 4 when we love the world, and the things there in, above all else, we establish ourselves as enemies with God.

(I would like to thank Brother Kevin Colly for the idea for this lesson. Brother Colly is the minister for the Berryville Church of Christ.)