What's First?

This weeks message is both distressing and hopeful to me.  The passage is pretty simple.  "seek first His kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well! (Matthew 6:33).  It is distressing because I can see the evidences of what we place first all around me. One great example of this is the current concern over the organized church that we have been co-opted by forces and appetites that are neither God-led or righteous.  Many congregations have fled poorer areas to set up shop in the places where affluence rules the roost.  We have been anesthetized by a barrage of slick Bible studies, amazingly orchestrated worship services, radio preachers that we can access at will ... and it all happens while we drive to the store, sit in our homes, worship in pretty snazzy buildings and rest in the comfort we are sure God desires for us.  I am not saying these things are necessarily bad or even ill-intended.  What I am saying is that right here in Walton County we have people starving for real and spiritual food.  The same is true in Montgomery where I served before coming to "the beach."  Less people are finding their way to a church and less people in the United States say they are part of a community of believers.  These are facts that are beyond dispute.  That's the distressing part.
So, what do we do and how can we respond.  I believe that we must first be willing to grasp solid Biblical food like this passage.  Sunday I'll tell you the Greek words and dazzle you with the knowledge of the use and context of this good word from Matthew 6.  But today, let's get serious about action.  Seeking is striving for something that we really want to attain.  If we believe what Jesus is saying and if we call ourselves Christ-followers then this passage is a start to take God seriously.  Go after His stuff first.  Jesus said that those who believe Him and are His true followers do what He asks.  He says, seek His kingdom first ... and His righteousness (not my works-based righteousness but Him).  How are you seeking?  Is Jesus coming to life in your life?  Are people mistaking your actions for those of those different people called Christians?  Does your time speak the word, Jesus?  Does your giving reflect God?  Is your computer seeking Godly-Googles?  Is your day spent worrying about things beyond your control or doing things God has commanded?  I believe these questions will tell us more than a thousand sermons.  If you are a serious seeker, become the salt and light you were made to be.  And just maybe, your life will take a turn upward!