4 minute read
PRIORITY PRINCIPLE OR
PRIORITY PRINCIPLE OR
I really enjoy a good coffee. I only started to drink coffee in my 30s, but I soon got used to barista made silky cappuccinos prepared with high quality fresh roasted beans. I might even be considered by some to be a coffee snob, as I no longer drink instant coffee, and would prefer tea if instant was the only coffee on offer! It could be said that good coffee is a priority for me.
Advertisement
Soon after I am out of bed in the morning, my priority is to get the coffee organised. However, once I have enjoyed my coffee I can then get on with other things. That is until around 10am when coffee is again my priority, and my thoughts turn toward the coffee van that turns up at the QB centre to dispense this lovely liquid elixir!
Jesus says in Matthew 6:33; “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
When Jesus commands us to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness, we might think that this is a matter of priority that Jesus is talking about. The context of the passage is about being counter cultural and not worrying about the physical and temporal things of life (like coffee!) that those that do not follow Jesus pursue, but that we should first make a priority of seeking God and His agenda for us.
What is key to Jesus’ teaching here is how we might define or understand the meaning of the term ‘priority’.
It seems to me that a common understanding of a “priority” is something that we prefer or need to do before we move onto something else.
I treat good coffee like this, I like good coffee, I prefer good coffee! It could be an over statement, but sometimes I need good coffee—but once I have had a good coffee I get on with other things.
Understood in this way, seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness would be like doing something important before moving onto other important things. I don’t think that seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness is not meant to be a priority. Rather, it is meant to be a principle!
A priority is usually understood as something that is more important and valuable at some point in time than other things, but a principle is that which governs all other priorities.
The Oxford dictionary describes a principle as, “a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behaviour”.
Understood as a principle, seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness should be the organising factor and lens through which all other things should be viewed and ordered.
It is not the first thing we think about before we do other things in life, it is meant to be that which takes precedence over and governs all other things at all times!
A practical outworking of seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness is found in the six values that Queensland Baptists are seeking to live out as a movement over the next five years.
It seems to me that scriptural authority, collaborative autonomy, fervent prayer, intentional
discipleship, effective mission and servant leadership should all be out workings of lives that are in submission to the rule and reign of God, and as such, are an expression of seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
As we conclude 2019 and move into 2020 let us all consciously make the rule and reign of God and His values the organising principle that determines how we live, the choices we make and that which governs our actions and attitudes.
After all, living life in submission to God’s rule, reign and values is way better than coffee!
God do you good
Stewart Pieper Director of QB Services stewart.pieper@qb.org.au
MINISTRY TEAM CHANGES
We anticipate David Elvery and Mark Westhuyzen joining the QB Ministry Team in the New Year. David was appointed as the Director of Pastoral Services and Mark the Director of Church Health Services at a special Assembly in October. We said farewell to Pieter Henning who has returned to local church ministry after a significant season serving as a Regional Consultant. Stephen Ball has moved into a part time role and will assist myself in bedding down the various changes that we have implemented until mid-year. We anticipate the commencement of the Regional Ministers from February and will begin the process of appointing Area Pastors around that time as well.
