Kingdom 102: Setting Priorities While Living in Two Kingdoms
Once we are aware of our priorities we will have no problem knowing where our allegiance lies. John the Baptist began his public ministry with these words: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” When Jesus came out of the wilderness, He had the same message: From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Even though they both resided in this three dimensional world, Jesus and John had no problem knowing where their allegiance lay.
As citizens of the Kingdom, we face the daily challenge of living in two different kingdoms: the Kingdom of Heaven, the kingdom of our citizenship, and the kingdom of this world system where we currently reside. The fact that these two kingdoms are often in conflict really adds to the challenge. While speaking to a group of religious leaders, Jesus made this statement: “No servant 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.” As always, we should look to the Holy Spirit for counsel and allow Him to guide us. That is what He is here for.
This world system has its key component from which it operates, and that is money. Again, while speaking to the same religious leaders, He made this statement: Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. As you may have noticed, the Pharisees were lovers of money. It is the same today with many religious leaders. They are surrounded by material possessions and measure their success by them. Their focus becomes about what they have. They gauge the Lord's blessings by money and their material possessions. But read what King Jesus had to say about that: “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God." I emphasize, He stated that what this world system regarded highly, stinks (is an abomination) in the nostrils of the Lord God. What is the most horrible smell you can imagine? That is an abomination in your nostrils.
There are religious leaders who are living in million dollar homes, flying in private jets and owning automobiles that cost more than many houses put together. In the world's kingdom, they are a success; but in God's eyes, they stink of greed and lust.
One day, some of the Jewish religious leaders who opposed Jesus, sought to trap Him with a question. It was seemingly a simple question that nevertheless could have backed King Jesus into a corner had He not clearly understood the two-kingdom reality and the relationship between them. Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius.
And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.
Knowing the Lord God's Word keeps our priorities in check.
Matthew 3:2 Matthew 4:17 Luke 16:13-15 Matthew 22:15-22
~~W.R. Luchie
As citizens of the Kingdom, we face the daily challenge of living in two different kingdoms: the Kingdom of Heaven, the kingdom of our citizenship, and the kingdom of this world system where we currently reside. The fact that these two kingdoms are often in conflict really adds to the challenge. While speaking to a group of religious leaders, Jesus made this statement: “No servant 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.” As always, we should look to the Holy Spirit for counsel and allow Him to guide us. That is what He is here for.
This world system has its key component from which it operates, and that is money. Again, while speaking to the same religious leaders, He made this statement: Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. As you may have noticed, the Pharisees were lovers of money. It is the same today with many religious leaders. They are surrounded by material possessions and measure their success by them. Their focus becomes about what they have. They gauge the Lord's blessings by money and their material possessions. But read what King Jesus had to say about that: “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God." I emphasize, He stated that what this world system regarded highly, stinks (is an abomination) in the nostrils of the Lord God. What is the most horrible smell you can imagine? That is an abomination in your nostrils.
There are religious leaders who are living in million dollar homes, flying in private jets and owning automobiles that cost more than many houses put together. In the world's kingdom, they are a success; but in God's eyes, they stink of greed and lust.
One day, some of the Jewish religious leaders who opposed Jesus, sought to trap Him with a question. It was seemingly a simple question that nevertheless could have backed King Jesus into a corner had He not clearly understood the two-kingdom reality and the relationship between them. Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius.
And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.
Knowing the Lord God's Word keeps our priorities in check.
Matthew 3:2 Matthew 4:17 Luke 16:13-15 Matthew 22:15-22
~~W.R. Luchie
