The Importance of the Kingdom of God

Last Monday, we focused on "The Importance of the Kingdom of God."  We looked at the words of Jesus in Matthew 6 and how we are instructed to put the Kingdom of God above everything else, seeking it first.  Seeking the Kingdom of God is a process and once we find this Kingdom, we should also hold on to it and never lose faith.  Finally, we saw how the Kingdom of God is spiritual, not material and how, in the words of Romans 14:17, is about "... righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

Here are the notes of our study.

September 19, 2011

The Importance of the Kingdom of God

Opening Question: What has been a research project or a task that has kept you awake for a night or that you had to dedicate a considerable hard work to complete?

We know that good things are not accomplished easily and most things that have any value or any importance in our life require a lot of hard work.  Their importance, once we have achieved the goal, sometime lasts for a long period of time or perhaps even throughout our lives.

Today we are going to study what the Bible teaches about the importance of the kingdom of God.

1.         The Importance of the Kingdom of God is Above Everything Else

Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:25-34 not to worry about anything else, but to seek first the Kingdom of God: 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?  28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

These words do not mean that we should not work to provide for ourselves and our families, because God wants us to be responsible and to take care of the people he has entrusted us with.  But Jesus is telling us that we should not allow things of this worlds, what we shall eat, drink or wear to distract us from achieving the God of seeking and finding the kingdom of God.

In Matthew 13:44-45, Jesus gives two parables to illustrate this idea of seeking and finding the kingdom of Heaven: 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.  45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Note that the treasure was hidden in the field – so the man found it and then the treasure made him so happy that he went and sold everything he had to purchase the field and to secure the treasure.

Also note that the merchant was looking for fine pearls and when he found one of great value, he sold everything and bought it.

In both parables we see the cost of the kingdom of God.  Whether you are looking for the kingdom of God or you stumble and find it, you need to make sure that you do everything to take the kingdom of God.

2.         The Kingdom of God is Something we Should Always Keep in Us

Once we find the kingdom of God, we should never give it up.  From the two parables, but also from previous lessons we know that the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven is too important to be given up for things of this world.  If you truly understand the cost of finding the Kingdom of God, then we would of course understand also the importance of not letting go.

In Hebrews 3:12, we are warned that: See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.

Some people do fall away from the way of God, losing their faith in him, but we are told to be steadfast in our faith, so that we do not forget the promises of God and do not turn away from him.

3.         The Kingdom of God is Spiritual, not Material

In Romans 14:17, we are told that: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

Therefore, we know that the Kingdom of God is not referring to a place where we will have material possession, lots of good food and drinks, but a place where we will be with God and will have righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  As Christians, we receive the Holy Spirit from God, which helps us through our struggles.  As we are with God and get to know Him better, we also learn how to find and enjoy righteousness, peace and joy with Him.

Conclusions

The Kingdom of God is the most important thing in our lives.  We should not stop looking for it until we find it.  Once found, we should make every effort to be able to take it and always keep it with us.