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Session 6 - A priceless lifestyle

By David Woodbury

 Sometimes, as Christians, we find it difficult to sort out the priorities of our spiritual journey. In everyday life, we find competing distractions and we have to prioritise many things. The same is true in our spiritual journey. As we seek to be diligent about this we often find that many facets vie for our attention. Combine these with the challenges of everyday living and we may well find ourselves with a dilemma that can drain both our human and spiritual resources. In pursuing the kingdom lifestyle we find help in a predetermined priority as outlined by Jesus in his teaching in Matthew 6:33; But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.[1]

The priority of the kingdom lifestyle

Jesus was well aware that life will always contain challenges and that citizenship in the kingdom of God would need an unambiguous focus. Living a kingdom life does not shield us from life’s anxieties but it does give us a focal point that can alleviate much of the disquiet that living imposes on us. Jesus was not suggesting that we ignore our need for food, clothing and shelter, but rather we do not allow them to dominate our thinking and living, for to do so borders on idolatry. To be overly concerned with these material things is the focus of those whose living is based on materialism rather than a relationship with the Creator.

Jesus was directing us to focus first of all in establishing a relationship with our Heavenly Father. Such a relationship empowers us in being effective citizens in the kingdom of God. There is an unquestionable priority here which we cannot, and should not ignore: seek first the kingdom of God. This means that the challenges of life are all subservient to becoming a good citizen in the kingdom of God. The language is simple, clear and basic, easily understood by anyone who seeks to follow the kingdom lifestyle. While other parts of the Bible may well be unclear at times and difficult to comprehend, the language here cannot be misunderstood or misinterpreted; here is the singular priority of those who would be Christians. If we cannot agree with this simple priority, our whole spiritual pilgrimage is in peril.

Seeking

If we would truly be alive to the kingdom lifestyle we need to apply our hearts and minds to its development within our own personal existence. No one else can do this for us. It is a personal journey which we actively seek to develop through prayer, bible study and Christian fellowship. If we give this kingdom lifestyle the priority it deserves, we will spend quality time thinking about it, reflecting on it and making personal resolutions relevant to its development.

It also seems to me that the words of Jesus to seek … the kingdom of God implies that a degree of inquisitiveness and searching will be part of the kingdom lifestyle. God does not dismiss the searching heart and mind, even when it has doubts. Having doubts about God and his kingdom is a normal and healthy process within the kingdom lifestyle. It is the resolution of our doubts that will build our faith and strengthen our relationship with him. Doubting and searching are all part of a healthy development in the kingdom lifestyle.

Responsibility

The kingdom lifestyle requires, as a result of this priority, the living of a righteous way of life. Once we have sought and received entrance into the kingdom of God we are required to behave as citizens who live in the ways of the kingdom, seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Citizenship in the kingdom carries with it responsibilities as well as privileges. It is when we have committed ourselves to kingdom living that we experience an added dimension in our lives where God blesses us and all these things will be added to you. One of the great tragedies of contemporary Christianity is that many seek the privileges of the kingdom without wanting the responsibilities. Jesus made it crystal clear that as citizens we have kingdom responsibilities and that the outcome of kingdom living would be very noticeable.

Like most human beings we need some sort of measuring device within our lives to evaluate and assess our own performance. Within the kingdom lifestyle, the righteousness of God is our measuring stick and when we are unsure about a situation we need to apply this benchmark. It is necessary to know where the parameters lie for the reality of human beings is that there will probably be two responses to a situation; we will look for the lowest common denominator when it comes to our own performance, or we will aim at perfection and in so doing, set ourselves up to fail. As we have already noted, the kingdom lifestyle has room for failure and we will need to accept that we will not always reach God’s benchmark. However, when we aim high our dependence on God grows and we achieve greater success.

The kingdom of heaven is like

As we have noted, Jesus told a number of parables, or illustrative stories to help us understand the kingdom lifestyle. How do we know these stories refer to the kingdom lifestyle? Quite simply, they begin with the words, The kingdom of heaven is like …  Jesus wanted us to understand how those who had entered the kingdom of God should live the kingdom lifestyle. We cannot assume that when we have come to believe in God, been born again and become a citizen of the kingdom of God, we somehow instantly know how to conduct ourselves as citizens of that kingdom. Much of the kingdom lifestyle is a learnt process gently taught by the word of God and the Holy Spirit.[2]

Many of Jesus’ parables were about our actions and attitudes as citizens. Some are relatively easy to understand while others require study and insight if we are to comprehend what life is like in the kingdom of God. One thing we must note though about Jesus’ use of parables: The truth of a parable is often hidden from those who are too lazy or too ignorant to search out its true meaning. Jesus’ parables were intended to make people think about life in the kingdom of God. He places the responsibility of understanding the truth on the shoulders of the hearer. Those who do not wish to know the truth of the kingdom of God are unlikely to comprehend its true meaning.

The kingdom lifestyle is to be valued above all else

We live in an age where most people are on the hunt for a bargain. Our letterboxes are stuffed with brightly coloured catalogues offering merchandise that we need, so we are told, at rock-bottom prices. Tour operators offer bus trips to discount warehouses. Everything seems to have a price tag attached to it and retailers compete by offering bargain basement merchandise. Perhaps it is a strange quirk of human nature but the reality of life is that which costs us the most, we value the most. In employment, we give away part of our life to receive income and there is a sense in which we value costly things because we have exchanged part of our life for it.

In Matthew 13:44–46 Jesus uses two succinct parables to teach the value of the kingdom lifestyle. Both have to do with something that is of immense value; a treasure hidden in a field and a pearl of inestimable value. He wanted his listeners to understand that citizenship in the kingdom of God, living a kingdom lifestyle is precious.

There is a sense in which citizenship in the kingdom of God has to carry a high value. It is no bargain-basement merchandise. The Bible knows nothing of budget Christianity or discount spirituality. Our entrance into the kingdom of God came at a high price - the sacrifice, suffering and death of Jesus - and consequently we cannot fail to appreciate the high cost of citizenship. Maintaining this citizenship requires diligence, commitment and hard work; it is not the possession of those who are spiritually lethargic.

The man in the first parable (Matthew 13:44) finds the treasure when he was doing what was routine in his life; working his field. He is not in some secluded monastery or at some spiritual retreat; he is doing what is necessary to maintain life. The treasures of the kingdom of God come to those who are going about their everyday life. Life in the kingdom of God is not some mystical existence reserved for those who want to float off into supernatural experiences. It is for the here and now in the hurly-burly of everyday living. Spiritual retreats and other contemplative experiences may be helpful in our on-going spiritual journey, but those embarking on the kingdom lifestyle need to make sure it is part of their everyday existence.

It is crucial to recognise that there is sacrifice involved in inhabiting the kingdom of God. To receive, we must be prepared to give up. I suspect that this is where many new citizens of the kingdom of God falter. Giving up the previous lifestyle, thought patterns and behaviours has a good deal of insecurity attached to it. That is a very human reaction and needs to be acknowledged and validated. For many, it is not an easy decision and some struggle may be involved. It is here that a strong Christian fellowship is crucial, for being with and receiving encouragement from others are on this path is extremely beneficial. Although it may not be obvious in the early stages of the kingdom lifestyle, the reality is that the joy of being in the kingdom of God will always outweigh the sacrifice involved, but in most cases, the sacrifice precedes the joy.

While the second parable (Matthew 13:45–46) mirrors that of the treasure hidden in the field there is a subtle difference. While the man working in the field stumbles upon the treasure, the merchant in this parable is on a quest; he is searching for something of great beauty and rarity. It was a lifetime quest that consumed his whole being. The kingdom of God requires a passionate heart and an inquiring mind. The truths of the kingdom need to be sought, discovered, uncovered, understood and responded to. Finding them requires intentional sacrifice.

If the kingdom lifestyle is to have real meaning to us, it needs to be treasured as something of high and on-going value.  The tendency of human nature is to devalue experiences as life goes on but the kingdom lifestyle needs continual revaluing, reviewing and renewal if we are to validate its worth.

The path into the kingdom of God is straightforward and uncomplicated, and the keys we have explored give us a clear process to follow. Citizenship in the kingdom is a gift offered to all but as we have seen, life in the Kingdom requires commitment and perseverance and it is here that many falter. We may well encounter roadblocks along our journey of discovery and we will require wise guidance from the Bible and members of our Christian fellowship to overcome them. Often such roadblocks become stepping stones to a richer understanding of the kingdom lifestyle and a means to Christian maturity.


BIBLE BACKGROUND
Matthew 6:10-31
John 14:25-26
Matthew 13:44-46

PERSONAL REFLECTION
What are the things in my life that distract me from living the kingdom lifestyle?
Am I able to live with some doubts about the kingdom lifestyle for the moment?
List the doubts which are significant in your life.
In what ways do I apply God’s righteousness as a measuring stick in my own life?
Am I treating the kingdom lifestyle with great value in the way I live and how is this obvious?

ACTION PLAN
I will try and eliminate from my life those things that distract me from living the kingdom lifestyle.
List those things that distract me and the action I will take to address them.

GROUP INTERACTION
How do we keep the kingdom lifestyle our priority?
How do you think doubting and searching can develop the kingdom lifestyle?
What are some of the kingdom privileges people may claim without taking kingdom responsibility?
In what ways can we devalue the worth of the kingdom lifestyle?
Discuss the ways by which we can we add value to the kingdom lifestyle.

VIDEO:
Click on or paste the following link to watch the video for sessions 6

https://youtu.be/xfiXdyPi2ao

DOWNLOADS:
Click on or paste the following link to download or print documents for session 6.

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AqcRuZ3XUOKql2qAuwDlcMILHWAx?e=U7OZE4

(Right click to view or download individual files)



[1] Matthew 6:33
[2] John 14:25-26

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