We are, of course, familiar with these four words as having been uttered by Our Lord in that great “Sermon on the Mount”, specifically from Matthew 6:33, which reads in full--”But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.” The thought of the passage is not all that hard to “get”, as Jesus simply indicates that the one who would faithfully follow Him must have as his greatest priority the Kingdom (Church, cf. Matthew 16:18-19, wherein the “kingdom” and the “church” are terms which are used interchangeably). Nothing. then, comes before the church to the faithful.
With respect to attendance to the services, how can a faithful Christian. given the teaching of this verse (not to mention numerous other verses) choose to do something else instead of worshipping God in the assembly of the saints? What possesses a “Christian” when he/she chooses to stay home and watch television instead of assembling? Is there justification for a “Christian” to choose a family outing over Bible Class?
And what about those mysterious bouts of illness that come upon some “Christians” shortly before worship or Bible Class and then just as mysteriously disappear before work or some secular outing?
Any time you find yourself “missing” Worship or Bible Class, stop and ask yourself the question: By the decision I am about to make concerning the assembly, am I seeking first the Kingdom? If what you are about to do does not harmonize with the command of Jesus, I encourage you (and the Lord commands you) not to do it!
Tim Smith 1272 Enon Road, Webb, AL 36376 (334) 899-8131
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