SESSION 4
KINGDOM PRIORITY
DISCUSSION: WHAT IS YOUR GOD-GIVEN CALLING?
Calling is a common way to describe finding our purpose in life. It is common to believe everyone has a calling in life; with our life going better or worse depending on how close or far away we are from fulfilling our calling. We might also say calling is our ‘life career’ or our ‘life passion’.
Many people - especially teenagers - struggle to identify a calling. There’s either too many options, or no options that work, or options that seem unrealistic.
A common worldly idea is to ‘follow your heart’. We work out everything by listening to our inner voice - whether it be relationships, career choices, and even down to our lunch.
But the Bible teaches “the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond help. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9-10).
So - do we listen to our heart, do we work it out in our mind, or do we follow the advice of someone else?
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Does Jesus have a specific, individual & unique calling for His followers?
How can you work out calling?
What are you called to do with your life?
BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 6:19-34
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount outlines what the priorities of the Kingdom of God look like. He teaches his followers to be humble and not arrogant, self-sacrificing, not self-serving & many more traits that are often counter-cultural to the world.
In Matthew 6:19-34, Jesus’ focus is to help his followers take their eyes of their temporary needs and focus on eternal things.
Matthew 6:19-34
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
22 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Reflection
Jesus teaches his followers to prioritise the eternal things over the temporary things of life - trusting God to take care of the temporal while we focus on the eternal.
What do each of these metaphors teach us about what we should prioritise in our everyday life? (treasure - v.19-21, light - v. 22-23, slavery - v.24)
What things Jesus promise will be provided for by our Heavenly Father? (v. 25-32)
How would “seeking the Kingdom of God first” help a follower of Jesus narrow down their calling?
THE KINGDOM PRIORITY OF YOUR LIFE
I believe calling is better defined as your Kingdom Priority. Here’s why:
Apprentices of Jesus don’t follow their heart - they follow Jesus
Apprentices of Jesus don’t make their own calling - they obey Jesus’ calling
Apprentices of Jesus aren’t the rulers of their lives - they submit to Jesus’ rule
We all have a Kingdom Priority. And our Kingdom Priority changes to fit where Jesus is leading us.