“Seek first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

When it comes to Christ, addition never works.

Let’s say someone just became a Christian. The most natural thing to do is to add weekly worship, a Bible study or small group, and giving some money to the church on top of all the things you used to do. As far as lifestyle goes, not much has changed except that you’ve added an hour or two on Sunday mornings for worship and a weekday Bible study or small group, and you’ve started giving some money to the church.

This is what adding Christianity to the old life looks like. This is where most Christians are.

The only thing is this never works. You will never grow that way.

Jesus didn’t say, “Add my kingdom and righteousness to your already busy life.”

Jesus never said, “Add some holy Christian things to your previous ungodly life.”

That’s not following Jesus.

Jesus made it pretty clear, “Seek FIRST my kingdom and righteousness.” He’s not asking us to add him. He’s asking us to completely throw out our old way of living that led to death and darkness, and replace it with kingdom values and righteous living. It is the surrendering of our old way of living, our old values, our old dreams, our old practices and placing Christ front and center.

Worship, small groups, serving others are not additions. They are the foundation to the Christian life.

That is why when anyone is in Christ, “There is a new creation. The old has gone. Everything is new!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Seeking Christ first is about putting God above all other things and only adding my hobbies, preferences, interests, and pursuits as long as they are consistent with kingdom values.

That’s what it means to seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness.

Christianity is not about adding Christ. It is about throwing out the old, and replacing our old life’s values with Christ’s kingdom values.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

There is no such thing as “your truth” and “my truth.” If truth is to be true, there can only be truth.

Truth is not relative. Truth is not arbitrary. Truth has a name. His name is Jesus. And, one day, he will come to judge the living and the dead.

What our culture confuses is the difference between perspectives and truth. Perspective depends on where you are. Depending on how you are looking at something, it changes your perspective.

But what doesn’t change is that there is a number, and that each number must mean only one thing. That is an absolute truth. If that is relative, if that depends on perspective then all reason and logic comes crashing down. In such a society it is impossible to build anything.

I would love it if I could determine the value of a number based on my needs and feelings. I would love it to say that I have a bazillion dollars in my bank account. That would be really nice. But I don’t get to determine the value of my bank account. The numbers must mean what the numbers mean.

That’s how truth works. Truth has to be true.

In a culture where personal experience and relativism rules the day, it is not popular to hold to absolute truths. But truth doesn’t care much about popularity. Truth is truth. Truth has nothing to do with perspective.

Jesus declares, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

That’s the absolute truth and you can take that to the bank!

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).

If you’ve ever worshiped with us at the Little Church and Lakewoodgrace, you know that before we receive the offering one of the pastors will always say something like, “If all you are going to give is money, please keep your money. God is not interested in your money, so neither are we.”

If you don’t believe me, come and see for yourself!

There is nothing wrong with money. We can’t live in this world without money. It’s an absolute necessity. Money is and can be a fantastic tool to accomplish amazing things.

The problem is not money. The problem is the love of money. When we end up loving something that is supposed to be a tool and an instrument for living God-honoring lives, money ends up using us. You see, money is to be used for God’s glory. But when we love money, money ends up using us.

There are two ways of looking at money:

• Secular view of money – I am entitled to my money because I’ve worked hard for my money
• Christian view of money – I am entrusted with everything I have to use for God’s glory

Those are two very different ways of looking at money. Unless disciples get this straight, they will forever be stalled in their maturity and growth. You cannot grow up and mature as a disciple of Christ until you have transformed your understanding of money and possessions.

When you do transform your understanding of money and possessions you will experience a freedom regarding money and possessions that you’ve never imagined.

God isn’t interested in money. God is interested in your hearts.

Money is one of the clearest visible signs who rules your heart.

Use money for God’s glory.