Prioritize Me and Multiply

JD Greer, Abraham bought of God's presence as Paradise Abrams they got where you are. That's paradise not to be in the desert with you because to be in the riches without you would be help someone prioritize you about anything, to say I'll just go where you are because that's paradise to me what you give you first in your best to shows what you think of as Paradise.

What you treasure most what you give your first semester shows what you trust most in your life. Molly recently and in valuated what is in your life.

Get your first in your past where is God. Following your list of priorities. Did you get your resources versus your last did you get your time and talents. First, the leftovers after a busy day this or convicting questions for sure. And today after JD explains that whatever it is that gets your first and best reveals what serves as God in your life if you miss any of the messages from our multiply series always listen when you go online.

JD clear.com.

Today's message is titled prioritizing multiple every single leadership book that I've ever read says that publishing priorities is the most essential key to success in life or career. Knowing what a long list of good things knowing what's gonna come first. Knowing which things are mission-critical in which things may be nice but are not essential in the kingdom of God. That is especially true.

Genesis 13 what's again here in verse one, so Abram went up from Egypt. He and his wife and all that he had in the dining lot who was his nephew went with him into the Negev, which was a region in what became later Israel first Sue now Abram was very rich and livestock rich in silver Ridge and goal any journey this far as Bethel, the place where he made an altar of the very first you underline stop in your Bible. I would encourage you to underline that. So they got up and do that him lipstick, mascara, prick your finger debited blood. Whatever it takes, that's a good phrase to remember and their Abram again again called on the name of the Lord. Verse five and Lot went with Abram also had flocks and herds of dance so that the land cannot support both of them dwelling together for their possessions were so great that they couldn't dwell together. There was strife between the herdsmen of Abrams livestock in the herdsmen of lots, livestock.

So Abraham says to light you know that is a need to be strife between you and me is a big place as of the whole land in front of us see what man if you take the left hand but I'll go to the right.

If you take the right hand. I will go to the left.what Abraham does. Here is pretty unheard of. The average observer in those days would've expected one of two reactions to this situation. The first one will be war diversity war in and Abraham is a lot stronger a lot older is clearly going to be that the one who wins that war or he could just ask lot to go somewhere else since Abraham is clearly the big man in this party. He's older. He's the uncle watch the nephew. He's richer easy.

He's the one who received the promise directly from God, and if anything, watches, tagalong, Syrian and Abraham successes. But Abraham does neither of those things. Not only does he avoid conflict. He gives the lesser man the better choice is just unheard of in those days.

It's unheard of in our day. How many of you had an older brother growing up on all campuses. Raise your hand like your older brother at dinner giving you the extra piece of chicken or the last Brownlee. It's just unheard of. It's not happen verse in Lot lifted up his eyes, he saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord is another key phrase you want to underline that verse 11. So lot shows for himself all the Jordan Valley and Abram settled in the land of Canaan. While lot settled among the cities of the valley in the mood to stand as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked great sinners against the Lord.

Verse 14 upper lot and separated from and the Lord said Abram. Abram lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are northward and southward and eastward and westward for all the land that you see now want to give to you and your offspring forever.

I'll make your offspring like the dust of the earth.

If somebody could count specks of dust on the face of the earth, and yes, your offspring also could be counted if there were ever a way to increase the number, the size of the promise. There, God did it. It was just going to be the start of the sky, but now it's the particles of dust on the earth, rise verse 17 arise Abram and walk through the link than the breath of the land, for every place you go everything you see. I will give to you what you see here in this story is a contrast between two different sets of priorities. Two different ways of looking at the world both lot and Abram are ambitious men and both men made smart decisions according to our particular system of values, but Abraham's choice is going to lead to increased prosperity increase blessing and multiplication. While lot's choice is going to lead to destruction.

You don't see it in this story.

But Abraham is going to have to rescue lot, not once but twice. From the Jordan Valley, the first time is going to be in the next chapter.

Chapter 14 when the kings of Sodom, kidnapped lot and Abraham has to rescue him the second time is good to be in chapter 18 this time Abraham rescues lot just minutes before God destroyed Sodom and the entire Jordan Valley and in the process he destroys all the lots fortune and lots wife is going to turn around and look back because she so loves the Jordan Valley to get turned into a pillar of salt. So let's look at the value systems.

Let's look at the priorities of each man. I will put lot first lot number one lot, prioritize the riches that he could see lot prioritize the riches that he could see when lot looked out of the options lot made his choice based on one factor and one factor alone which direct showing which choice can make me wealthier financially.

His choice was a good choice.

It was the right choice. But in the process lot shows total disregard, perhaps even disdain for spiritual things. We know that lot knew God. He was a worshiper of God, but there is no prayer nor any consultation with God. In this choice, and what chooses to make his home next to Sodom which was notorious for its wickedness. He puts his family in grave spiritual danger and he did so primarily or entirely because Sodom was where the money was at and you're gonna see these choices play out tragically in his family to follow the trajectory of lot you'll see in chapter 13, he moved next to Sodom by chapter 14 is no longer next to Sodom.

Chapter 14 is to say he's in Sodom. Chapter 19.

Not only is lot in Sodom is one of the most respected men in Sodom and eventually, when God calls them to get out. Like I mentioned, his wife is so in love with the material prosperity in the way of life in Sodom that she can't leave it and so God turns her into a pillar of salt. Listen God sometimes calls his people to live in Sodom. The point is not worthless to live in a place not have sin in it because that would be, we can't really live anywhere. The problem is that lot prioritize the material prosperity of Sodom in the Jordan Valley above God to hear that it's not that he chose to live or symbolize it that he prioritize the Jordan Valley and its riches above God. I know people who are in jobs that are terrible for their family and terrible for their spiritual life. Their jobs leave them no time for family, no time to serve the kingdom of God, but that job pays for a lifestyle they convince themselves that they need and that they've always wanted to, they stay in it regardless of what it does to their family or to their spiritual life. I know couples with kids where both parents work, not because they feel called to it or not, because they believe it is the wisest use of their guests or not, because it's truly what they think is right for their family. They do so entirely because two incomes are required to pay for this lifestyle.

They convince themselves that they want. I know parents whose kids are not really involved at the church because they are so committed to dance to baseball or softball and listen, I get it. I kid.

I have four kids my oldest kid is getting ready to be a teenager and as they get older. It is hard to figure out how to balance everything all the demands that are put on them and all the opportunities that are out there, but let's face it, your kid is probably not going to play in the major leagues, but they are definitely going to go to heaven or hell. So why would you sacrifice spiritual things on the altar of something you know is passing fleeting and improbable. When I watch it seems that many of you parents care more about where your kids go to college them where they spend eternity. And honestly that's sad.

What good is it if you and your children become leading men and women in Sodom but they lose their soul if not the bees of the things wrong. It's just that God should get the priority in all your decisions. He ought to have the first and the weightiest place you want more here. What's the primary factor in the career you chosen where you chose to pursue it. One of things we say around here is that what it means to follow Jesus in your career field is whatever you're good at whatever you're good at and got it make all good. What I do and make your good ministry per se.

Whatever you good at your to do it well, to the glory of God and doing some were strategic for the mission of God. Many factors go into where you choose to pursue your career and they're all legitimate where your family, your your your extended family. Where were you want to live. What's where you can make the most money. Those are all great, great factors why shouldn't the kingdom of God and the mission of God be the largest in the weightiest of the factors that go into where you choose to pursue your career. We always tell our graduates here.

You gotta get a job somewhere. So I not get a job in place for God is doing something strategic you see lots primary concern. Lots primary concern is and where he pursued his career was where he could make the most money, and it does not turn out well for lot about you loses everything.

Whatever you're good at your well the glory of God was. Some were strategic for the mission of God there are families in our church that have chosen to uproot from the neighborhoods they live in comfortable neighborhoods that make always preferred to live into to move into under resourced neighborhoods. Neighborhoods with people who are like the neighborhoods of people were not reaching neighborhoods that are filled with refugees so that they can live out the gospel there and there's places.

Now I'm not saying that's for everybody. My family has not done that.

But I'm saying that is an example of somebody who say I'm to put the kingdom of God first and the choices that I make and this is what God has called me to do, even if it's not right normally prefer to live. It's a place where I know that I can serve the kingdom of God to lot prioritize the riches he could see not the kingdom of God. Number two lot prioritize self interest over generosity lot prioritize a self interest over generosity lot shows what was best for him even though in this case. He actually had wrong.

He had to wrong his uncle Abraham to do it.

Abraham as I explained clearly should have been given the better choice. In other words, wasn't lot is miles away from a generous heart. Lot is like the opposite of a generous heart lot thinks about the prosperity of one person in his choices and that is lot him himself and his immediate family.

By contrast, we have Abraham, Abraham, by contrast, number one prioritizes the kingdom of God. Abram's question was not where is the best land in question is God where you want me to go so I pointed out to you in verses three and four that his first act upon coming into the new land was to build an altar and asked God what he wanted and back.

The place where he went the moment he got back into this and that is linked to the place where he went was Bethel where he had previously heard from God because he said, the first thing I need in this new chapter of my life is a need to hear what you want from this chapter of my life. In other words, Abraham thought about God first and he thought about God most in every decision you see that not only into the decision how he makes his decisions, you see that in what he does with the blessings and the victories he gets from his decisions in the next chapter 14, I mentioned that lot is going to get captured by some of the kings of Sodom and Abram is going to pull off a rescue operation against incredible odds against armies are much larger than the men that he has pulled off a great victory while in the process he ends up with a lot of spoil from the kings who attacked him which makes him even richer.

Now you think Abram say well that's mocking because they attacked me and I was doing rescue thing so that I earn that. But the first thing the very first thing Abram does. After getting all the spoil is he tithes releases and gives 10% to a mysterious man named Melchizedek who is presented in this chapter as a priest of God is a priest got not only was God. Abram's first thought in making the decision, God was the first place. Abraham turned after the victory to say thank you because Abraham recognized that every blessing and all the prosperity came from God and thus God should get the first fruit of everything Abraham receive you going to get the first and the best that you say, why would he give it to this guy named Melchizedek as a way of giving it to God.

I'm throughout the Bible whenever you give to God.

There's always an institution or somebody or something that God says this is going to be my means of working on our in this case is Melchizedek in the Old Testament skin to become the Jewish priestly system that was God's representative in the New Testament in the New Testament, you're going to see God take the local church and say this is going to be the hub of the activity that I do honor of my ministry the way that I make disciples. The way that I swear the kingdom of God is good to be the local church.

So if you read the pages of actual find that God is working through one institution and that is the local church, which is why we say here, you don't give to the church you give through the church giving through the church to the kingdom of God the way that Abraham gave to God is first in his back is best through Melchizedek comes Abram prioritize the kingdom of God. Number two. Abraham prioritized generosity over self interest. When you think about it. Abraham thought about himself. Third, in this decision, God was first lot was second. Abraham was third. Because of that guests who thought about Abram's needs. God did because God because Abram thought about God first lot second Abram third. Guess who took personal responsibility for Abram. God did know I love this verse is a verse that I've just written very close to my heart. We think about my wife and I quite often.

Proverbs 1917. Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord. He will repay him for his deed.

If you loan somebody money are always curious with one another to have the capacity to pay you back when you make a loop when you make a gift when you give to somebody that is poor. God says, I actually become the guarantor of that loan. I will make sure that you get paid that when you give to the poor. On the one who takes responsibility for making sure that it comes back to you. Or here's another promise. Proverbs 1124 whoever brings blessing will be enriched in the one who waters will himself be watered.

Abraham experience that Abraham put God first lot second and God. As a result, that man I'm in a multiply what I gave to you beyond your wildest imaginations.

So lot prioritize the riches he could see any prioritize self-interest. Abraham prioritize the kingdom of God.

Any prioritize generosity.

Here's my question for use of a church which man better epitomizes or exemplifies your approach to life, which man lot or Abram better exemplifies your approach to life. Let me give you a few diagnostic questions that may help you answer that the first one. A.

What is first in your decisions. What is for what comes first, and what is the weightiest in your decisions.

The closest thing I have to a life versus Matthew 633 is a verse that my father gave to me. Right before I left for college. Matthew 633 says as you seek. First, Jesus said you seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these other things are to be added to you know what are all these other things you look at Matthew six. My dad explained he said with everything else you thought you need in life. He sits on. You put God first in every decision you make and Donald take care of providing you with a spouse. You put God first and God will take care of making sure that your financial needs are met.

Make sure that you get the wisdom you need to pursue your career. You put God first in everything and he says that he will take responsibility for all the other needs in your life you put God first will throw everything else in that you need. What that means, if you're going to do that is in every decision that you make you go to Bethel and every decision you make.

You go to Bethel to God what you want from this. What is the way that I prioritize the mission in the kingdom in this part of my life in this decision. Here's the second diagnostic question B does God get the first and best of all that you receive this God get the first and the best of all you receive. Abraham is going to give God the first and the best of everything God gives him as a way of saying it all comes from you.

Thank you and me tell you another Bible story really quickly that I've known for years, but along to look at in a new wakes of seams and stuff in it. I've never seen before. That is totally rocked me. It's the story of Cain and Abel McCain label are the two sons of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel came to eventually kill Abel the incident that led to that murder was was this one. Cain and Abel both want to make an offering to God knows him very close. Cain was a farmer and Abel was a Shepherd so Abel makes an offering of his animals to God entertainments an offering of the harvest to God, and God rejects Cain's offering and accepts Ables is to make things a man that he kills a question we ought to ask is, what was it about Cain's offering that God rejected and if you go to the chapter.

Genesis 4 and look very carefully. You're only gonna find one distinction that is given about the two offerings.

The distinction is it says this Genesis for AI. Abel gave to God, the firstborn of his flock.

What that means is that the very first lambs that were born to his flock.able officers of the gods and God. These belong to you know if you did watching them. I said Abel, how do you know they're going to have more energy. You know that that's not the last of them wanted to get back to God. And there's nothing left to take care of you.

Abel would've said well I'm in a league, but that I might trust God.

He's going to get the first and the best and I'll trust him to give me what I need after came by contrast, it says in Genesis 4 that he waited until the entire harvest was in. And when the entire harvest was the enemy.

Saul everything that he be given. Then he made his offering to God.

It never says that his offering was smaller. It never said that he just do a little tip to God. All it says is that he gave to God last.

Abel gave to God first came is what we would call around here a December giver. He waits until the end of the year to see to make sure you got everything that he's going to need MNEs. I got him to give to you out of the excess of what I can spare God is pleased with Abel's offering rejects Cain's here's my question for you. What is your approach, which represents your approach to giving you see whatever you give your first and best to whatever you give your first investor reveals what is God in your life, whatever you give your first investor reveals what God in your life. A friend of mine says it this way everybody everybody tithes to something everybody gives their first in the best of something in what you give your first in your best to shows, it reveals what you treasure most in your life if you give the first and the best of your paycheck to improving your lifestyle. The net shows that what you deem most important in life to be comfort or status. Did you notice in verse 10 that lot describe the Jordan Valley like the garden of the Lord Nimrod pointed that out to you is like a garden Wien 20 Saul.

There's a reason that the writer describes it this reason, lot thinks of it that way.

You see what he Saul listen to this petty spiritual dimension to this is paradise, the riches of the Jordan Valley equal paradise.

If I have back then.

I'll be in paradise. So naturally it came first in his decisions. Abraham, by contrast, thought of God's presence is paradise.

Abraham said God where you are. That's paradise, not rather be in the desert with you because that's paradise because to be in the riches without you would be help someone prioritize you about anything and I'm an essay I'll just go where you are because that's paradise to me what you give your first in your best to shows what you think of as paradise. What you treasure most what you give her first and best to shows what you trust most in your life. If the first thing you do with your paycheck is saved from it. If you give your first in your best to savings. That's because money is what you trust.

You think that you are responsible to secure your future. Abel could give the first of the flock to God even though he didn't know what was going on afterwards because he trusted God to provide more flock Abraham to be generous with the land because he trusted God was going to provide him with the llama God wanted him to have heard about a pastor who was a couple in his church who were having trouble with this concept getting on the first and the best of my pastor. We just don't see how McKenna you I was order budgets are tight when I can really make ends meet. My pastor said this is not the one. Once you write a check out for what you think represent your first and your best to God, write that check out give it to me and I want to take it, put it in my desk drawer and I'm in a way to the end of the month.

I will cash it into the very end of the month and at the end of the month you don't have enough money to pay your bills and meet your needs. I will check my gun.

I will give it to you is as unreasonable in a couple, look at each other and said yeah that sounds reasonable.

We think we can do that and then the pastor said.

Shame on you because you trust me, your pastor, more than you trust God for Abraham you're listening to Senate any theory just like to listen again.

You can find online@jdgreer.com this study is titled multiply as we close out this tempestuous year 2020. We invite you to prayerfully consider investing in Jeannie Greer ministries so that we can continue to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

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