Priorities in the Kingdom!
There are a few things that Jesus said that are really important. In the next few days I want to write something about the “Firsts” of Jesus. I do believe there is a reason he said the firsts. As we look at them and meditate on them it will begin to make sense and you will understand.
In the Hebrew mindset the number one had great symbolic value. Not only was it considered to be a numerical number but it was also considered to be a principal number. This simply means that the number one carried the meaning of superiority and power. One also carried the meaning of unity. In our western way of thinking the number one simply means first. I want to suggest that by understanding the symbolic value of the number one, or as Jesus refers to it as first, we will understand that Jesus not only wanted it to be first, but that it should carry power in our lives and also be something that we wanted to be in unity with or agreement with.
Matt. 5:23-24 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remembers that thy brother hath ought against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Lets look at this first. I see a couple of things here. What Jesus is saying that if you come to celebrate your relationship and fellowship with God (Vertical relationship) and your relationship with your brother (Horizontal relationship) is out of fellowship, then first go and restore the relationship and fellowship with your brother! This is a big issue as God views our relationships with other people very seriously. It is hypocritical to think you have a great relationship with God when you ignore the problems in relationships with your brothers. God clearly commands us to love Him with everything, and equal to that we need to love one another. John asks the question “How can you say you love God but you hate your brother?” Jesus says first prioritize and fix that before you bring your gift to God.
The other thing I see is that Jesus says leave your gift. A friend Charles Coker said one time that when we come to fix stuff with people, we need to leave our giftings. We don’t come to each other as apostles or prophets or anything else except as friends and brothers. Do not intimidate your brother with what you have. Leave that and come as a friend that seeks reconciliation.
Lastly I see that Jesus talks about reconciliation. What is reconciliation? It simply means to balance the books. God reconciled us to Himself by not holding our trespasses against us. This simply means that God chooses to see what Jesus did and what He did replaces the wrong we did and the books balance. Sin therefore can never be greater than His righteousness. It says that God sees what Jesus paid and can no longer hold you accountable for your sins. That is reconciliation! So to be reconciled to your brother you need to do the same. You can no longer hold them accountable for their wrong when they repent and ask forgiveness. First go and do that, so then when you bring your offering you stand in front of God having forgiven as you have been forgiven.
This is the first of the kingdom. It is not just something we believe but something we live. I love my brother as much as I love God. We take the initiative to love them like we love God. Be in unity with them and treat them as a priority.