June 2 – Reading 153

JUNE 2 – Reading 153

by Rev James M. Armpriester, Jr | June 2

“FIRST THINGS FIRST”
(1 Kings 7:1–51; 2 Chronicles 3:15–5:1)

“Solomon was building his own house for thirteen years, and he finished his entire house.” — 1 Kings 7:1 (ESV)

Introduction: Priorities Speak Louder Than Plans
When I read that Solomon took thirteen years to build his own house, after completing the Temple of the Lord, it reminds me of a personal journey that radically transformed my life. In my early years, I was a young husband, a father, and a molecular biologist working for Procter & Gamble. I was driven, focused, and determined to build a successful life, but along the way, God gently and consistently began teaching me the importance of putting Him first.

It began with time. I started to give God the first part of my day through early morning prayer—before work, before breakfast, before anything else. Then I offered Him my talents, serving wherever there was a need: in the nursery, with toddlers, in children’s church, youth ministry, and teaching a young married Sunday School class. We even opened our home weekly to 50-75 people for a Bible study—not because we had extra time or space, but because we had a deepening desire to put the Kingdom first.

Eventually, we planted a children’s ministry—and then a church—because we believed God wanted to reach families through their children. And we did all of this while I was still working full-time at P&G and had not yet completed my ministerial credentialing process. At the same time, we learned to trust God financially. We tithed faithfully and gave generously to missionaries and Kingdom projects. Every time we put God first, He has proved faithful.

As my love for God grew, my priorities changed. What’s amazing is that everything else was added just as Jesus promised in Matthew 6:33. God restored my marriage, made me a better father, increased my productivity at work, and I received several promotions. I didn’t chase those blessings—they followed me because I was following Him.

The Significance of Building God’s House First
The construction timeline tells the story: Solomon spent seven years building the Temple of the Lord (1 Kings 6:38) and thirteen years on his own palace (1 Kings 7:1). Yet, even though his palace took longer to build, it was the Temple that came first—both in order and in importance.

Solomon ensured that the treasury of God’s house was full before he invested in his personal luxuries (2 Chronicles 5:1). He prioritized the sacred over the self, the eternal over the earthly, the kingdom of God over his own kingdom. That’s more than architectural sequencing—it’s spiritual alignment.

New Testament Connection: Kingdom First Living
When Jesus teaches His followers in the Sermon on the Mount, He addresses the very human tendency to worry about material things—what to eat, wear, and possess. Then He delivers the corrective: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33, ESV).

Jesus isn’t just encouraging us to reorder our day planners; He’s calling for a radical reorientation of our hearts. Prioritizing the Kingdom doesn’t mean neglecting our own needs—it means trusting that God will take care of them when we put Him first.

Application: Reordering Our Lives Around God’s Priorities
Like Solomon, we all face decisions about what we build and when. Our time, energy, and resources are limited, but our priorities reveal what we value most. Will we give God the first part of our day, or the leftovers? Will we invest in His Kingdom first, or only when our own house feels secure?

Here are three practical steps for living the “First Things First” principle:

1. Tithe your time and treasure. Start your day and budget with God in mind, not as an afterthought.
2. Build the altar before the palace. Let your worship set the blueprint for the rest of your life.
3. Trust in divine provision. When you put God first, you can trust Him to supply everything else.

Reflection Quesitons

1. What does the order of Solomon’s construction projects reveal about his values?
2.  In what areas of your life might God be calling you to put Him first?
3. How can you better seek the Kingdom of God in your daily schedule or financial priorities?

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for reminding me that Your Kingdom must come first. Help me to reorder my heart, my time, and my resources around what matters most to You. Give me the wisdom of Solomon to put You first, and the faith to trust that You will take care of everything else. Let the temple of my life be filled with Your glory before I chase anything else. In Jesus’ name, Amen.