Priorities and Pursuits

Day 37- Pursuits and Priorities

LUK 12:29-31 ASV

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, and what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: but your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. Yet seek ye his kingdom, and these things shall be added unto you.

We live in strange times indeed. The world has taught us many things: how to get the best education, how to amass wealth, how to enjoy what life has to offer. It has not however taught us how to trust God for the core things that we need; it cannot teach us this because it does not know how to. It is a basic principle of life that you cannot give what you do not have.  The world has principles, processes and procedures, yet people in it still lack direction, focus and integrity because the world's principles are founded on the wrong premises. The world emphasizes labour, strength and intellect; God just asks that I believe in Him. That is hard, especially when everything around you is threatening to fall to pieces.

It would appear strange that the Bible is asking us not to worry about basic necessities of life. We all know how important food, clothing and shelter are to our lives. We cannot do much without these, yet God is asking me to leave the details of that to him to work out. All he needs me to do is to seek his kingdom here on earth, and he will sort me out.

This extract teaches a few lessons: it is important to be fed and clothed, but it is more important to understand that nothing you do by your own power can guarantee the provisions of these things. Our salaries and savings deceive us, and we think that these will help us in the day of trouble. Believe me, trust in God and his power is absolute; you cannot trust him in part, while checking your bank balance secretly. You cannot confess your trust in God, while having a backup plan in case he fails. The other extreme is to worry so much about where the next one is coming from that we do not see when the present happens. We are so focused on the next meal or the next provision that we have forgotten to thank God for present blessings. Both extremes are outside God's divine purpose for our lives.
What should I do? I must see and seek  God in all that happens around me. An understanding of God that I have is that he's interested in my daily life, no matter how boring. Why would God feed people for 40 years in the desert; people without jobs, farms or houses? They fed everyday, without fasting. In fact, they were so spoilt that at a point, they complained about the monotony of the food. May God open our eyes to the need to understand that God is interested in our daily living and in our eternal life. Everything he does, gives and says is tailored to be a seed sown towards our eternal existence. No wonder then, that he needs me go seek his kingdom.

When I seek his kingdom, I'm asking that he comes down and reign in the affairs of men. I'm asking him to be King and Lord of all. I'm asking him to establish his Righteousness in the earth, so that the inhabitants of the earth will see what they are missing. No wonder the people of the world have to pursue these things for themselves, as nobody will do it for them. We have a God who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think. The way? - Seek his kingdom. When you take care of God's business, God will take care of your own too. His time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, help me trust you completely. I reject every temptation to trust in human structures and efforts, and I focus only on God and his power. Amen.