GodSprings - 07, June, 2017

What Am I After?

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:33

Alistair Stuart MacLean, Scottish novelist who wrote popular thrillers and adventure stories, tells the story of Tauler the German, who one day met a very poor man. He said to the poor man, “God give you a good day, my friend.” The poor man answered, “I thank God that I never had a bad one.” Tauler said, “Well, God give you a happy life, my friend.” “I thanks God,” said the poor man, “I’m never unhappy.” In amazement, Tauler said, “Well, what do you mean?”

“Well,” said the poor man, “When it’s fine, I thank God. When in rains, I thank God. And when I have plenty, I thank God. And when I’m hungry, I thank God. And since God’s will is my will, and whatever pleases him pleases me, why should I say I’m unhappy when I’m not?” Tauler looked at the man in astonishment and said, “Who are you?” He said, “I’m a king.” “Well where’s your kingdom?” The poor man replied, “In my heart.”

The story tells us how to keep our priorities in the right position. The above verse that Jesus tells is a positive command in the midst of the negatives. After three don’ts about worrying (eating, drinking and wearing) Jesus tells us what we should do to live a life without worry.

Jesus tells us to get our thoughts on the divine level and God will take care of the physical. God doesn’t want us involved in the physical. He wants to free us from that. Rather than being materialistically oriented, rather than being consumed with the possessions of this age, we are asked to seek the kingdom.

Jesus says of all the things that we can choose from in life to be occupied on, this has to be number one. The best example for this is Paul in Acts 20, wherein he says when he was tempted by Satan and asked not to do since he would get into trouble. This is how Paul responded, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

This is what seeking Kingdom is all about. If you have to chase something beloved, don’t chase money, chase His righteousness. When we do that, the rest will be added unto us. Psalm 84:11b it says, “No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” God will take care of those who seek His kingdom.

In the VBS that I took at Sharjah, Solomon was one of the character for studying. He was asked for a wish. He didn’t pray for riches, clothes, house, long life. He prayed for wisdom. And when he got wisdom he got all the rest.

Let us pray – Dear Lord, help us make our investments in eternity. Help us that we might take the fullness of every moment in the grace that our needs shall be supplied.