“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:31-33 NLT)
Do we really understand why we’re working? The long hours and endless fretting – are they really leading to the “secure future” we’ve dreamed of having? And even if they do, will it be worth the price we will have paid?
Ron Hutchcraft wrote: “I remember this seminar where I was teaching years ago about Peaceful Living in a Stressful World. A man in his 30s was there, and he was very successful in business. He told me he’d come that day to find out how to be more successful. At the end of it he walked out in tears. He told me, ‘All these years I’ve been climbing the wrong mountain. And I want the rest of my life to be in the service of the Lord.’”
Consider the view from the “mountain” you’re climbing – lots of money, prestige, position, privilege. You can travel the world, have the best accommodations, know all the “right” people, give your family their every wish, but at what cost? And, yes, I understand, the things I listed above don’t automatically exclude you from loving and serving Jesus, but too often it’s like trying to ride two horses, at some point you’re going to have to decide which horse you’re going to ride.
Jesus will not bless a narcissistic endeavor that’s desired and designed by you that has nothing to do with “seeking first God’s Kingdom.” First means first, not somewhere in the middle or, most likely, last. Something I’ve never been able to wrap my head around is the fact that the moment we close our eyes in death everything we’ve worked a lifetime to have becomes someone else’s junk to get rid of or horde until they die. What’s the point?
The Lord has given me everything I could ever want and more, but I don’t worship my “stuff.” I realize it all belongs to Him and once I stand in His presence my sense is I’ll never give it another thought. We won’t sit around in heaven missing our big screen TV or our car that could go 0-300 in a millisecond. None of it will matter then.
All that will matter then is that our name is written in the Lamb’s book of life; that we’ll have an eternity to celebrate, worship, and honor Him with every ounce of our being. It’s incomprehensible to us as we waste away continually seeking more for ourselves, what eternity with Jesus will be like. We get glimpses in Scripture, but we can’t possibly understand how rich, enjoyable, and eternally satisfying it is.
To gain the whole world, but lose our soul is the epitome of stupidity, shortsightedness, and unimaginable regret. How many times have we thought or said: “If I’d only known then what I know now.” Hell will be that thought on steroids.
Even as I write I realize that yes, of course, we need to make a living, but there can be a huge difference between making a living and making a life. If your idea of a “living” is a driven determination to have everything this world offers, hopefully, I can save you a lot of heartache. How? By letting you know that all the world offers is the glitter and glamour of the kingdoms of this earth, which are nothing compared to the majesty, beauty, and breathtaking excitement of being a part of the Kingdom of God.
It’s the difference between combing the earth for every worthwhile sight, knowing you can’t possibly see them all in one lifetime, and taking your time to explore the galaxies knowing you’re no longer bound by time. The view from the top of the Kingdom of God is not only more beautiful than words can express, but also more expansive than anyone can imagine.
Please don’t sell your soul for trinkets when you can have the Treasure of knowing, loving, and serving Jesus – FOREVER!
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 