Seeking the Kingdom
What does it mean to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness”?
I have been burdened lately with this question. My thoughts have been all over the place. I found myself in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 this morning as I considered this subject was reminded of something from my childhood.
My dad worked in the oil fields of East Texas. This type of work often required either long drives or staying in cheap motels when the driving to the rig locations would be more than several hours. One summer my dad was working near a lake, Lake Murval near Carthage, Texas. Since he loved fishing and we were out of school, he decided we would camp and he would go to work each day and then be able to fish in the evenings. So we set up camp and for several weeks lived in tents and under tarps. As a kid this was both fun and exhausting. Sleeping on the ground in sleeping bags was not comfortable. Fighting the mosquitos and other bugs, dirt everywhere, I mean everywhere! When the rain would come, we inevitably got soaked, no matter how many tents and tarps we tried to hide under. At the same time my brothers and I would go swimming, fishing, hiking or just lay under the trees. We ate fish almost every night and sat around a campfire talking and laughing. But no matter how much that temporary living seemed fun, I can’t tell you how great it felt when we got home. To lay in my own comfortable, soft bed. To be covered and not drenched when the storms came. To know I was home!
Some of my best memories.
I really am encouraged by how Paul opens this passage. Essentially, he relates our current existence as a tent, a temporary shelter if you will, while at the same time relating our future existence in heaven as a home, a permanent dwelling. This reminds me so much of temporary living on the lake and then the joy of getting home. I think that is what Paul had in mind as he began to pen the words in this chapter. Paul, who at times would earn money making tents, certainly understood the temporary nature of tents. So, it is with our lives. They are a temporary substitute for our eternal dwelling.
Paul tells us, that knowing the temporary nature of this life we should have courage, and no matter what, aim to please the Lord. [1]
At first, I wondered why Paul said to have courage, until I looked up its definition. Courage could be defined as the ability to do something that frightens you. Wow! I mean wow! Have you ever felt fearful to follow Jesus, I mean really follow Jesus? That is scary if I consider what that means. When I think of the disciples on the sea shore before being disciples and just leaving it all to follow Jesus, that type of courage astounds me. Give up everything to follow him.
So today, I consider that one of the things I do in seeking the Kingdom of God is to have courage and aim to please the Lord.
What are my choices today?
How can I please the Lord?
How can I do it more and more?
Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 (ESV)
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[1] 2 Cor. 5:6-9; Heb. 11:13-14; John 20:29; 2 Cor. 4:18; 1 Cor. 13:12, Phil. 1:23, Col. 1:10, 1 Thess. 4:1
Shannon Fleming
I remember sleeping under the stars and in the rain and with the bugs, cotton mouths and gators and cougars. I’m amazed sometimes that we survived some of these trips! I remember the first time we fished the Trinity River. I was scared to death. I remember the river was way up and wide and flowing like the Sabine River never could. I thought I’d surely die there. I was so afraid. But knowing Daddy was there gave me some level of courage. And also wearing a life jacket helped! I remember Daddy hooking Connie to a fish stringer and the boat In case she fell out. Neither me you or Charlie got that sort of treatment but I know if something happened and one of us went overboard nothing could stop him from getting to us to rescue us. Daddy taught us to swim, fish and hunt so we would have the skills to survive. I suppose its te same way with God. If we are elect and called the we already have what we need to live for Him as all we need is Him. None the less the Christian journey can be a scary one and full of pitfalls. But as you said it’s a matter what will I do today? Will I or won’t I live today for Christ? We discussed this a little in small group last week and my answer is 1st Corin 15:31…’I die daily’…I choose to die daily because He chose to die for me.