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A person who has lots of money could not sleep soundly. He keeps on making an inventory of his riches; he keeps on counting his money. He is readily alarmed at the slightest movement and the faintest sound, so that he would immediately get hold of his gun. He does not have any peace of mind; he hardly sleeps. That is why the life of a laborer is better because he is able to sleep tightly. Whether he eats little, or he eats more, his sleep is still sound. But the rich could not fall asleep. Christ’s warning is—
“Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day shall come upon you unaware.”
And worse is, if a person has become obsessed of surfeiting, drunkenness, and in the cares of this life. Death will come unexpectedly, and so with the Day of Judgment. So, we better take heed, otherwise, you’ll be ensnared and caught unaware. Nobody knows when you are going to die. It could be today. For all you know, you’ll never get the chance to see the morrow anymore. Neither let death nor Judgment Day come with you unaware, just because you’ve been too busy with your personal cares. There is something that God wants a person to give importance to. What could that thing be that God wants us to prioritize?
Isn’t it that parents have outlined their plans for their children? They prioritize their schooling, from elementary to college. Some parents would even express readiness to die as soon as their children finish school. In other words, for many parents, their priority is their children’s education. Actually, there is nothing wrong with giving importance to the children’s education. But we would be able to realize that such should not be our primary concern in life if we would learn God’s righteousness.
There are those whose ultimate concern is to build a house for their family. And once it is accomplished, they also express willingness to die. Other people, on the other hand, express their readiness to die right after shaking the hands of their acknowledged “messenger of God.”
Apparently, most of the things that they consider important in life do not have any biblical significance. Seldom will you meet people who would say that they are ready to die after they had served God. God should be our top priority. If you want a peaceful life, if you want a life that is filled with hope, if you want to be spared from all sorts of wickedness, let us consider what God prescribed to be our major aspiration in life. And what should our primary goal be? Matthew 6:33 says—
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
What should we seek first? We should seek first the kingdom and the righteousness of God. It should be our primary goal. But it is just unfortunate that, to many people, this is what is lacking – God’s righteousness. Let us not trouble ourselves with matters which are not at hand yet. God will take care of these. Matthew 6:31 says,
“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?”
Why should we be worried about those things? Matthew 6:32, 26, 33 says—
“(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Behold the fowls of the air: for they saw not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
The things that are added are but a surplus. They are not what mattered most. To whom such things are added is the more important one. Those things will be added to you if you already have righteousness, and if you already found the Kingdom of God. “Seek ye first the kingdom and the righteousness of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.” What should we have to seek first? We should seek first the kingdom and the righteousness of God. That should also be the first thing that you ought to teach to your children before you send them to school. Teach them how to pray. Before eating, let them pray, “Thank you Lord for the food you’ve given us. I thank you in the name of Jesus.” Before going to bed at night, let them pray, “Lord, please take care of us this evening. Protect us from all harms. Thank you in the name of Jesus.” If you teach them how to pray, before they reach the age of 5 or 6, before they go to school, they already know God. Don’t forget, “Seek ye first the kingdom and righteousness of God.”
But this is what many have forgotten. Seeking God’s righteousness has become the last of their priorities. Their top priority is to earn money, to study, to earn a degree, to get married, and to raise a family. For many, marriage is the fulfillment of everything, as though a person is not fulfilled if he is not married. No wonder they, indeed, spend time and money in looking for a wife, or a husband.
I know of a very rich man who, after reaching past his prime, he has remained a bachelor because he was looking for a beautiful wife. But finally, he found one who was then working in a dress shop. He told her to resign from her work; he gave her everything that she and her family needed. Then, he married her. However, on their second day of marriage, he returned her to her parents because she was without a sex organ. Why do you think did it happen to him? It is because he gave greater importance to matters of this world only. He did not seek God first.
Put God on top of your list of priorities, and He sees that you are really in need of a wife, He’ll give you one. Look at Adam. He did not ask for a wife, but God gave him Eve. He simply slept, and when he woke up, Eve was already there. He did not look for her. God gave him Eve. As written in Proverbs 19:14 says—
“House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.”
Where does a prudent wife come from? from cabarets? No! from a beauty contest? No! Was she chosen by your parents for you? Was she given to you in exchange of a dowry? Did your parents and her parents pre-arranged your marriage? What God says is clear—
“House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.”
Seek God first – His righteousness and His kingdom. And everything that you need shall be added to you. God is a God who cannot lie. He will surely fulfill his promise. He will not break His word. So, why are you apprehensive that He will not fulfill His promise? Make Him your first. More than anything else, you have to seek first God’s righteousness, and not your pastor’s. Unfortunately, many consider only their pastor’s righteousness, and set aside God’s. But the admonition is clear—
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
What is our basis that we, indeed, have to seek for God first? Matthew 22:37-38 says—
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”
Will there be anything more important than that? None! “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Therefore, it is not your wife that you ought to love with all your heart. It’s not your parents either. And it’s neither your children, nor your siblings, nor your friends, but GOD.
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Bible
The
Way to Salvation
