Seek First The Kingdom of God no. 44

“The righteous desire only good,

but what the wicked hope for brings wrath.

Some give freely and still get richer,

while others are stingy but grow still poorer.

The person who blesses others will prosper;

he who satisfies others will be satisfied himself.

The people will curse him who withholds grain;

but if he sells it, blessings will be on his head.

He who strives for good obtains favor,

but he who searches for evil — it comes to him!

He who trusts in his riches will fall,

but the righteous will flourish like sprouting leaves” (Mishlei (Pro) 11:23-28). What are we working for? I work in a job that is not for getting rich and powerful. Often I and others hear folks complain about the amount of money they make and, for years, I have told those people to find another job. Even when I was not a good follower of Jesus, I knew that there was more to my job than my pay. So often the goals of the world can influence our goals. We can be motivated by wealth and the comfort it brings here on earth. I am never going to say that I am not comfortable or rich in this life. BUT I have always had a foundation that money was simply another tool in life and not a goal.

Jesus talks about folks complaining about the fairness of their wages, “But he answered one of them, ‘Look, friend, I’m not being unfair with you. Didn’t you agree to work today for a denarius? Now take your pay and go! I choose to give the last worker as much as I’m giving you. Haven’t I the right to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ Thus the last ones will be first and the first last” (Mattityahu (Mat) 20:13-16). And He gives the greatest example of living a life in service and not concerned with riches on earth, “Do not store up for yourselves wealth here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and burglars break in and steal. Instead, store up for yourselves wealth in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and burglars do not break in or steal. For where your wealth is, there your heart will be also” (Mattityahu (Mat) 6:19-21). And yet we still complain much like the young ruler when, “Yeshua said to him, ‘If you are serious about reaching the goal, go and sell your possessions, give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me!’ But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he was wealthy. Then Yeshua said to his talmidim , ‘Yes. I tell you that it will be very hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Furthermore, I tell you that it is easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God’” (Mattityahu (Mat) 19:21-24).

Is wealth distracting me? Am I too comfortable with the possessions I have? Am I too comfortable with my situation in life? It isn’t going with me. Nothing I have materially is making it through the grave and the fire. All I have is my allegiance to Him. Where are my treasures?

Seek first His Kingdom which rests on the foundation of love.

Grace and Shalom to your home. The Kingdom of God is now!

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #SeekFirstTheKingdom #NotMyWayYHWH