Christian Living

---

First things first.

What do you think would happen if you tried driving a car without having learnt to drive first? Or if you chose to rely solely on asking others for financial assistance(on a need basis) as a means of livelihood, instead of securing a steady flow of income through work employment?

In both cases, it will be a very difficult task to accomplish. It will be so stressful; froth with dangers and uncertainties, anxiety, desperation, etc; and the task/prospect is more likely to remain unaccomplished and, in the slim chances of it being accomplished, it would have taken a more than necessary toll on you.

Both prospects, however, could easily be accomplished if you went about it the proper and right way viz: first learning to drive before starting to drive; and seeking employment as a means of livelihood instead of relying on charity.

The right priority.

Failing to get our priorities right in life will make even the easiest of things become the most difficult, if not impossible.

When you consider the journey of life you will observe that human beings spend their entire existence in pursuit of one thing or another. Some of these pursuits are basic needs and necessities while the rest are non-basic and mostly to do with individual vanity and ego.

Basic or non-basic, we spend our whole existence trying to acquire them - what to eat, drink, what to put on, a roof over our heads, how to get about, who to spend our lives with, partners and spouses, children, how to provide for them, care for when we get old, a decent funeral for when we expire - and sometimes we even forget to enjoy the gift of life and living in the pursuit of life. Sigh.

Life isn't supposed to be such a struggle. We struggle only because we have ignored to do the first things first, and we have got our priorities wrong.


The right way.

Matthew 6:33 KJV

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

That simple!

So simple it has become extremely difficult. That is the paradox and irony of life.

That bible reference is so explicit it doesn't need explaining but in case you're wondering what are the things that "shall be added unto you", the simple answer is EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN LIFE.

So am I saying that if you devote your life to seeking God's Kingdom and righteousness you'll never have to stress over anything you need in life? YES!


Seeking God.

What do you understand as seeking God?
Seeking God for your needs(eg jobs, spouse, advancements, change of status,etc)? Praying fervently without ceasing and fasting routinely for 'breakthroughs'? Performance of various religious duties, services and observances in the hope of obtaining favour from God?

All of the aforementioned is tantamount to driving a car without having learnt to drive first. It's doing the right thing in the wrong way or for the wrong reasons. Hence the very limited results achieved. Ever wondered why despite all your heart-felt efforts and dedication nothing seems to improve? Does it seem God is either not interested in your case or He's taking pleasure in your misfortune? Does the term 'Waiting on God' seem a mockery to you as it appears endless?

The problem isn't God. Look to yourself to see what you're doing wrong and don't put it on God. Also don't keep on doing what you're currently doing(if not right) and expect a different result. Without a change in attitude don't expect a change in your circumstances.

The key to understanding that instruction lies in the detail. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; "

You are to seek the Kingdom and the Righteousness of God and not seeking God only for your needs. Do you notice the difference between the two? Both involve 'seeking' but that's where the similarities end. When you impartially appraise your seeking of God, I am very confident that you'll observe that for the most times you've been doing the latter - seeking God for your needs - instead of seeking God for who He is (ie His righteousness).


The Kingdom of God.

How do we seek God's Kingdom? By becoming born-again in Christ? By praying everyday for the second coming of Christ? By evangelizing the world in readiness for the millenial reign of Christ?

While all of the above is a necessity, the Kingdom of God encompasses much more than that.

Romans 14:17 KJV

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

The Kingdom should be born in us - so that Christ reigns supreme in our lives - and we become an embodiment of the sovereignty of God. We become God's territory. (This is much more than just becoming born-again. That is just the very beginning and there's a whole lot more transformation required.) The Kingdom of God is built on righteousness - God's not man's - and that is a daily and on-going process. Becoming a 'kingdom' of God will involve everything in you and will take a lifetime hence Jesus said to seek it. It is because seeking the Kingdom of God(or seeking to become God's kingdom) is a lifetime occupation that we're spared having to also seek for our daily needs - hence they will be "added" unto us - in addition.

In every kingdom there's only one sovereign and supreme ruler whose will is done throughout the kingdom. The ruler then in turn is responsible for his/her subjects - provisions, security, justice, etc - and the ruler and subjects are unified in a common purpose. Is that how your life is with God? Is that the type of relationship that exists between you and God? Are you yet a kingdom of God?

Can you now see where and how we're doing the wrong thing? How we've got our priorities wrong? How we've preoccupied ourselves with things that aren't our responsibilities while neglecting our main responsibility? Why nothing seems to be working and even when they shift, only slightly, it takes so much effort? Why we fast, pray and do everything we can and yet nothing changes?

You don't set the cart before the horse, and if you do, you ain't going anywhere fast and not forgetting the inconvenience.

Reset your priorities.

We are not responsible for our daily needs - that's God's responsibility - Matthew 6:31-32 KJV

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles(or unbelievers) seek: ) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

We are to focus mainly on becoming who God created us to be - His kingdom - Matthew 6:33 KJV

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

If we do what is required of us, we will realise that God Has already done His part. Most times we actually interfere with God's grand plans for us by meddling in His areas of responsibility with our incessant petitions and supplications, most of which are inferior to God's plans for us. They aren't granted us because God Has a much better plan for us but in our ignorance we continue to kick against the wall with no results. Sometimes we 'bind' God with our prayers thereby delaying or even hindering our own progress.

Ironically were we to focus on becoming one with God, in the process, God will reveal to us His superior plans for us even without our asking and the icing on the cake would be that we wouldn't have to labour much(either in prayers, fasting,etc) for His plans to manifest for us. Surrendering to God is the greatest expression of faith and we already know that faith makes a way easily.


Focusing our attention to our needs alone is equivalent to toiling in a job only for a bonus payment while ignoring the basic emoluments. How stupid and pitiful!

In the 'job' of life the basic emolument(salary) is the Kingdom of God and His righteousness while everything else(basic and non-basic needs) is a mere bonus(an extra).

Get it right.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE AS A MEMBER OR VISITOR