Eve sought knowledge
Solomon sought wisdom
Jacob sought an inheritance
Judas sought financial gain
Saul sought position
Joseph sought fulfillment of the dream
Whether we accept it or not, everyone is seeking "something." The new year often brings up these feelings of wanting "more." More money, more happiness, more friends…more, more, more. Our society has trained us to believe the more things we have, the happier we will be. However, there are many who are successfully externally and impoverished internally. Many who have spent their life seeking things tangbile and intangible, only to be left more empty than before. What if we spend this year seeking the One who gives versus the things the He can give us?
Matthew 6:33- Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Over and over, we see in the Bible people running aimlessly after things that they believed would fulfill a void. We see this so clearly with Eve. In a world of perfection, literally walking in the presence of God, this was not good enough. It is possible she wondered, "What more could there be?" Simply walking with God, the Creator, their Friend, their Father, was no longer "good enough". The idea of attaining knowledge and power became more important than being close to Him. And in one fatal bite, Eve told God "Your presence isn't enough." She told God, I need more than you are offering. This decision would change the very course of history and leave Eve as the blame for all humanity's downfall. Eve's vital error was that her focus was no longer on God, but the things of the world around her. She had to have what looked "good for eating", even if it meant an eternal separation from God.
Eve was no longer seeking God first.
My friends, what are you seeking? The word "seek" in the Greek is zeteo. This word means wanting, demanding, and setting your heart on. The Lord is asking us to set our heart upon Him first. The Lord is asking us to want for Him before all else. God is asking us to even make a demand for God's kingdom to be all around us. When we do so, He offers us a promise.
Seek ye first, THEN…He WILL give!
Every aspect of the thing we need will always be provided. As His children, He promises that those who seek Him, will find Him and will not live a life of lack.
“Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God.” (1 Chronicles 22:19)
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:1–2)
Seeking the Lord or "setting your mind" requires an intentionality. Seeking God is a choice that above all else and every desire that I will choose Him.
The real question is, what are you seeking the most?
Status, wealth, fulfillment of a dream, promotions, making others proud, success...
You can be assured that whatever you are seeking will take the front stage of your life. Overtime, what you are seeking can even become your personal idol. You can want it so bad that you are no different than Eve. Choosing the presents of God over the presence. Although, there is no issue with having a life of abundance and success, our focus should be more on relationship with the One who gives it all.
My friends, what would it look like for YOU to seek God first?
Perhaps, it would look like joining a local church. It may look like waking up early every day to spend time reading your Bible. It may look like taking care of the physical body the Lord's entrusted you with. There's a chance it will look like ending a toxic relationship. The great news is that the Lord says if you search for Him, you WILL find Him. God is so great that He will meet you where you are and fill the voids. In doing so, He will even give the strategic wisdom for the things that you want. We serve a God that desires such a divine connection with Him that He desires to talk to you and literally walk with you. Like Eve in the Garden, God wants you to seek His presence in the midst of it ALL. There's no good thing He will withhold from those who have their hearts towards Him (Psalm 84:11)
Over the next month, Victory Speaks will be challenging you to seek God first. Although the resolutions of weight loss, being more organized, and spending more time with family are all great goals, they are not what will sustain your inner peace and joy. My friends, seeking His presence will be a key to your breakthrough in every area. I challenge you to make a choice to Seek First God.
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.