Matthew 16:24-26 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Matthew 6:31-33 “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 seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Jonathan Edwards wrote the following insightful thoughts:
“In worldly concerns, we discern their opportunities, and are careful to improve them before they are past. The farmer is careful to plough his ground and sow his seed in the proper season. When the harvest is come, he will not sleep away the time, or the crop will soon be lost. How careful and eagle-eyed is the merchant to improve opportunities to enrich himself? How apt are men to be alarmed at the appearance of danger to their worldly estate! O how they stir themselves in such a case to avoid the threatened calamity! But if we consider how men generally conduct themselves in things on which their wellbeing infinitely more depends, how vast is the difference. In these things, how cold, lifeless, and negligent most are. How few among the multitudes are wise!”
Edwards points out a categorical contrast between our demeanor and diligence for earthly temporal things as opposed to spiritual eternal things. For the former, we tend to be careful, discerning, vigilant, and eagle-eyed. For the latter, we tend to be cold, lifeless, listless and negligent.
It should not be so, but it is – even for Christians. That is why Edwards carries on with the following thought:
“What a need there is for a constant repetition of admonition and counsel, to keep the heart from falling asleep!”
May we do so for ourselves, for our families, and in our churches. In that way, we can best seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness as we are directed to do.
PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO REGULARLY REMIND OURSELVES OF PROPER PRIORITIZATION AND DUE DILIGENCE FOR THE THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER. To live life with the right focus, it takes constant repetition.
