Here’s a picture of 12 year old Phil playing basketball:
Do you know what he’s thinking about?
“I can’t wait till I’m older and dedicate my life to this game. I love it!”
Fast forward 2 years…
Here is 14 year old Phil:
You see that smile?
He’s thinking to himself…
“Wow, this is too easy, my time is coming!! NBA over everything!!! #BallIsLife”
Let’s fast forward another 3 years, where Phil is now 17 years old.
After 6 years of playing the sport he loves, he says to himself
“Man, I have absolutely no regrets about playing and loving this game”
“…what a ride, but its time to move”
Do you know what he’s definitely NOT been thinking about throughout these 6 years?
The fact that…
Approximately 120 thousand high school students are injured each year playing basketball (according this article).
Less than 3% of high school players go on to play men’s NCAA basketball.
&
Less than 2% of NCAA men’s basketball players make it into the NBA.
Why wasn’t any of these in his mind?
Because he was busy thinking about the dream.
Becoming a better basketball player every day with hopes of one day making it to the NBA.
*I’m not crying you’re crying*
With this in mind, consider this:
In Matthew 6:19-32 Jesus teaches on the importance of seeking after heavenly treasures rather than worrying about our earthly necessities. In verse 33, He utters this famous passage
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33 ESV
The key word to focus on here is “seek”
To “seek” after something implies diligently searching after what your heart desires.
However, many of us make the mistake of turning God’s kingdom and His righteousness into the “necessity” and our “necessities” into our dreams/ desires.
An example of this would be to pursue God with the anticipation that your dream of “ENTER DREAM HERE” could be achieved.
However, we’re rather called to seek after God’s Kingdom and His righteous, believing God to take care of the necessities along the way.
God is the treasure.
In the same way I neglected the negative probabilities concerning my chances of making it to the NBA, Christians are called to fully trust God with their necessities (but unlike my pursuit of going to the NBA, God will provide).
As Christians, we trust God to supply our needs.
As Christians, our dream is the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
The questions we should then focus on are:
“What is the Kingdom of God?”
&
“What is His righteousness?”
The Kingdom of God
What is it?
In the original Greek, “His Kingdom” translates to basileian from the root word basileuó which means “reign or to be king”.
Therefore, in its purest form “The Kingdom of God” refers to the Kingship and reign of God.
This is what our focus should be.
A constant pursuit on the kingship and reign of God in every area of our lives.
Do we desire the Lordship of Christ in our workplace?
Relationships? Churches? Everything?
This is why the phrase “hallowed be your name Your kingdom come..” is the first petition in the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:9-13).
And fun fact! Jesus’ parables in the New Testament were written so that His followers might “know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 13:10-17 ; Mark 4:10-12; Luke 8:9-10).
Therefore, whenever you read a parable, be expectant to learn something about the kingdom of God.
“But Phil? Where can we find a link with all these parables?!”
Your welcome
Lol
His Righteousness
Righteousness generally means the quality of being right or justifiable.
God’s righteousness emphasizes on the fact that everything He does and utters is ultimately and divinely right/ justifiable. He is literally perfect in everything He does without any fault of injustice (Deuteronomy 32:4).
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne
Psalm 97:2 ESV
Bible goes onto say that, God is holy in righteousness (Isaiah 5:16), meaning there is literally no one who is as righteousness as He. He is set apart in righteousness.
Therefore, anything God approves of, we can declare to be righteous.
Or in simpler terms, anything outside of the bubble of God is not righteous. He is perfect in all He does,
The Bible describes God as upright and righteous.
His work to be perfect and His ways to be just.
God’s the standard.
….With all the being said, how in the world do we seek/ pursue after God’s righteousness?
Well for one thing, we must first understand that righteousness is impossible to be attained through our own efforts.
The Bible is quick to humble us by dismissing the thought that anyone on earth can be righteous in it of themselves (Romans 3:9-20).
Faith in Christ is the only way one may attain righteousness (Romans 3:21-31; Philippians 3:8-9). Pursuing God’s righteousness begins with pursing and putting your faith totally in Jesus Christ.
Secondly, ask yourself this question:
“Do I love the commandments of God?”
“Do I see them as good and profitable?”
“Do I delight in the Laws of God?”
Or do we simply obey out of obligation, with no sense of delight of trusting God’s way to be right and justifiable ? (Read my blog on “Do you love God?” for on this topic)
Hear what King David says about the ways of the righteous:
1Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2 ESV
To seek His righteousness goes beyond knowing every one of His commandments, but also delighting in them, pursuing them in all areas of life (obeying them through guidance from the Holy Spirit) and rejoicing in them whenever you see it displayed throughout the earth.
Desire after the reign of Christ all throughout your life and pursue God’s righteousness, with anticipation, that He will fully satisfy your desire to be in right standing with Him (Matthew 5:6).
Every other necessity in life will fall into place by the gracious hand of God.
Soli Deo Gloria
Soli Deo Gloria 