Seeking Great Things For Yourself? Seek Them Not.

 And sleekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, smith the Lord: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.( Jeremiah 45:5)

What a timely rebuke to our society! 

We live in a society which is self-seeking. Individualism has taken over and can be observed everywhere, even in prayers. Prayers begin and conclude with ourselves. One seeks, only, for one’s own blessing, but not for others. So selfish are we, that good or godly things like marriage are deemed to be a bother, something that hinders personal development. Children are fighting over their parents’ property and taking each other to court. No one is willing to consider others as better than themselves. 

I, once, asked a dear sister in Christ to give me some of the worldly reasons why some couples deliberately delay having children. This is what she had to say:

a) The woman wants to pursue her career and be as competitive as her male colleagues, for as long as is possibly achievable;

b) Children are a strain and therefore, their arrival should be delayed for as long as possible;  

c) Having children is an expensive venture; therefore there is a need to, first, be financially stable;

d) The woman wants to maintain a youthful body/ retain a radiant figure;

e) Children, upon their arrival, kill romance and interrupt the seemingly idealistic love between a husband and a wife;

f) It is ideal to delay in having children so as couple can get to know each other better; and 

g) It is fashionable as this is what everyone else is doing.

Dear reader, we, indeed, live in the times described in 2 Timothy 3:1 ff. These are the difficult, hard or perilous times, “for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”

In Jer 45:5, we see great Jehovah rebuking Baruch who was murmuring saying, “Woe is me now for the Lord hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing and find no rest.” (See Jer 45:3). The Lord who searches our hearts and sees our thoughts before they are formed (Ps 139:1), diagnosed Baruch’s problem. He was seeking great things for himself. 

Nevertheless, there is hope for Baruch because God’s word came to him. He was both reproved and encouraged to seek not great things for himself and God, thereafter, promised to spare his life wherever he would go.

What a great warning to this selfish society in which people are seeking big things for themselves!

Are you seeking fame? Seek it not! Are you, only, after riches, wealth, honor, personal peace, and prosperity in this passing world? Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, “For what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (Mk 8:36).

The apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote these words to the Philippian church, “For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ.” (Phil 2:21). This is such a sad statement because Christ is the only savior, the only mediator between God and man, the only way, truth and life, the only one who can clothe us with a righteousness that satisfies God’s justice. Christ who died and rose again for our justification. Christ who is exalted at God’s right hand and who is coming back again as King of kings and Lord of Lords. Yet we read these words, “all are seeking their own interest.” 

Dear friend, are you seeking your own interest? Are you seeking big things for yourself? I plead with you, by the mercies of God, to seek the things which are of Christ, just as Timothy sought Him. Jesus Christ has promised not to cast away anyone who comes to Him. Jn 6:37b says, “…and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” 

See how the scripture appeals to you to, primarily, seek the Lord, “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.” ( Isa 55:6). “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” (Mt 6:33). “Ask, and it shall be given to you, seek and ye shall find.” (Mt 7:7). Therefore, seek ye the Lord before it is too late as during the times of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah. 

As a result of Human depravity caused by sin, man is willing to seek all things except God. (See Rom 3:10-12). Men seek to be honored by people and acknowledged by those in power, be it in the government or in the opposition. This is how far sin has blinded us. Yet God’s word remains true that failing to seek God is a serious sin. (See the first four commandments in Ex 20 and Deut 5). 

Here are some examples of people who did not seek the Lord and what happened to them, thereafter:

a) The parable of the rich fool (Lk 12: 16-20); that very night his life was demanded from him

b) The parable of tax collector and the pharisee (Lk 18:9-14); The pharisee went home not justified;

c) One malefactor on the cross who mocked the Lord (Lk 23:32) and did not have the Lord telling him that he would enter paradise; and

d) Adam and Eve immediately after the fall, who were ejected from God’s presence and favour.

Here are some examples of people who sought Christ and found Him: 

a) The parable of lost coin: a lady searches for a lost coin. She finds it and rejoices (Lk 15:8-10). 

b) Hannah, Samuel’s mother (1 Sam 2:15,17); “Then Eli answered and said, go in peace and the God of Israel grant thee they petition that thou has asked.”

c) The blind Bartimaeus who cried unto the Lord Jesus (Mk 10:46-52) and received his sight.

Some of the great things that people seek for themselves as the primary thing in life are:

a) The lust of flesh.

b) The lust of the eye.

c) Pride of life (1 Jn 2:16).

d) Gold or the love of money.

e) Pleasures of this fallen world.

f) Power.

g) Self-indulgence.

h) Entertainment.

Dear friend, heed to God’s warning not to seek great things for yourself. Seek the Lord of glory, He who can present you faultless before His Father’s throne.

The Lord be with you.