“Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.” Luke 12:31 ESV
Reflection: why does a Christian need to seek the kingdom of God?
We have for decades wondered why our taxes have been going up, yet the quality of many government services, including healthcare and education, seem to be continually getting worse. We pay more, yet we get less. But, what is now starting to be revealed, is systemic misuse and fraud of the funds, even massive corruption. So many people have gotten used to living on this system that is not aligned with the will of the people, and have just turned a blind eye to a system that has benefited them.
This evil system has been there all along, hiding in plain sight, for a very long time. It has grown, become more sophisticated and greedy, taking more and more money and power. And we see that it even has been stealing the minds of people, to a point where some people think it is ok to mutilate children and murder the unborn. The system is making them part of itself, using them to promote itself. Even many churches have become deeply corrupted with power and greed. And it makes us wonder, how could all of this have gone on without being questioned and addressed? What happened to integrity and honesty?
Where is the kingdom of God?
Now, the fraud, the abuse and corruption is being exposed because we finally have the courage, the will to ask hard questions, to seek after the truth. And it is already, and will be, a difficult process. Because so many have become dependent on this system. And as it starts impacting individuals, some will fight back to keep the system going, even if they know it is wrong. Even if it hurts so many people. And the scary thing is that it is not just in the US. I was listening to a young, enterprising man from the UK yesterday, who was working three jobs just to live, to pay the bills. While he still loves his country, he was considering leaving Britain due to all the government corruption and difficulty for citizens to live. UK might be even worse off than the US.
How did our modern, western civilization get here, almost to a point of collapse?
Perhaps the answer is simple. As western, Christian nations, we have stopped putting God first. If we are very honest, most of us have been seeking pleasure, putting all our time and effort into satisfying the flesh. Chasing careers, money, possessions, power and fame. And, perhaps, if time allows, we spend an hour or two on Sunday morning in church, as a token worship of God. But, only if the church doesn’t challenge the way we want to live, in any way. Then we just find a new church that is more inclusive, more aligned with our worldly values. We only want to hear that God loves everyone unconditionally, just the way we all are.
But Jesus is giving us the alternative.
He says that “instead” of spending all our time and effort chasing things to satisfy the flesh, He wants to give us so much more. He says we can have all those things, but they are simply just “add-ons” to what He really wants to give us. Because what our Father really wants to give us, is His kingdom!! It is right there, available to all His children, hidden in plain sight.
But we must truly seek His kingdom, and seek Him first.
Then, according to His promise, the other things we have been chasing, will be given in addition. “And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Luke 11:9 ESV