23/03/12

Do not eagerly seek what the world seeks

Luke 12:30 - For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.


In today's message the Lord is bringing to our attention the things that the world seeks eagerly and the list goes as follow:-

Life - how long they will live and how good life they can have and enjoy.

Food - many live to eat not eat to live. Then there are others who would even risk their health just for good taste. Obesity, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, heart problems and many such diseases have roots with people's diets.

Health - many keep worrying about not falling sick or about being strong or having a well-toned body. They will go to extremes to make sure they are healthy.

Dressing up / beauty - many worry of how they look, their facial features, their hair, their body shape or the clothes they wear.

Needs - many keep worrying about having sufficient for tomorrow. Would they have a house big enough, or afford more comforts. Most people today crave for the latest electronic gadgets like mobiles, tablets, computers, tvs, car, motorbike, vacation abroad these things become very important in their lives even more than their salvation or God. There are also 'good' things like higher education, better job and so on which take the most important priority in people's life and become an obsession. If not most important place they at least take most time or energy of their lives.

Time - One of most important worry which lives in the shadow and has become the most precious commodity for the people of this world. A parent will work hard and do great sacrifice for their children, giving them everything they need, even their smallest desires but time is something they cannot afford for their children. This is not only people of the world but even today's Men/Women of God are so busy helping God build His Kingdom (instead of being a means for God to build His Kingdom) that they do not have time for their families and then we see their children are lost to the world.

In today's message Lord Jesus is not saying these are bad or one should do without them or not think about them, but He uses the words 'eagerly seeking'.

In the prayer Our Father the words 'give us this day our daily bread' is a bad translation of the Greek script. The problem is not the scholar translators did not know their stuff, but the problem is with the English language. The English grammar does not have the ability to translate the tense used with the word 'give'. In English we have past, present or future but the Greek language has the tense Aorist. This tense is past, present and future at the same time. The statement 'give us this day our daily bread' is not a request but actually a declaration and could be better put as 'You give us this day our daily bread'.

The word 'Father' also means provider and therefore Jesus said no one is your provider (Father) other than God. That means not only other people but also includes ourselves. It is God who uses people and even ourselves to give us our provision. Therefore we should not be worrying or craving for our provision or the things which the world eagerly seeks but trust God and be a mean to receive it.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You desire your people to be unlike the people of this world. You are Spirit and You desire your people to be led by spirit, to worship You in Spirit and in Truth. No doubt we need things to live but You have already given us all the things we need right till the day we sleep in peace even be before we were born. Like Jesus You only desire us to be led by your Spirit and accordingly receive our provision. We have seen and experienced the natural and unnatural means You give us our needs. You have promised in your Word that all our needs You will provide and we people of faith belive in You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Luke 12:22-34

Matthew 6:8-15
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 23:9 - And call no man your father on the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)