But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1.22
It’s not enough to read the Bible if we stop short of obeying its every command. Many have read the Bible from cover to cover, but their lives are nothing like Jesus. If we are just following Jesus only to check the box but are not becoming like him, is the effort worth it? I’ve been thinking of a few instructions Jesus gave and what the church’s response has been. Lots of people gathered to listen to Jesus preach and teach, but how many followed him wholeheartedly?
Hearing is a passive posture; nothing is required as the information goes in one ear and out the other. We can hear what people say, but take no note of what it means. We can read God’s word, but choose not to allow the word to take root. Doing is an active posture, requiring some effort and commitment. That’s the difference between those who hear and those who obey. However, we can’t ‘do’ till we ‘hear’. And the source of what we hear can affect what we do. A diluted or partial version of the gospel has reached many, affecting their commitment to the Lord.
Here are three instructions Jesus gave to his disciples which now apply to all those who have surrendered their hearts to the Lord. Are we doing what Jesus has asked us to do, or are we content with just hearing? As Jesus spoke to groups of people at each of these times, he was also speaking to individuals. I wonder what God thinks about our response to these instructions. Could we be deceiving ourselves and be unaware of it? When we don’t obey God’s word in its entirety, we may have deceived ourselves that we are following him when we’re not.
Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6.33
To seek after something or someone is to pursue until you achieve your aim. You don’t stop seeking till you find what you’re searching for. If this thing or person is a priority, we don’t pursue after them only when it’s convenient or on our terms. We are intentional about looking for what we’re searching for. Jesus wants our priority to be the kingdom and its righteousness, and the other aspects of our life rescheduled around this. Jesus could have said ‘seek the kingdom while you’re chasing other things or when you have a minute, add ‘seeking the kingdom to it’, but the instruction is to make God’s kingdom your life’s goal. That’s all we’re living for. Although the enemy knows our names are written in heaven, he is content as long as we misplace our priorities, remaining busy but unproductive, making much noise but no impact for the kingdom.
Our society has handed us an unwritten checklist to aim for and at the end of our lives, we have checked all the boxes but left God out of it. We say, when we get married, when we have more money or when we retire, we’ll have time to give our God our best, but what’s the guarantee that we’ll still be here till then? I suggest Jesus wants us superimposing the priorities of the kingdom as we get on with our daily schedules and goals. Instead of just signing up for a job, am I thinking, how will this role enable me to advance the kingdom? Instead of rushing ahead to get married just to anyone, are we thinking how will this partner enable us to pursue God’s kingdom? As we consider a business venture, are we also thinking about how the profits can be utilised for the propagation of the gospel?
After Jesus ascended, the disciples, one hundred and twenty of them, returned to Jerusalem and remained in the upper room, awaiting the promise of the Holy Spirit. It was a long wait. I wonder how many of us will stay in one location for an uncertain number of days waiting for an unknown experience. Some of us might have gone out a few times or we might have said, please call when the Holy Spirit arrives. But this group of people waited for 50 days and then, not knowing when and what to expect, there was a sound from heaven, a mighty rushing wind, tongues of fire sat on each head and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit as they all spoke in new tongues.
Many churches and ministries, scattered across our landscape, are engrossed in rituals and routines, overwhelmed by programs and events, raising funds for projects, and building cathedrals and castles, yet they neglect and abandon the kingdom’s core business. Are we chasing after the things God has promised to give us while we have abandoned him? Because our pulpits continue to emphasize chasing after what will be added, many sadly seek God’s hand without seeking His face. They follow the Lord hoping for their needs to be met, and when their prayers are unanswered, they abandon Him. The early church devoted themselves to spiritual disciplines that the church in the 21st church has little or no time for.
Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. Luke 24.49
The instruction was to tarry until the Holy Spirit came. Finally, they received the Holy Spirit, and each one began leaving the confines of the upper room. As they left, I assume they continued to speak in new languages and many who were on their way somewhere stopped and marvelled and listened. Peter preached to an unknown number of people, saving and baptizing 3000 souls. The Lord added to the church daily. Peter doesn’t invite people into the upper room to listen to him preach. We don’t see the disciples amazed at the outpouring of the Spirit and handicapped about to do next. Jesus had told them they will receive power when the Holy Spirit come to be his witness. So, once that happened, out they went.
What is the church doing today? We are waiting for people to come through our doors before we preach the gospel. Jesus hasn’t asked the world to go to church, but the church to go into the world. We are enjoying the outpouring and power of the Spirit but have refused to step out of cathedrals to take the gospel to the nations. Are we raising disciples who are not making disciples? We know the Bible from cover to cover and all the doctrines, but are unavailable to share our faith with our friends and colleagues. We continue to host prayer meetings asking God to fill us with his Spirit and mission conferences, learning about more strategies to share the gospel, but we never host an outreach. If we are truly seeking first the kingdom, sharing the gospel should be our utmost priority.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. Matthew 6:19
Another instruction Jesus has given us is about investing in heaven and not on earth. He doesn’t want us irresponsible and not able to take care of our needs; he doesn’t want us walking by opportunities to be good stewards of the gifts he’s entrusted to us; he is not asking us to be idle while waiting for his return. It’s re-prioritising eternal values over what’s temporal and fading. Where are our treasure, there are our hearts will be? When we have a mental breakdown because our mansion, car or investments have gone up in flames, it’s obvious our priorities are not on eternity. When we struggle to give towards the propagation of the gospel but won’t bat an eyelid when paying for our expensive phone or holiday, we are certainly laying up our treasure on earth.
We need to remind ourselves every so often that this world is not our home. We’re all on a journey home. Empty-handed we entered this world, and empty-handed we shall depart. Let’s hold on lightly to whatever we have. Let’s never forget that we’re only stewards, we have been entrusted with certain things to be a blessing to others and for the kingdom. When we center our lives on possessions, accomplishments, relationships, privileges, and status, we inevitably stray from the right path. When billions are invested by our churches in building cathedrals, but the preaching of the gospel is neglected, is our treasure truly in Heaven? When we spend all our cash on ourselves but nothing for those who can’t repay us, is our treasure in heaven?
Someday, everything we hold dear, our toys, trophies and treasures, will be destroyed. When it’s all be said and done, only just one thing will matter. Only one life and it would soon be past, only what is done for Christ will last. The enemy wants us discontent with what God has given us and comparing and competing with others to amass and acquire more treasures on earth while we are blind and unwilling to lay up treasures in heaven. What are you living for? Are we investing all our effort, resources and time building what moth and rust will destroy or what thieves will break in and steal?
Father, minute by minute, take my eyes off what’s temporal and fading, help me lay of hold of life eternal. Amen