I was reading in Jeremiah this morning and stumbled on this verse…
“For the shepherds have become stupid and have not sought the LORD; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.” Jeremiah 10:21(NASB)
It kinda hit me, because I have had times of being guilty like those shepherds – times where I got too caught up in doing my own thing to seek God.
It’s interesting to me that not only does it say they didn’t prosper, but their flock was scattered as well. I would equate in todays terms to having chaos at our jobs, in our finances, or in other areas of our lives.
Benefits of seeking first the Kingdom
The encouraging news is that as we seek after God, good things follow…
“Keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn” 1 Kings 2:3 (NASB)
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Great reminder Bob, it’s so easy to get off track with seeking the Kingdom first! I know it is for me. As you just proved, spending time in the Word is essential to getting us recalibrated to keeping the Main Thing the main thing!
My brother just shared these verses with me this morning:
Ps. 91
14Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
This IS a great reminder. Glad I got to read it today.
Bob,
Thanks for the reminder. It is so true that everything else falls into place only when we put God first. I, for one, am prone to drifting toward doing things on my own and considering God later.
Thank you for this post. I have been trying to find focus and this helps a great deal.
Thanks Bob
Morgan
TheDebtDance.com
Bob,
Yep, we’re definitely on the same page, I’m glad you posted this. The budgeting and investing stuff is excellent, but it comes *downstream* — it’s hard to do, but involves transformation in how we think, what we desire, how we act (heart, mind, strength, and soul).
It also needs to be radical and counter-cultural:
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.
That’s one of my favorite Biblical verses, though it’s one I often forget & rediscover. Thanks for the post – it’s something I need to re-focus on, as I often get off track.