Imagine you went to Niagara Falls, but instead of looking at the Falls you spent your whole time there playing with a water squirter. Or imagine you went to The Grand Canyon, but instead of taking in the incredible view, you sat down with your back to the Canyon looking at a photograph of a flower. Or imagine that it is New Years Eve and you are under the Sydney Harbour Bridge and there are Fireworks lighting up the sky as far as the eye can see. However, instead of focusing on the fireworks you are looking through a toy kaleidoscope. WHAT A WASTE!
Don't miss the real thing
There is something that God wants you to be preoccupied with that is far more exhilarating, exciting and significant than Niagara Falls. The problem is that we think too small and get easily distracted. What am I talking about? I am talking about Matthew 6:31-33:
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
In this passage, Jesus tells disciples to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness”. That is, to live a life centered on being an active member of God's Kingdom. You see, God is working towards recreating this world into an eternal Kingdom and paradise centered on Him. This is one of the reasons why he sent Jesus to earth to die for sins. And because God loves us and knows what is best for us, he invites us to share in the excitement and joy of working for God, and working with God, for the growth of His Kingdom. This is what life is all about.
Are you distracted?
The problem is, you and I get distracted by the water squirters and kaleidoscopes in life and miss out on the main game. We think that life is all about food and drink and clothes and study and looks and popularity and stuff. And so we put all our time and thoughts and energy and money into these things. We get tricked into thinking small.
There isn't anything bad about these things, but in comparison to what you could be involved with, THE KINGDOM OF GOD, it is a waste. That's why Jesus said, “do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” (Matt 6:25). Rather, have as your priority, the Kingdom of God.
What might this look like for you?
Here's a few ways this truth could change your life:
- It would mean being more concerned about godliness than grades.
- It would mean being more concerned about Jesus' 'popularity' than your popularity.
- It would mean being more concerned about serving others than studying.
- It would mean being more concerned about having an attractive heart than having an attractive face.
- It would mean being more concerned with putting sin to death in your life than killing each other in online games.
What are you most focused on in your life? What is the priority? Don't get tricked into thinking small. Don't miss out on being part of something big and significant and exciting. Don't get distracted by playing with a water squirter, when you can be experiencing and enjoying Niagara Falls. Seek First God's Kingdom.