SECRET #32 OF FOLLOWING JESUS

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Earlier Jesus contrasted two ways of storing up your treasures. One is to store up for yourself earthly treasures and the other is to store up for yourself heavenly treasures. Earthly treasures are usually a focus on the visible stuff in our lives. To have your focus on earthly visible stuff will produce in you darkness even to your psychological and physical being. To have your focus on heavenly treasures is to keep your spiritual eyes on the invisible dimensions of life.

I've had the privilege of speaking at many memorial services which ministers to the family and friends who are experiencing the sorrow and the loss. At a time such as this there is very little talk, if any, about the visible, earthly treasures collected over the years. The primary discussion is about the invisible stuff that matters most-a series of reflections on the attitudes and actions of the departed one that have been observed over the years. What's interesting is that in order for these reflections to be observed, they all had to be in the context of relationships. You can see people relating, but the heart of relationships consists of the invisible. These are the heavenly treasures that last forever.

Then Jesus makes it clear that if you choose to build your life around heavenly treasures instead of the earthly ones, you will enjoy a healing light in your heart and throughout your whole body. And, if you live your life in this direction toward God and full of light inside, you don't have any reason to worry about the necessities of life. So, stop your worrying!

One of the insights Jesus gives to encourage you to stop your worrying is rarely talked about, but I think it's one of the most important of all. He mentions in passing that God already knows what your needs are. In other words, God is not surprised when something comes up in your life. He is not surprised! To me, this is one of the most comforting thoughts ever. Since God is not surprised with your situation, there is no reason to worry when things go wrong or don't go in the right direction you were hoping.

What I like about Jesus' instructions is that He doesn't just leave you hanging. He doesn't say stop your worrying without giving you something to do instead. Instead of worrying, Jesus gives you something very significant to do. He says: "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33) This is where we get the next secret. SECRET #32: The follower of Jesus seeks first the Kingdom and His righteousness.

Seek His Righteousness of HEAVENLY TREASURES! Since God already knows your needs and is not surprised when something happens (or doesn't happen) to you, seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all of these things (eating, drinking and clothing) will be taken care of by God Himself. This is what is meant by "walking with Jesus." I think seeking the Kingdom and His righteousness is the same as seeking after Jesus.

To seek after Jesus-His Kingdom and His righteousness-is to enjoy God's principle of plenty. The principle of plenty says that with God there is always enough. Without Him there is never enough! Trust God and enjoy the plenty from Him. Trust anything or anyone other than God, and you will surely have a perpetual state of dissatisfaction! When you come to the end of yourself, then and only then will you come to the understanding that God is ENOUGH!

Jesus has one more thing to add to this teaching. He says: "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34) This is the source of the very helpful philosophy of life espoused by the various anonymous groups of the importance of living your life ONE DAY AT A TIME. You can count on it. Each day has enough problems on its own without piling up more that might happen in the future, so live your day fully-today. Yesterday is a cancelled check. Tomorrow is a promissory note. Today is the only cash you have, so spend your cash well.

Years ago I summed up this series of teachings this way: Look around you and be distressed. Look within you and be depressed. LOOK TO JESUS AND BE AT REST. SECRET #32 is The follower of Jesus seeks first the Kingdom and His righteousness.