What Are You Aiming For?

 

	“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
	—Matthew 6:33

C. S. Lewis once wrote of this post’s opening verse this way:

“Aim for Heaven and you will get Earth
‘thrown in.’” ¹

In Charles Spurgeon’s time, he wrote of this post’s opening verse this way:

““You mind His business, and He will mind yours. If you want paper and string, you get them given in when you buy more important goods.” ²

Jesus, in his conversation with Martha, said to her, as recorded in Luke 10:41-42:

“‘Martha, Martha, …you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’”

We are bombarded with so many things that grab our attention. Like Martha, most of us who want to please the Lord with our living get distracted by secondary things. What Jesus really wants from us—what is primary—is to seek Him. We should be aiming for Heaven. We should aim for those things that are important to our Lord, knowing that He will care for all the other things that concern us.

In the middle portion of the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus tells His disciples not to store up treasures on earth, but rather to store up treasures in heaven. Why? Because where they place their treasures is where their hearts will rest.

How does God benefit those who choose to first look after His pleasures? He dwells close to them, shares His divine plans with them, and uses them as though He Himself walked in their bodies. In John 15:7, Jesus also promises that He will answer the prayers of those who “abide” in Him and who keep His word.

Charles Spurgeon makes the point that God will trust prayers that He will answer only to those who walk with Him like Enoch, love Him like John, and are in constant communion with Him. ³

Ask the Lord today to reveal to you new ways to seek Him first, above all other things. For only if we “aim for Heaven” will we get the earthly things we need as well.

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1 from Lewis, C. S. The Joyful Christian. New York: Macmillian Publishing Company, ©1967.

2 from Spurgeon, Charles H. Faith’s Checkbook. New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House. © 1992. Reading for October 25th.

3 ibid. Reading for February 23rd.