Seeking God
Text: Matthew 6:33, 13:44-46, Isaiah 55:6, Jeremiah 11-14a, Psalm 1:1-3
Matthew 13:44
Have you ever desired something or someone so much you would do anything to get it or them? I’m sure we all have.
I found a modern day example of searching for treasure in a news article about some people who have been searching for Jesse James’ lost gold. They believe that they have found it but they’re having trouble getting it out of the ground.
Matthew 6:33 - seeking first God’s kingdom.
Matthew 13:45-46 - the merchant was searching for pearls when he came across a pearl of great value. He sold everything he had to buy that valuable pearl
My sister and her husband went to Hawaii many years ago. They bought a pearl for each one of us girls. Although the pearls were beautiful, I’m sure they didn’t sell all they had to buy those pearls.
Isaiah 55:6 - God desires that we would seek Him.
Jeremiah 29:11-14(a) - The desire to seek the wrong things can capture us but God wants us to be free in Him.
John 8:32 - Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. We receive freedom when we seek God first and foremost.
Matthew 13:44-45
How does one become like the man seeking treasure, or seeking pearls? How do we come to know and be aware of what is truly valuable in life?
How does do we move from knowledge of the kingdom to seeing it as priceless and valuable?
How do we become the sort of person that is willing to give everything for this thing we deem as priceless?
Psalm 1: 1-3
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And [d]in whatever he does, he prospers. NASB
1. How do we position ourselves?
Not only do we avoid evil or unhealthy unhelpful things but we pursue something greater.
What in our day and age constitutes as wicked, the path of sinners, the seat of scoffers?
His delight is in the law of the Lord. - The psalmist talks about the law like the pearl of great price or the treasure in the field to be unearthed.
How do we treasure the things of the Kingdom?
2. What we behold . . .
3. The qualities of a person possessed by the Kingdom.
Well watered - refreshed
Refreshing to others
Faithfulness and longevity
Prospers - not that he never experiences loss or hardship or failure but there is a resiliency in him.
