God Chaser
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.
- Proverbs 23:4-5, NIV
Who and what are you chasing these days? Before you answer know that worldly pursuit of carnal riches only leads to destruction, but hunger and thirst for God’s Kingdom leads to eternal prosperity. One of the biggest biblical myths is that God doesn’t want you to be rich, prosperous, or successful…not so. However, when you chase the created over the creator you’ll always come up short in that you place your trust and time in something other than God…something that may be good to you, but not good for you. Chasing after the things of man is like a dog chasing its tail – working a lot, but not necessarily working hard, or achieving anything of substance. Conversely, if you diligently chase God and pursue His righteousness, then you place your hope, your time, and effort in Him…glorifying His name as He makes your way prosperous. The difference begins and ends with your heart and the measure of faith you are willing to put forth. In worldly goods, you have a tangible, physical manifestation of material goods that can seemingly enhance, make, or alter life. While there is nothing wrong with acquiring said “goods”, it is problematic when the acquisition of goods trumps your ability to live according to the will of your God. The Bible states you serve a jealous God and that you should have no other gods but Him [You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments (Exodus 20:3-6, NKJV)]…so is it any wonder that while He desires you to be prosperous [Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 1:2, NKJV)], He also wants to ensure your heart pursues Him first and at all times? So who and what are you chasing these days…God and His Kingdom or the world, its people, and its things? Today proclaim yourself to be a God chaser diligently seeking His Kingdom and all of its righteousness [But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33, NKJV)]…then watch how His love helps to nest your priorities for the good of His people.
BE BLESSED!