Living Deliberately

It has been said that we must beware of “missing the forest for the trees.” Thoreau observed that “Our life is frittered away by detail.” Consequently, he believed that most men lead lives of quiet desperation. While at Walden Pond he wrote; “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life …” What are the essential facts of life and how then do we pursue them deliberately? Most of us would agree that food, drink and clothing are basic essentials. Yet, Jesus made a startling statement in Matthew 6:33, “…seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.” He promises us that if we will obey His command to focus first on God, then He will take care of all our needs. To seek first God’s kingdom is to seek His will by entrusting everything, including our lives, to Him. While away from home, someone once ran up to John Wesley saying, “Your house has burned down! Your house has burned down!” To which he replied, “No it hasn’t, because I don’t own a house. The one I have been living in belongs to the Lord, and if it has burned down, that is one less responsibility for me to worry about.” Seeking first God’s righteousness is to hunger and thirst for Him above all else. It is not just looking forward to spending eternity with God, but pursuing His presence here and now. There is no better way to pursue God than to meet with others pursuing Him as well! It is while gathered together, that we experience His presence and develop a greater appetite for Himself. As we live deliberately pursuing God’s kingdom and righteousness, we too will share Paul’s experience in Philippians 4:19; “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Keep on abiding, Steve