What are you living for?

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” – Matthew 6:33-34 NLT

What are you living for?

For the kingdom of God, or for the world?

If we know that we have been saved (Acts 4:12) by the mercy and the grace of God (Titus 3:4-7) and know that we are children of God (John 1:12-13)—we ought to seek “the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously.” This means that we ought to not think of living for this world, and get rid of every worldly materials (Philippians 3:7-14) unless they are for building the kingdom of God, such as through serving one another (Galatians 5:13). This is because “we know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19) Thus, for this reason, the word of God declares,

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (1 John 2:15-17, Hebrews 11:6)

Therefore, we have to live our lives according to the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:24-25), whom God, our heavenly Father (Ephesians 4:6) has poured His Spirit into us to guide us to walk with Him and to do the will of God (John 14:15-17,26-27; Ezekiel 36:26-27). Thus, we are able to be confident in entering the kingdom of heaven at the end of the age (Matthew 7:21), which is the eternal house that has been prepared for us (John 14:1-4).

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. (Galatians 6:7-10)

For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Philippians 3:18-21, 2 Corinthians 5:1, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Romans 14:17)

Hence, we do not need to worry about tomorrow, or the future, since the word of God proclaims, “… God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) This is also because “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

From my point of view, I believe we desperately need to get rid of every worldly materials unless they are for the glory (Colossians 3:4) and kingdom of God (Matthew 7:21), just like Apostle Paul states in Phiilippians 3:7-14. This is because the more we abide in them, we get addicted and probably lose our focus on the kingdom and the glory of God. In addition, we are supposed to be only God’s stewards (1 Peter 4:10) and managers (Matthew 25:21), since the word of God proclaims, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1)

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Colossians 3:1-4, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Romans 14:17)