But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Summary: Sometimes finding the answers to questions about the Bible is a matter of not worrying about it.
In the middle of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount,” shortly after he teaches about the “Lord’s Prayer,” he teaches on worry. This is a great topic for today because, from a worldly perspective, there is a lot to worry about. But Jesus doesn’t say “don’t worry” because he is going to make sure we have no trouble.
What then?
Jesus says “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matt 6:33). So we are back to the “kingdom of God” topic. What does he mean? How does this help us not to worry?
In my own faith journey, the path I followed was initially one of curiosity. Who is God really? What is the Bible about? Why do people disagree about what the Bible says?
Being raised in the Lutheran Church (LCA), I had a liturgical understanding of scripture, but not a biblical one. The questions that I ask can be frustrating to people because many of them are rooted in ignorance. There is a lot to know in this world. In fact, trying to understand everyone else’s views of the Bible is a losing proposition. There are too many of them. Yet, when we go directly to the Bible, people usually bring their personal views with them. This makes conversations difficult because we are coming at the topic under discussion with different assumptions. This can feel like we are speaking different languages.
Take, for example, the word, “Dualism.” Some might say that looking at the Scriptures and seeing two kinds of “flesh” is a type of dualism. It is easy to understand why. After looking it up, I find that the term refers to an ancient philosophical debate about the nature of mind and body.
The reason Dualism is distasteful to many believers, including me, is that it is rooted in human arrogance. Human philosophy is inherently arrogant because it relies on the idea that the human perspective is sufficient to figure these things out. That is a bit like saying a potato bug’s perspective is sufficient to understand human society.
But what do we do when we are confronted by apparent contradictions in Scripture? Do we close our eyes and wish them away?
Seeking God’s kingdom is a bit like playing “Hide and Seek.” I picked my grandson up from his gymnastics class the other day and he was proudly telling me about how well he had hidden during a birthday party game for one of his classmates. The reason nobody could find him was that they hadn’t looked in the right place the right way. The Bible is like that. Looking in the Bible is the right place, but to understand what it says, we have to look at it in the right way.
Now, I am not here to tell you what the “right way” is. Sorry, but I don’t have that skill or ability. All I can do is share my mental meanderings as we travel through the Word together. As we explore God’s Word while we seek his Kingdom, it helps me to turn it this way and that and look at it from different perspectives. What does it mean that Jesus tells us to eat his flesh and that he will raise us up? (John 6:54) Honestly, we can’t “know” what it means in the sense that God knows. After all, he is God and we are not.
What we can know is this: Jesus tells us not to worry (Matt 6: 25). He also says things like “love one another” (John 13: 34-35) and gives little hints like “the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matt 4:17). Perhaps all we can do is keep seeking?
Application: Don’t worry.
Food for Thought: How can we tell when we are looking at the Bible the right way?
I enjoy reading your mental meanderings Jeff.
How can we tell when we are looking at the Bible the right way?
I would say some are led by the Holy Spirit and also by knowing all of scripture to have a better knowledge wisdom and understanding of God’s character.
We are told to be salt. So is it wrong of me to put “salt” out on the sharp corner of certain roads last night?
Would it be wrong for me to bring in “fruit” for those who would like some?
And I like to have bright lights on any vehicle I’m driving.
I know I’m not looking at the bible in the right context ( context, context, context ) but in my relationship with God I’m sure that Jesus wouldn’t tell me not to give out fruit or try to prevent someone from an accident.
I’m not supposed to let my right hand know what my left hand is doing is my next little excuse to get as many people to open and read their Bibles to show/explain to me the context.
Tim,
Being “led by the Holy Spirit” is a great answer! ⭐
I appreciate the reminder to think about “context, context, context” too. ⭐ ⭐
I think that is a question many have asked of themselves and others for a long time (including me!). I think that I have to look back at how I read scripture before and after I asked the Holy Spirit to help me to understand it. In what now seems to me as an almost comical, cartoonish exaggeration, I would sit in a quite room with furrowed brow, and would read (in my head) in a high falsetto voice like the choirboys singing in a Mass. Not so much intentionally mind you, but kind of (lol). It was me trying to “make it” holy and meaningful, but not really internalizing it or understanding it. After I prayed for guidance, the Holy Spirit said to my heart “Just read it, like you would read anything, and be open to understanding.” Now when I read scripture, and I think about it, three questions continually come to mind: how does it glorify God, how does it help me to understand and love God, and how does it help me to understand and love my neighbor?
I would add also that scripture tells us in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” The fruit of the Spirit takes root in God’s Word, so if you are experiencing something different when you read and try to understand it, then I don’t think you are looking at it the way God intended. Again though, we pray “give us this day our daily bread.” In that humble asking, and in faith that he will give it to us, sets a foundation for being open to His guidance.
Chris,
I love your “three questions!” They go to the heart of the Lord’s teachings.
I appreciate, too, how you use the fruit of the Spirit as a kind of test. A correct understanding of God’s Word leads us to bear the fruit of the Spirit. An incorrect understanding leads to frustration and conflict.
Well said!
I agree with the other comments.
The Holy Spirit can illuminate truths in God’s word if we let Him. And Scripture helps interpret Scripture. It is not inconsistent. So if what we believe appears to be inconsistent with other Scripture then we have some digging to do. And yes, context, context, context. A text without a context is a pretext.
Thanks Rich!
I like your comment about digging. There are so many ways! We can dig with a teaspoon or a shovel. 🙂 The main thing, though, is to keep at it.
11-29-2022, How can we tell when we are looking at the Bible the right way?
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32
Our bible has been written, preserved by God for thousands of years, and stands true today as God’s plan for all mankind. His plan is not for His people to measure success according to this worlds standards. God’s words have far greater meaning with eternal value which is only found as we devote our lives, our time separating ourselves from this world and living in the company of our creator.
Born into a physical, worldly family, I was spiritually blind or ignorant of the fact that I did not know Spiritual Truths, which cannot be seen with the human eyes or heard with the human ears. I did not understand knowledge of Spiritual Truth is the key to freedom and life more abundantly. It is the key that unlocks the door to higher wisdom and understanding of life as our living God’s will over our own becomes our priority.
As I began studying God’s word, I was correctly told to read the verses before and after a puzzling verse and I would more correctly understand the content of the passage which became a big help. As the years have gone by, God has expanded my view to the chapter, the book, and the Bible. How is what is written in one part of the Bible, the Old Testament, consistent with what is written elsewhere, how, what additional information am I receiving?
John 16:13-15, When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is Mine; therefore I said that He will take what is Mine and declare it to you.
“The word of God” can only become Spiritual Truth, Spiritual Food when it has been validated or discerned by the Holy Spirit. These Truth’s contain a higher level of understanding pertaining to God, Self, the World, Energy and Success and are the food which brings growth as we grow spiritually. Spiritual Truths have nothing to do with the physical world around us, but everything to do with what we cannot see and cannot be found in the worldly perceptions. They are only accessible by way of the Holy Spirit. In order for us to understand the Spiritual Truth about life literally, we must first understand the truth about God spiritually.
Unfortunately, most people would rather believe in a lie or worldly perception that keeps them in bondage than to believe the Spiritual Truth that sets them free.
If we are living in Spiritual Truth, we are living in the light; and in the light is everything our heart desires in life, AND WILL UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF THESE WORDS.
Ron,
I really like your illustration. Spiritual truth is what we call the light of God’s truth. Like a beam from a flashlight, God’s Spirit illuminates God’s Word for us.