The Bible encourages us to have ambitions and goals in our lives. It is responsible for a person to consider the future, plan, and prepare for what lies ahead. But the Bible also warns and commands us about what we should seek above and before everything else.
We should seek spiritual things over physical things. In Colossians 3:1, Paul wrote, “…keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Our focus needs to always be on heaven and heavenly things.
We should seek God’s approval over man’s. It is easy for many to get caught up in the race of life and a “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality, but God’s approval is far more important than man’s. In 1 Thessalonians 2, Paul tells us he was “approved by God” and goes on to say that he did not “seek glory from men” (1 Thessalonians 2:4-6). We should seek to live a life pleasing to Him instead of pleasing to them.
We should seek to do God’s will before our own. God’s will must guide every step of our lives and every decision we make. Just hours before the cross, Jesus prayed, “yet not My will but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). The cross was not something Jesus wanted to endure, but He knew that the Father’s will was most important. Similarly, as their lives and physical safety were threatened, Peter and the other apostles said, “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
What is it that guides our lives? What is it that motivates our decisions? What is it that takes our attention, our time, and our efforts? What do we seek?
Matt Langfield