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Jesus+Nothing=Everything

   It is easy to think that we need to concentrate on things in this life for them to succeed. For example, if I wanted to excel in school, it would only make sense that I put a lot of time and effort into it to ensure my success. The same goes for anything in our lives: work, family, relationships, etc. We think that to make a thing work well, we need to focus on it. However, this is not Biblical.

    We are told to seek first the Kingdom of God, and everything else will be given to us. Everything! If we just focus on living righteously for our King and growing our relationship with Him, all other things will be handed over to us. It sounds too good to be true. The Lord knows our hearts, our needs, and our desires, and He will always take care of them. But He wants our whole heart engaged in Him first. 

    I am not saying that we shouldn't be putting effort into school or relationships or anything like that. I am simply saying that those good things are a gift from the Lord and they are not our gods. They should not be getting the majority of our attention. He wants it all and to get it He has promised us that as long as we are pursuing Him above all else, He will give us everything we need. 

    Are you able to set everything in your life aside as second to Jesus Christ? Are you able to walk away from the good and perfect gifts in your life to follow Him? Search your heart. He loves you more than anyone of flesh and blood ever could, and He wants your love in return. He takes us as we are and makes us complete and whole, lacking nothing. Will you submit yourself to such a God?

Matthew 6:33 
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (NLT)
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (NIV)

Luke 18:28-30 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” (NIV)

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (NIV)

James 1:4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (NIV)

Matthew 6:25-26 That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? (NLT)

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Psalm 37:4-5 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. (ESV)

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