Seek First…

Seek First…

By Apostle Felix

33  “So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. 

Matthew 6: 33

Seeking the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness is the priority of every christian. We are living in a society that is drowning under the pressure of the cost of living. This cost of living pressure has cost many families the love and peace they once had. The pressure to make ends meet has actually occupied the space for God and the family union. Families have disintegrated due to this problem faced by many. It has become impossible for any regular employee to live on just one salary like it used to be in time past. Our fathers could manage to sustain a family of ten just from one salary. That would not be possible for one to sustain a family of ten from one salary.

In the 19th century, Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist created an hierarchy of human needs. Maslow’s theory was predicated on fulfilling human needs, from satisfying basic human needs to self actualization. His theory was humanistic nature because it emphasized the innate goodness, free will and, the drive for self-actualization. The emphasise was on man acquiring needs such as: physiological (food, water), safety (security, stability), love/belonging (friendship, family), esteem (respect, recognition), and self-actualization (reaching full potential). On the contrary, Jesus’ message contradicts Maslow’s theory.

As much as God is not against us having things, He does not want us to be humanists. He wants us to be children of God, who seek His kingdom and righteousness. Unfortunately, the church is preaching Maslow’s theories of needy based sermons. Most of the breakthrough services are Maslow’s services. Jesus never encouraged us to preach things, and to focus the entire service on needs. The children of this world seek witch doctors’ help mainly to have their needs met. But we are not like the world, seek the kingdom and God’s righteousness, then all what the children of the world seek after will be added to you.

7  Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.

1 Peter 5: 7

27  So, which one of you by worrying could add anything to your life?
28  “And why would you worry about your clothing? Look at all the beautiful flowers of the field. They don’t work or toil,
29  and yet not even Solomon in all his splendor was robed in beauty more than one of these! 

Matthew 6: 27 – 29

God wants us to put our trust in Him. The cure for worry is trusting in God. When we shift our focus from our personal needs to resting in God’s abundant grace, then our priorities will be in order. It is very unfortunate that preachers are preying on people’s vulnerability to keep them in perpetual bondage to man. Especially in our African context where the basic needs are hard to come by, abuse and manipulation of adherents has become rampart. In societies where basic needs are have been made available, most of the messages preached in Africa will become redundant. The needy based gospel can be of less appeal to those who have more than enough. The gospel should be one that is Christ centred, touching both the rich and the poor.