So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:31-33
Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:23-27
Last week, we began to speak on exercising faith and humility – the road of the cross – and its importance in qualifying us for kingdom authority. We defined “kingdom authority” as: capability, influence, and wealth in places where we work, live, learn, and govern.
Everyone pursues “kingdom authority”. That nature is inscribed in our DNA. The reason that faith and humility – taking up the cross – must become our absolute foundation to “kingdom authority” lies in our sinful nature. The doubt and pride that propagated from Adam and Eve can corrupt us in kingdom authority. With our propensity for corruption, the church has succumbed to a culture that discourages the pursuit of kingdom authority. We look at “gaining the whole world” as equivalent to “lose or forfeit our very self”. Such a mindset has wrought much confusion for Christians, especially business leaders, because their pursuit of kingdom authority seems to contradict with biblical principles.
Jesus brought this point to prominence in Matthew 6 & Luke 9. Jesus wants to grants us kingdom authority, the same things that the “pagans run after” and more – but in the priority of His Kingdom agenda. In Luke 9:25, Jesus is not telling us to not gain the whole world. Instead, His key message is that gaining the whole world but lose ourselves in the process is useless for His Kingdom.
Jesus wants us to gain the whole world, and yet, not lose ourselves. The path to that is through the cross, the exercising of faith and humility, the seeking first of His Kingdom and righteousness – in short, to run after Jesus, and not just after His “blessings”.
Market Place Meditation and Prayer
Lord, we receive your call to become your witnesses through our kingdom authority. Teach us about who you are – the embodiment of faith and humility. Teach us how to take up our cross. Teach us to gain the world and not lose ourselves.
