Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The Kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21 Religious people often find it difficult to understand the concept of the Kingdom of God for one main reason: They have been taught to see the Lord Jesus and His time on earth through a religious mindset. Understanding the Lord God’s Kingdom government calls for a complete changing of one’s thinking. Moving from a worldly view to a Kingdom viewpoint requires a total turn around in their mind. Remember what ambassador Paul stated to His citizens at Rome. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
The priorities of those who are of a Kingdom mindset are different from those who are of a religious and worldly mindset (remember that religion was created by mankind). Many of the things that the world values most are regarded as worthless in the Kingdom of God. The standards for evaluating greatness are very different between the world’s standards and the Kingdom of God's standards. “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Mark 8:34-36
The world system judges greatness in terms of how much money, power and influence one has, while the Kingdom sees greatness in humility and selfless service. Remember, those with a worldly mindset cannot understand the Kingdom concept, especially those who are rich in things. Just look at the rich young ruler: Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’”
The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.
When Jesus saw this, He said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” Luke 18:18-25 NLT The Lord Jesus knew that the ruler’s riches meant more to him than the Kingdom of God. Riches on this earth are temporary, but the Kingdom that the Lord God offers is everlasting. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Mark 13:31
From a worldly perspective, things are an end in themselves. People seek the acquisition of things to satisfy their own selfish desires. They try to fill the emptiness in their hearts as well as to impress others. Their self worth is measured by their possessions and their worldly successes. All that is to advance their status and standing in the eyes of their society. Now on the other hand, for Kingdom citizens, money and things are a means to an end, never for selfish gratification but tools that enable us to bring blessings to others and advance the Lord God’s Kingdom on earth.
Be aware of how things can entice us. Mankind is motivated and preoccupied with the pursuit of things. There are few things in this world that are more seductive to the heart of mankind than the lure of materialism. Just take a look around. That lust for material things is even in our churches!
Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:6-11
Keep in mind that people will never understand or even see the Kingdom unless they are completely born of His Spirit. Read what King Jesus stated to Nicodemus. Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3
People’s greed for things is one of the strongest of all motivators of mankind’s behavior often greater than even the motivators of love and family loyalty. When you feel that drive for “more” rising up within you, remember these verses, as they exemplify the concept of the Kingdom we must embrace:
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good (spiritually perceptive), your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad (spiritually blind), your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:19-33
What is your focus? What is it that you are truly seeking?
As always, remember that your greatest asset is your faith in the Word of the Living God.
All NKJV, except where noted.
~~W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
The priorities of those who are of a Kingdom mindset are different from those who are of a religious and worldly mindset (remember that religion was created by mankind). Many of the things that the world values most are regarded as worthless in the Kingdom of God. The standards for evaluating greatness are very different between the world’s standards and the Kingdom of God's standards. “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Mark 8:34-36
The world system judges greatness in terms of how much money, power and influence one has, while the Kingdom sees greatness in humility and selfless service. Remember, those with a worldly mindset cannot understand the Kingdom concept, especially those who are rich in things. Just look at the rich young ruler: Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’”
The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.
When Jesus saw this, He said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” Luke 18:18-25 NLT The Lord Jesus knew that the ruler’s riches meant more to him than the Kingdom of God. Riches on this earth are temporary, but the Kingdom that the Lord God offers is everlasting. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Mark 13:31
From a worldly perspective, things are an end in themselves. People seek the acquisition of things to satisfy their own selfish desires. They try to fill the emptiness in their hearts as well as to impress others. Their self worth is measured by their possessions and their worldly successes. All that is to advance their status and standing in the eyes of their society. Now on the other hand, for Kingdom citizens, money and things are a means to an end, never for selfish gratification but tools that enable us to bring blessings to others and advance the Lord God’s Kingdom on earth.
Be aware of how things can entice us. Mankind is motivated and preoccupied with the pursuit of things. There are few things in this world that are more seductive to the heart of mankind than the lure of materialism. Just take a look around. That lust for material things is even in our churches!
Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:6-11
Keep in mind that people will never understand or even see the Kingdom unless they are completely born of His Spirit. Read what King Jesus stated to Nicodemus. Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3
People’s greed for things is one of the strongest of all motivators of mankind’s behavior often greater than even the motivators of love and family loyalty. When you feel that drive for “more” rising up within you, remember these verses, as they exemplify the concept of the Kingdom we must embrace:
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good (spiritually perceptive), your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad (spiritually blind), your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:19-33
What is your focus? What is it that you are truly seeking?
As always, remember that your greatest asset is your faith in the Word of the Living God.
All NKJV, except where noted.
~~W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
