"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." Matt 6:33

We recently celebrated the Labor Day holiday weekend. Labor day is a welcomed holiday to pause and rest from our labors. It is a good time to reflect on, "For what am I ultimately working?" Do I live to work? Or just work to live?

Jesus' teaching implies that each day we face a choice. Will I pursue God's agenda or my own foremost? Truly choices are the hinges of our destiny. God's "kingdom" is His reign over my life. We must ask ourselves, does God control my life? His "righteousness" is following the rightness of His will, which we can only know by the study of His Word. Psalm 19:8

My attitude is a result of what I choose to focus upon. What I choose to focus upon depends on what I deem most important. What I deem most important depends on whether I'm seeking God's will or my selfish desires above all. Jesus urges us to seek eternal things in John 6:27. "Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you."

The world surrounds us with a multitude of distractions, like worries or the deceitfulness o f riches or the desire for other things, which can "choke" out God's word and work in my life. Mark 4:18-19 There is a bumper sticker that reads: I owe, I owe, it's off to work I go! Am I making a living of temporary earthly stuff or making a life for God? This is a question that I need to ask myself more and monitor how much is my job distracting me from what's more important.

To be spiritually fruitful, I must focus upon God's Truth and welcome it into my heart as life's greatest priority. Mark 4:20 Each day, I must decide if I will listen to God, which alone can strengthen my soul.. Or, will I listen to the babble of worldly distractions, which will only delude and destroy my spiritual life. Let's remember that our greatest labor is seeking and serving God. This work of faith endures forever!

Eric