And do you seek great things for yourself ? Seek them not . . . ~ Jeremiah 45:5a (ESV)
READING: Jeremiah 45:1-5
Who would want to endure a major failure, a terrible national disaster or a “plucking up” of what has been planted (Jer. 45:4)? Such was the situation that kept Baruch, Jeremiah’s secretary, awake at night constantly groaning. Yuck! That situation would make me groan, too. I struggle to handle failures, set-backs and disasters. I long for accomplishment, admiration, and success. Don’t you?
It is so easy to focus on the wrong thing. But God had an important message for Baruch and for us. God wants us to focus on what is of greatest importance.
What should we seek? We must seek only to know Jesus and to please Him – that alone – whether it brings what people consider success or even failure.
The Apostle Paul briefly recounted his great “successes” in Philippians 3. But his point was not his personal greatness; it was the triviality of all human accomplishments, when compared to knowing Jesus. His conclusion was: “But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ and to know that I belong to him” (Phil. 3:7 – 9a CEV).
Church planting leader, do you seek “great things for yourself”? Seek them not. And don’t seek failure and disaster either. Neither of these should be our aim.
If success is our goal, we will end up with “garbage,” even if we are “successful.” If knowing and pleasing Christ is our goal, we will be filled with His love, peace, assurance, hope, joy, comfort and grace. That is true greatness and success.
Lord, Help me focus on the right goal, which is You. Help me to seek You first and know You intimately. Amen.
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