Wednesday, April 3, 2013

“SIH’s Think On These Things: John 6:26-27” “Setting Life’s Priorities (2)”


[Please note: This morning we are looking at a series on “Setting Life’s Priorities”.  For this series we will be looking at the following four Scriptures as main texts (several other texts will be referred to during our study)…

1.  Eccl 6:7 (KJV)  All the labour of man [is] for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

2.  John 6:26-27 (KJV)  Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

3.  1Tim 6:6-8 (KJV)  But 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 raiment let us be therewith content.

4.  2Pet 3:11-14 (KJV)  [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness,  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

In my way of seeing things, one of the greatest needs in the world today is the need for each of us to come to an understanding of what is really important in life and beginning to seek those things above all others.  May the Lord bless each one of us with knowledge, understanding, and wisdom as we attempt to come to an understanding of this very important subject.]

 

In our text for this morning, John 6:26-27 explains to us a very simple comparison that we are to make as we seek Godly instruction on our life’s investments.  This comparison is found in the phrase “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you:

 

In this portion of Scripture, we are clearly shown that when we are deciding if we are to live our lives to accomplish a certain goal the question that must be asked is this… “Does this goal I am endeavoring to realize have any lasting, spiritual value?”   In the context of our passage, Christ explains that we should commit our lives to attaining truth that will lead us to the receipt of eternal salvation.  This path to salvation is given to us by Christ, Who has been given the authority over sin and death by God the Father.  Not only that, but the Father clearly demonstrated His approval of Christ’s ministry by placing His “seal” upon Him.  Why is understanding and following the way of salvation to be our number one priority of life?  Because of its infinite, eternal spiritual value… “endureth unto everlasting life”.  

 

In the earlier portion of our text, we can see that Christ was speaking to those who were placing a higher priority on physical bread, that would only give them short-lived physical nourishment, as compared to the “meat which endureth” (ie truths about the way of salvation) that would spiritually benefit them for an eternity. 

 

Considering the spiritual and eternal value of our goals in life will help us to discern what should be of utmost importance to us.

 

To summarize our series so far….

1. We are told that we are to live our life for that which brings us lasting satisfaction and fulfillment. (Eccl 6:7)

2. One step in achieving this goal is to ask the question “Does this labor I am about to undertake have any lasting, spiritual value?”  (John 6:26-27)

 

May the Lord bless us as we “Think On These Things”.

 




No comments:

Post a Comment