More Important Than Food?

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.” [John 6.26-27]

How often do we get sidetracked with our personal sustenance?

I mean, it is amazing how much energy and time we spend on making a living.

For Jesus to say not to be "so concerned about perishable things like food" is very important for us to understand because we do, in fact, spend most of our time in pursuit of our careers and sustenance. We have to eat, right? You mean our faith is more important than food?

Frankly, Jesus used the language He used about food because it was the only timeless thing that would make the point He intended to make. Food is indeed necessary. However, for us to mistakenly think it is all up to us to provide for ourselves is a gross misunderstanding of Jesus' life, ministry, and example to us.

It is all too prevalent today that mankind is in pursuit of sustenance more than  of God. We have nearly completely drowned in ourselves and the pursuit of all things "for us" while giving God what is left over (that is, those who even give it a thought). Our modern culture disallows anything else. For a person to spend their energy in pursuit of God seeking eternal life without concern for food and sustenance is considered foolishness.

Putting God first, in this modern day and culture, will be even more difficult than it was in the days Jesus walked the earth. Consequently, because so few actually understand Jesus' teaching on this topic, they (we) are powerless in the earth.

Father, I am ashamed of my concern for myself more so than for Your Kingdom. I am trying to understand what it means to "Seek first Your Kingdom..." but there is very little support of that teaching outside the Bible. Help me to do just that - seek Your Kingdom first, on purpose and with confidence.