Let's ask ourselves today, "What am I chasing after? What do I seek in this life?"
Is it Jesus? Or is it the temporary and fleeting pleasures the world is offering?
I love what King David said about this... "Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword: From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness" (Ps 17:13-15).
What a contrast! The Hebrew word used here for "portion" means, "allotment; flattery; inheritance".
Are we like David, or are we like the world? Do we seek natural portions and inheritances, or can we be satisfied with a future prospect? Is Jesus enough?
As men, we like to think we can have both, but doesn't this directly oppose the teachings of Jesus? He said, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matt 6:24). In fact, the only avenue to Godly blessing is to seek Jesus' face in place of all else: Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt 6:31-33). One way to determine Who or what we are seeking is to objectively examine the things that occupy our time, energy and attention.What takes up your portion or allotment of time? Is it Jesus, or some form of mammon? Is your heart steadfast upon Jesus, or some other "beloved" (Song 5:9)? Of course this thought pattern contradicts our American paradigm.
Reader, the last of the last days will be full of Christians who "have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton" (Jas 5:5; Isa 3:16; Rom 13:13). And contrariwise, there will be a people who find true satisfaction in Jesus alone.. He is the only portion they are seeking: "God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever" (Ps 73:26)... "Thou art my portion, O LORD" (Ps 119:57)... "Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living" (Ps 142:5)! Of the overcomers, Scripture says "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son" (Rev 21:9).
Are we seeking temporary portions from this life, or an eternal inheritance for the ages to come?
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