God's Kingdom remains always

Markets and governments fall – but God’s Kingdom remains always…
What will make the ultimate difference in your life?
The value of the US dollar, the price of oil, the stability of your family, the Church? ...Or the Kingdom of God?

For Christians the Kingdom of God is of overriding importance. When we understand the “Kingdom perspective” of Jesus, it will impact on our family life – a central responsibility, on financial and other security – an important priority - and on the way we serve Christ in his Church and spread the Word of salvation – a key principle for Kingdom people!

1. Kingdom focus takes away our concerns and set our priorities right.
Jesus said: (Matthew 6:31-33) So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Kingdom people’s focus shifts away from the concerns about what will benefit me now personally, to the ideals of righteous living in all areas of life in obedience to our sovereign King, seeking to proclaim that the Kingdom of God has come and promoting the justice of Jesus wherever we are and in whatever we do.

2. Kingdom people move their focus away from earthly success and recognition towards eternity.
Jesus said: (Matthew 6:19-21) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

The reality about “storing up treasures in heaven” is that investing in the kingdom of Christ in the here and now, requires sacrifice in the here and now to bring it about! Jesus sacrificed his life for us and we are to sacrifice our lives to live his lifestyle and the lifestyle of his Kingdom. We must 'lose our lives' for Jesus. This will warrant Christ-likeness in our family life, job and finances, care for others, church participation and our contribution towards a stable and prosperous society (i.e. politics, etc.).

The Kingship of Christ and a life focussed on serving him, do not allow for cynicism and pessimism, but it relies in everything on the almighty Christ who promised to remain with us always, bringing to fruition his eternal Kingdom of peace.

3. Kingdom people place the honour of Jesus and the glory of God before anything else.
Jesus said (Matthew 16:25-7) For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

Such is the Kingdom focus of Kingdom people: By submitting ourselves to live for Christ (losing our lives for his sake!), we find the real life: a life of spiritual joy, satisfaction and love, healthy families, responsible and balanced seeking of career and financial goals and an exciting vision for the Church - far beyond anything which the world offers and can never guarantee.

As world markets are wiping out trillions of dollars overnight, we are literally seeing that the riches of this world, for which many are willing to “lose their lives”, are temporary and uncertain, while the kingdom lifestyle is an amazing rehearsal of the complete security that is to come eternally for those who are fully committed to the Lord.

Shall we learn not to put our trust in the markets, the “world leaders”, the strongest political movements – or any man made ideology, doctrine and structure? How many times does the ungodly culture, who betrays and denies Jesus, has to fail us, before we will start to live only for Jesus, our King, and for his Kingdom?

The Word says: (Psalm 146: 3 – 6) Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth.