SEEK FIRST

Seek First:

Frustration is a strange thing. It has driven people to accomplish amazing things. Similarly, it has fueled people to accomplish deplorable acts of rage and terror. Frustration, of itself, is not bad or evil. Frustration simply reveals our focus and nature in the midst of current circumstances.

If we choose to allow frustration to linger, i.e. if we welcome it at our door, invite it in for a while, embrace it, or maybe even dance with it for a while - then we are guilty of sin.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 14:23 “...and anything that does not come from faith is sin.” Doubt, fear, cravings, worry, and frustration are not automatically sin. They become sin when we focus on them rather than God and and allow them to tarry.

In chapter six of Matthew’s gospel Jesus points out our tragic fascination with circumstances. We’re easily fixated on money and status - so Jesus tells us to give freely and secretly. (6:1-4).

We’re hoarders of approval and recognition - so Jesus tells us to pray simply and privately (6:5-8).

We’re worshipers of praise and accolades - even to the point of perverting the point of worship and fasting - so Jesus tells us not to be like those hypocrites, but to fast in order that we should grow in our relationship with God.

We’re fixated on material wealth and prosperity to the extent that we misuse and pervert Scriptures like 1 Chronicles 4:10 (The Prayer of Jabez) "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” So Jesus tells us not to “collect treasures on earth… but collect for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

As chapter 6 comes to a close Jesus instructs His disciples regarding: 1) How we can grow in our relationship with God: “Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread.” And 2) What our primary focus in life should be by saying, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”

We don’t grow in our relationship with God by worrying about our relationship with God; rather we grow as we live in total abandon to God. That looks like the life of Christ, viz. giving of ourselves in selfless love to the point of being poured out completely.

As Oswald Chambers notes, “Jesus is teaching here that growth in spiritual life does not depend on our watching it, but on concentration on our Father in heaven.”

Doubt, fear, cravings, worry, frustration, and even spiritual growth are not automatically sin. Things become idols/sin when we focus on them rather than God. The becomes idols/sin when we allow them to lodge. Those things simply reveal our misguided focus (idolatry) and our substituting our new nature in Christ for our old predominant nature (sin) in the midst of current circumstances. “...and anything that does not come from faith is sin.”

Some months ago I attended a church planting seminar in Dallas. In one of the workshop sessions we went through a S.W.O.T. (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat) analysis. As we examined the descriptions for the various quadrants (Google search SWOT analysis) we were encouraged to think about the parts of our lives, relationship, and ministries, and where they fell: Frustration, Failure, Battle, and Victory.

Frustration: Where STRENGTH meets THREAT

Failure: Where WEAKNESS meets THREAT

Battle: Where WEAKNESS meets OPPORTUNITY

Victory: Where STRENGTH meets OPPORTUNITY

Being a consummate visionary, the quadrant area where many of my life “parts” fell into was under FRUSTRATION. My wife frequently tells me (with all sincerity) how gifted I am, and how she is constantly amazed how I can do anything I set my mind to. The problem is that I spend far too much time everyday believing in my strength(s), plans, and vision, and viewing anyone or anything contrary as a threat. Thus, frustration frequently reigns in my life.

I have so much confidence in my ability to conquer obstacles, obliterate problems, solve enigmas, and accomplish great things that I frequently forget to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” and then trust that “all these things will be provided for you.”

God’s desire for us is NOT failure or frustration. When we elect to abide on the threat side of the SWOT analysis it reveals that our perspective is twisted and broken. Living on the threat side with a sense of failure and/or frustration reveals our focus is NOT primarily on God, but rather on our circumstances. It reveals our misguided focus (idolatry) and our predominant nature (sin) in the midst of those current circumstances.

There is also potential for great danger/sin when abiding on the opportunity side of the SWOT analysis. When VICTORY (aka success, prosperity, achievement, triumph) becomes our goal, then we can wrongly choose to exercise our power and influence to that end - rather than relying fully upon the Holy Spirit’s power and presence (see Matthew 20:25-26). Similarly, if we elect to dwell in the BATTLE quadrant, i.e. where weakness meets opportunity, then we can become self-righteous, self-loathing, ascetic, hair-shirt martyrs.

The Apostle Paul wrote down words Christ spoke directly to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). That is a universal truism. Christ’s grace is always and eternally sufficient for all of us. The power of God is only realized and perfected in our weakness.

Whatever quadrant(s) of the SWOT analysis we find the relationships, ministries, and circumstances of our lives (whether Failure, Frustration, Battle, or Victory), the key is NOT to focus on transferring or transforming those circumstances, but rather to always focus first-and-foremost on the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

When we find ourselves transfixed upon the LORD God Almighty, then the nature of our circumstances - whether glorious victories atop the Mount of Transfiguration or in the Valley of The Shadow of Death - become irrelevant.

That exact mindset is what allowed David to sing, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me;” in Psalm 23.

That faith is what allowed John the Baptist to say, “Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:29b-30).

That reality is what allowed Paul to write, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I have strength for all things in the One strengthening me” in Philippians 4:12-13.

When our primary focus is upon God there is no idolatry/sin focus on frustration, no preoccupation with failure, no personal battles, and no private victories. When we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then, like the lilies of the field more splendidly adorned than King Solomon in his finest apparel, we neither grow weary nor waste energy on the superfluous, unnecessary, and cursory things of life.

Wherever you find yourself today - whether frustrated, defeated, overwhelmed, victorious, or up to your eyeballs in the battle of your life… shift the focus from circumstances to Christ. Try sharing something like this with God: “LORD, help me to seek Your kingdom and Your righteousness in this moment and these circumstances. Help me to know and experience You in every aspect and facet of my life.”

God is still in the business of answering prayers, and He always answers them in ways more glorious and profound than we could ever dream or imagine.

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com