TOPIC: LABOR NOT FOR THAT WHICH PERISHETH (PART ONE)

-WHAT THE WORD SAYS ON THIS MATTER-

When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither His Disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum seeking for Jesus. And when they had found Him on the other side of the sea, they said unto Him, Rabbi, when camest Thou hither?

Jesus answered them and said, verily, verily, I say unto you, you seek Me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labor not for that 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.

Then said they unto Him, what shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered, and said unto them, this is the work of God, that ye believe on Him Whom He hath sent”…JOHN 6:24-29

-WHAT I RECEIVED ON THIS MATTER-

Men and brethren, in the days of His flesh, Jesus performed many miracles. Notable among these miracles was the feeding of thousands of folks at the same time using a handful of bread and fish. This happened on two occasions:  His feeding of five thousand and four thousand men, respectively. On both occasions the people were fully fed and much was left over. That is the miracle of multiplication in manifestation, and it is very much with His Church today – but only amongst them that believe and live even as He lives.

What we are discussing today is the response of the folks Christ fed in those miracles. Here, in today’s scripture, they came again seeking Jesus. They were so desperate to see Him, as many are in our today’s Church – but not for the right reasons. They left their homes, and some must have travelled long distances, seeking for Jesus, the Giver of life everlasting. Sadly they were not seeking Him for eternal this life, the resurrection life. Rather they were seeking Him for their bellies; they were seeking Him for Him to help them satisfy their fleshly lusts. They were seeking Jesus for the things of this life. They were laboring for things that will perish with their using - even perishable things.

And Jesus knew why they sought for Him; just as He knows why each and every one of us is seeking Him today. He knew that they were seeking Him, not for His life-giving miracles, but for bread – to satisfy their fleshly desires. They were seeking Him for the things that nourish only the flesh, but not our spirit-man. They were seeking Jesus for the same reasons many of us are seeking Him today – they were seeking for the “additions” to our righteous walk; but not for the kingdom of God itself or, even for the righteousness that the Kingdom offers.

Men and brethren, the key word in our walk with God is this: seek God first, and when we find Him we must endeavor to walk in His ways – and as we live even as He lives, all that we need in this life shall be added unto us. And when the scripture says all, it means all, nothing excepting – so long as those things are in line with the perfect will of our Heavenly Daddy per time. Seeking Jesus just for the things of this life is a total waste of our God-given time and energy. When we seek God for the things of this life, we end up miserable men and women. When we seek our God for vanishing things, we end up missing the real thing, which is heaven at last.

Many are in Church today ONLY for perishable things – for houses, for cars, for children, for fame, for marriage, for children - even for political offices. Today many in Church sow large amounts of money, not because they love God or even His work; but that they may be blessed materially. They give into the work of God just for one purpose - that the material seeds they sow may be multiplied. And when the multiplication is hard in coming, they complain and murmur. All their life pursuit is to secure the things of this life. Indeed, they measure their spiritual status with what they have and have not. That ought not to be so.

Brethren, it is important that as long as we are in this earthly tabernacle that we must also take care of our body. Yes, our spirit-man is of paramount importance, yet we must not neglect our bodies. If we do so we may not even have the body to carry our spirit, and we will end up not fulfilling our God-given assignments here. But we must also understand that the kingdom of our God is not in food and drink. We must accept, without any reservations whatsoever, that the kingdom that we have inherited of Christ is all about righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Tomorrow, God willing, I will publish PART TWO of this message. Till then keep running. Our Lord is getting ready to come back. Do not be caught unawares.