I was a mathematics lecturer before I went into fulltime ministry and I know that in every class I taught, while there may have been many students there, not everyone’s focus was on understanding what was being taught. Some students were focused on the lecturer’s clothes, some on how he spoke, some on impressing the other students and so on.

The same applies in the kingdom of God. Many people call themselves Christians, but only a few have the right focus. All some people want from God is a new car, a new house, promotion and so on. I pity such people because they will get what they are focused on and lose out on the more important things. Jesus Christ, in Matthew 6:33 says:
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

I am a living testimony of the efficacy of this scripture. I set my focus on the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and now I can’t count how many of these other things I have. The good part is that I am also on my way to Heaven.

Focus on pleasing God; stop chasing shadows and pursue the substance. If you get the substance you will automatically have the shadow too. Many people never reach the heights that God has ordained for them because somewhere along the line, they take their focus away from heaven and start pursuing material things.

Ask anyone who has had a near death experience they will tell you that material things, flashy as they may seem are not worth all the attention given to them. From now, make Paul’s admonition in 2nd Corinthians 4:18 your lifestyle:
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.