Seek Great Things?


"And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not"

-Jeremiah 45:5 [KJV]

These are personal words of encouragement from Jeremiah to his scribal friend, Baruch. We all need encouraging from others, especially in a situation like Baruch's, when he was suffering mental anguish from being associated with the prophet Jeremiah. So, as Jehovah's messenger, Jeremiah assures Baruch that he will be spared from the coming judgment on the land, and that there is no need to "seek great things" for himself, the Lord favoring him in sovereign mercy. I often think of this text when I consider my "low" position in life. That is, if I begin to question why I am not cast among the so-called "great ones" of earth (whether politicians, businessmen, popular preachers, etc.), I am here reminded, "Seek them not."

That settles it, for I know it is wrong to seek to be "great" in this world. Only our God and Savior are truly "great" (Psalm 145:3-6; Luke 1:32). Christ alone is "awesome," "glorious," "majestic," and "immortal," but puny sinners like to try and steal His incommunicable attributes, don't they? Therefore, let's quit calling ourselves, "awesome." Listen to these wise words on our text from J. C. Philpot: "Whatever schemes and projects the Lord's people may devise that they may prosper and get on in the world, He rarely suffers their plans to thrive. He knows well to what consequences it would lead—that this ivy creeping round the stem would, as it were, suffocate and strangle the tree. The more that worldly goods increase, the more the heart is fixed upon them; and the more the affections are set upon idols, the more is the heart drawn away from the Lord. He will not suffer His people to have their portion here below. He, therefore, says to them in His providence, as well as in His word, 'Seek them not.' But you will perhaps say, 'What are we then to seek?' I will tell you in a word --- realities."


Read that again, for Philpot is most definitely right. We must not desire to be little gods ourselves, where others brag on us or even worship us. On our death bed, that will matter very little, will it not? Only the grace of God in our Lord Jesus Christ will do us any good in the hour of death. Note, only grace, not any personal gifts or talents or any human praise! Thus we say with the psalmist: "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's sake" (Psalm 115:1).


-Gospel Report by preacher Wm. F. Bell

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CHRIST OUR ONLY AND PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS

" The flesh lusteth against the Spirit." —Galatians 5:17 [KJV] Christian experience fully proves this apostolic truth. Hence the children of God cannot do the things that they would: nor have we any authority from God's word to conclude this lusting ever ceased in any of the saints till they got to glory; none are delivered from it while in the flesh. For, as the renewed soul or spirit loves to enjoy spiritual and heavenly objects, so the flesh, or unrenewed part, lusts after those objects it is naturally conversant with, and from which it derives its happiness.  Here is thy conflict, O Christian. Hence the necessity of thy Lord's command, "Watch always." This is the use of the doctrine. What woeful effects have fulfilling the lusts or desires of the flesh produced in eminent saints! Thou standest by faith, be not high-minded, but fear. The conceptions of lust are the productions of sin.— see James 1:15 . The commission of sin contracts fresh s
Read more

Incoming GOOD NEWS!

  Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands   (17-19SEP21) Heads-Up   ---   Please find enclosed encouragement in   SO GREAT SALVATION   by the perfect and finished work of   our Lord Jesus Christ in saving poor, needy and wretched sinners by His sovereign free grace - God's unmerited favor to save us  from our sins and from Hell: HOW GOD SAVES SINNERS In Genesis chapter six and seven we have the story of the flood and how God  saved Noah and his family from the horrendous destruction by putting them  into an Ark. We see the righteous judgment of God against sin and the mercy  of God revealed through Christ. The Ark of God is a worthy picture and  pattern of how the Lord is pleased to save sinners and justify them in Jesus  Christ. Here are five things to remember about how God saves sinners. 1). The grace of God , "Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (Genesis 6:8) .  Noah did not earn, merit or deserve grace, he found God to be gracious. It  was the sovereign
Read more

God ordained Authority: Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrate

Image
The Lesser Magistrate Doctrine  teaches that when the superior or higher ranking civil authority makes unjust/immoral law, policy, or court opinion – the lower or lesser ranking civil authority has both the God-given right  and duty  to refuse obedience to that superior authority; and if necessary, actively resist the superior authority. The doctrine was first formalized by Christian men in Magdeburg, Germany in 1550.  The lesser magistrate doctrine is rooted in the historic Christian doctrine of interposition.  Interposition   is where one steps into the gap – placing themselves in between the oppressor and his intended victim. Interposition can take place verbally or physically.  The law of God is the objective standard to which all men and all governments of men are accountable. If civil authorities make law, policy, or court opinion that is contrary to His law – the lesser magistrates are to interpose and  stop the evil .  America’s founders established this nation as a true federa
Read more