Are You a Seeker

Are You a Seeker?

August 10, 2008

Introduction

I know that many of you have heard me tell this story, but let me share it again this morning. There is the story of a man who was in the military and everyday, he would pick up any scrap of paper that he saw on the ground, on the street, or anywhere else that we saw bits of trash.

The routine was always the same. He picked it up, straightened it out, looked at it carefully, and then wadded it back up, threw it down, and said, “That’s not it.” As then went on for days and weeks, he was called in for psychological examination. The experts were baffled, but finally decided that he should be given a medical discharge. He was called into an office, and handed his discharge papers. He took the papers, and unfolded them and straightened them as he had done so many times before. As he looked at the papers, he said, “That’s it!”

It’s a story that is meant to be comical. It may make some angry, but there are some points to consider. Here was a man who was seeking something. He had a plan, and he was persistent. In the end, he found what he was looking for. This morning, we want to ask, “Are You a Seeker?” Does it matter?

Body

I. What does it mean to be a seeker?

Jesus said we should be seekers.

(Mat 6:31-33 NKJV) "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' {32} "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. {33} "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Thayer’s definition of “seek:”

1) to seek in order to find

1a) to seek a thing

1b) to seek [in order to find out] by thinking, meditating, reasoning, to enquire into

1c) to seek after, seek for, aim at, strive after

2) to seek, i.e. require, demand

2a) to crave, demand something from someone

We seek for something that we feel a need of.

II What does it mean to seek for the kingdom of God?

A First, we must seek for God.

1. David said the wicked do not seek for God.

(Psa 10:4 NKJV) The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.

2. David could see the glory of God in His creation.

(Psa 19:1-3 NKJV) The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. {2} Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. {3} There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.

3. We too should be able to see God’s handiwork all about us and praise Him.

4. Paul told those on Mars Hill that God intended that we seek Him

(Acts 17:27-28 NKJV) "so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; {28} "for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'

B We need to seek His kingdom and His righteousness.

(Matt. 6:33) "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

III. Jesus talked about two different groups of seekers.

A. Jesus was talking about the contrast between the natural man (Gentiles), and what He wanted us to be.

(Mat 6:24 NKJV) "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

1. We must have food and clothing to sustain life.

2. But God asks that we put Him first in our priorities.

B. How do we seek the kingdom of God?

1. Jesus gave two examples of seekers.

a. The first example was that of a man who found a treasure hid in a field.

(Mat 13:44 NKJV) "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

(1) This one raises one big question that it doesn’t answer.

(2) Was he seeking, or did he just stumble upon it?

(3) The important point is, it cost him dearly: he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field

b. The second example was the merchant man.

(Mat 13:45-46 NKJV) "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, {46} "who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

(1) This man obviously knew what he was looking for.

(2) He made a diligent search.

(3) He too was willing to pay the price: “went and sold all that he had and bought it”

c. Whether by “stumbling” across God, or by concerted effort, we need to want to know God.

2. But in a practical way, how do we seek the kingdom of God?

a. We seek God by growing in our knowledge of God

(2 Pet 3:17-18 NKJV) You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; {18} but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

b. We seek the kingdom in a practical way by putting God first in our lives.

IV. Jesus encouraged us to seek.

(Mat 7:7-8 NKJV) "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. {8} "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Conclusion

§ Are you a seeker?

§ Are you seeking to know God and His will?

§ Are you seeking His kingdom and His righteousness?

§ Have you surrendered your life to Him?

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