by Charlie Rogers

How many times have you seen believers that seem to say the right things, go through the motions of doing the right things but yet time after time make wrong decisions. I know I have seen it over and over. I use the example of a young lady coming to me and saying she was quitting her part in the ministry to move off to another state and becoming unreachable to others around her that could help. When she was asked why she was doing this, she replied that she wanted a husband. She was willing to risk getting completely out of God’s will and possibly sliding in to a back slidden state for something in the natural that may or may not be totally out of God’s will. When ask, "Have you sought God’s voice on this matter?" She said no, she just wanted a husband. Now this sister was very close in the ministry and went through the motions of prayer and fasting, and supposedly spent personal time with God. Why do I mention this and how can this be? Oh, by the way this sister did find a husband and now she is not serving God and isn’t even in church.

Matt 6:19-21

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. NKJV

The Word of God says we are to do things and make decisions that contribute to laying up treasures in heaven. We are to be heavenly minded not earthly minded. Most believers live their life centering in on things in the natural and natural results instead of heavenly results. Most believers by the decisions they make reveal exactly where their heart is really at. Just like the example I gave above, her treasure was finding a husband, her heart was centered in on finding a husband and getting married. Her heart was far from God even though she went through all the motions, her heart was corrupt. It was something that needed dealt with.

Matt 6:33-34

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. NKJV

Our heavenly Father wants us to have things like a perfect mate, although He wants to do the choosing for us and actually He wants us to want Him to do the choosing. According to His word He wants us to seek Him first, put Him and the things of Him first and all these things will be added, or given to us. You want a husband or a wife, put God and the things of God first and a God given mate will be given unto you and it will be one just for you.

You want prosperity? Then seek God first and His right standing for you and you will prosper. You want your family life to prosper, your marriage to prosper then put God in the center of it, seek His face first. You want to prosper spirit, soul and body? Then seek Him in every area, put His will first, it will get rid of some wrong turns and missteps, it will save you a lot of trouble and heartaches.

Prov 3:5-6

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. NKJV

In seeking Him first and His righteousness, we are putting our trust in Him and that He will guide us in the right thing. Yes it is true that in seeking Him he will shine a light in our heart on things not sold out to Him and His ways. Things that He will ask and expect us to get rid of. We will have to trust Him and we probably will not understand at times, but this is all a part of trusting Him, that He is our Father and wants the very best for us. Sometimes when we find a wrong motive in our heart and it needs to leave and not be a part of us any longer we have to keep praying, keep worshiping Him and acknowledging Him. If we put Him and His desires first we will always stay on the right path.

Prov 2:2-9

2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;

3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding,

4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;

5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.

6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;

8 He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints.

9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path.

NKJV

If we put Him and the things of Him first, then we will receive wisdom from Him and we will hear it because He is our priority. When He is first and foremost in our minds we make a quality decision that we are going to clean our heart and purify it that we may understand what is on God’s mind. If we are to receive wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from God about our lives and what He has for us personally, then we can’t serve both God and a corrupt heart or things of this world. We have to make a decision at some point to put things in line, in prospective.

You never know how many lives you are affecting when you are obedient to God. You just never know what will happen down the line when you seek God first, and put away the corrupt things in your heart. You won’t realize all the fruits of your labor while here on earth. But the bible tells us all will be revealed in heaven.

He takes care of us, as we see on the previous page in Proverbs, He is a shield and guard for us when we walk upright, when we walk after His will. We must get rid of wrong motives and desires in our heart when He illuminates those things to us. A corrupt heart can lead you down a wrong path and get you in trouble, but when you seek God He will guide every step you take and in the end we will lay up treasures in heaven that can’t be taken away.