Seek and Ye Shall Find

People everywhere are looking for ways and means to make their lives better. They immerse themselves in their work, their hobbies, entertainment of every type, and even the worst kind of habits: drugs, alcohol, or other types of substance abuse.

Real Christian people don't have to turn to harmful habits, because Jesus Christ will satisfy our desires, if we seek Him for those things we need and desire. But, this satisfaction is always conditional.

The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted. Proverbs 10:24

Our Holy Bible tells us:

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:31-33

What is God telling us to do here? Seek for His will! That requires work, does it not?

A lot of folks I've met through the years, especially since I've been in the church, have said, "All you have to do is believe, Only believe, All things are possible, Only believe." Well, that's not entirely true or false. We certainly do have to have faith that God will provide. However, we must go further, even as James, the brother of Jesus wrote.

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. James 2:14-17

We have to do something to make our faith operative. For instance, to have good health, we have to eat right and engage in some amount of exercise. To have a good job, we must look for and attempt to obtain the job and after we get one, we must work diligently. The same applies to other opportunities; when we are given an opportunity, shouldn't we be careful to fulfill it? Our Holy Bible tells us:

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10

Did you know that God's promises of good things are only for His people? They only apply to those who seek and do His will. These promises are not for non-believers, because first of all, their faith is in vain if they don't have the first-fruits or works of repentance. However, if men and women will repent and, by faith, receive God's grace, they will also be recipients of God's promises. Praise God!

When we are in God's grace we must seek God always! Let's see what Jesus tells us:

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matthew 7:7-11

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke 11:9-13.

Notice that these passages give us instructions that are words of action: Ask, Seek, Knock. Those are action words. We have to do more than just believe that God will give us what we need. We have to do something, too. These scriptures are not just for salvation, they are also for our daily necessities of life.

CONCLUSION

After we have acquired salvation by grace through repentance and faith, and are seeking God for those things we need in this life (as well as those things we desire), if it is according to God's will, we will have those things we have made request for.

Beloved, if our heart condemn us not [no sin is present], then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. I John 3:21-22

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. I John 5:14-15

May the God of all the Earth, and Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, grant you all your needs and desires according to His will. Amen.