Whose Kingdom are you really serving?
This was the point Jesus was trying to make to the religious leaders in today’s readings. They set out all of these rules and guidelines in the name of “leading people to the Kingdom”. However, Jesus points out that they were only really doing it for their own pride.
“Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men.
You do not enter yourselves,
nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter.”
Building Our Own “Kingdom”
It’s really easy to get too busy building our own “kingdom” that we may forget to ask ourselves who are we doing it for. When we do good works, are we shouting from the mountaintops “look at me, look at the good I’m doing!” Or, are we serving with humility? Sometimes we listen to our own thoughts and ideas of how we should be living but we fail to talk to God about what He is asking of us. Just like the Scribes and Pharisees, our pride blinds us and stands in our way.
If we want to truly enter the Kingdom of Heaven, we have to know what that Kingdom is like and live our lives in the way of being worthy of it. How can one be worthy? Well, you first have to know what you are striving for. The parables of the Kingdom are a great place to start.
The Kingdom of Heaven
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46
To be worthy of entering, you must give up all you have, all you are, and all you want to be for the sake of the Kingdom. It is the greatest of all treasures and if we seek the Kingdom above all else, listen to God’s voice, and let our pride take a backseat, we, too, can enter the greatest of all glories.
Thank you Brett and Tailor Akins for reminding me that I have to give up “myself” to pursue the true happiness of the kingdom of God. Remain blessed.