History is filled with people who relentlessly pursued something—a movement, an income, a position, a reputation, another person—and ended up with practically nothing. In some cases, they simply never achieved their goals. In others, they achieved their goals and had only a few years to enjoy them. Regardless, the human drive to accomplish, achieve, and attain is captivating on the front end and looks sadly futile on the back end. It doesn’t ultimately satisfy.
Those drives to accomplish, achieve, and attain aren’t completely misguided, however. They have a genuine purpose. When we direct them where God tells us—in pursuit of his kingdom—they lead us to truths and fruitfulness and relationships that last. We really can invest in eternity.
We have two choices: (1) We can pursue all those other things and end up with nothing; or (2) we can pursue the kingdom and end up with that and more. Jesus put it this way: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33 niv). It’s a simple yet profoundly satisfying and stress-free way to live. Our streamlined, single-minded, wholehearted pursuit of God’s kingdom is the gateway into everything else. All other gates eventually close. Blessed are those who recognize the one that’s open and enter it without looking back.
