The Kingdom of God First.
By J. N. Loughborough
“WHEREFORE, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 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.” Matt. 6:30-33. In Luke, we read, in the record of the same discourse, “And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of a doubtful mind,” or, as the margin reads, “Live not in careful suspense.” Luke 12:29. In the above discourse of Christ is a plain promise that those who, in all their doings, make the first and important object of their pursuit “The kingdom of God,” —meaning thereby the service of God and the advancement of his cause—shall have the prospering hand of God with their lawful endeavors to secure the needful things of this life. But, alas! with the masses, the first great object of pursuit is this world, and their first and greatest inquiry, “What shall I eat?” and “What shall I drink?” or “How shall I accumulate the wealth and honors of this world?” This absorbs nearly all the thought, the planning, and the investment of means. What such do for God's cause must be either something that can be spared just as well as not, or what enters into their plans for the extension of the truth comes in after they have planned for everything else. This ought not so to be. The cause of God should occupy the first place in all our calculations, in all our plans. Solomon says, “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase; so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” Prov. 3:9, 10. We can see from the Scriptures very clearly how the case ought to be; but how is it? It seems to us more in accordance with Malachi's description of the dangers of our times. He inquires: “Will a man rob God? yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.” See what a promise is made on condition that they cease to rob God, and bring in their tithes and offerings; “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.” Mal. 3:8, 11. The danger of God's professed people in this time is the same as expressed by Paul in his time. When contrasting the unconsecrated ones with devoted Timothy, he says: “I have no man like minded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.” Phil. 2:20, 21. Now what is needed in these times, and especially in the important work of giving the last notes of warning to the world is just such consecration as that of Timothy. Then as ministers, as officers, as individuals, we should be faithful in all our duties, making the work pertaining to the various stations we occupy, of more consequence than anything else. With such a sense of our labor, and a corresponding consecration to the Lord, we should so magnify our office that the “Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord negligently,” should not be pronounced against us. Did we thus stand, instead of shrinking from duties and burdens and crosses and sacrifices and cares, we should be ever pressing humbly forward in the work with the saying on our lips, “Here am I, Lord, send me.” With too many, alas! there is a lack of earnestness, a lack in making the business of God's cause of more consequence than anything else. There is needed more of a missionary spirit. The mere machinery of a Missionary Society is not going to do the work alone. We must, individually, get our hearts imbued with a love for souls, with a desire to do what we can to save them. Where such a spirit exists in the church and individual members, the Society comes in as a regulator of our efforts, and points out channels where we can labor. While meditating on the condition of things in this State, the great work to be accomplished, and how we can individually act faithfully our part in this cause, the foregoing thoughts pressed upon my mind. We must, as a people, take higher ground, and dedicate our energies more fully to God and his cause. As we come to the Camp Meeting may it be with desires, and earnest prayers from the heart to God that he will enable us to so consecrate ourselves to him that we shall hereafter “seek first the kingdom,” be ever zealous in his cause, and “shine as lights in the world.”