Seeking To Be Physically Filled
Or
Seeking To Be Spiritually Satisfied
Sunday July 26, 2020
Scripture To Consider:
“On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone; however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks. When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.”
“And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, ‘Rabbi, when did You come here?’ Jesus answered them and said, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food that which endures everlasting, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.’” John 6.22-27
Something To Consider:
The people spoken of here were of the five thousand men plus women and children of whom Jesus had fed with five loaves of bread and two small fish. Knowing that Jesus did not sail away with His disciples, they imagined He was still in the area and so they waited for Him. When He was not sighted anywhere, they got into boats and crossed over to Capernaum, not knowing where Jesus had gone.
Those who had been physically fed until they were filled went seeking Jesus. Seeking Jesus is for the most part a very good thing. And yet, at times our motives are not pure motives. And on occasions Jesus addresses that issue in our lives as He does in our Scripture to consider.
Jesus, in our text today, stated, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled.” It is human nature to want an easier existence in this life. And yet, our motives for following Jesus must be pure motives. Many follow Jesus in this 21st century and have followed Jesus in prior centuries, for what false prophets and deceitful and greedy so-called bible teachers claim a person can receive simply by sending him or her a seed-faith offering. It sounds religious, but it is not biblical!
Something Else To Consider:
The apostle Paul, while imprisoned, wrote four letters to four 1st century churches. One of those letters was to the church in Philippi. In chapter 4, Paul addressed the generosity of the Philippian Christians. He began in verse 14, by stating, “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.”
Paul continued in verse 11. “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state [condition] I am, to be content. I know how to be abased [to go without], and I know how to abound [to have plenty].” What is it that we have learned? Have we learned to be content when we have more than we actually need, and yet, have we worried and even complained when we have lack?
Paul was a man of God who had learned to trust God for his daily provision, even while in prison. Later, in verse 19, Paul also acknowledged; “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” And God’s riches in glory are endless!
Therefore, are we also trusting in the goodness and greatness of the Lord our God when we come up short on our monthly financial obligations? Do we trust God when the weekly or monthly paycheck does not cover the weekly or monthly expenses? What is our attitude towards the things of God then? Are we as Paul, able to acknowledge that we too are content? Paul said he had learned to be content. Learning to be content is a life lesson that for some may take an entire lifetime. Where are we in the process of learning that lesson?
Something More To Consider:
In our text, when the people finally found Jesus, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?” Some religious leaders would have taken full advantage of that opportunity to make as many as possible totally aware of the fact that they had been divinely inspired and empowered by God to walk across the water in the dark of night and in the midst of a raging storm. But Jesus did not waste any time going there. He had a more important issue at hand and He never felt the need to impress anyone.
Jesus declared that they were seeking Him to be physically filled with that food that soon would perish. He exhorted them and every generation since then to seek Him in order to be spiritually satisfied. Early in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” What is it that we are seeking? Are we seeking that which would spiritually benefit us and others?
Those seeking to be physically filled with what the world has to offer will remain unfulfilled. Those who seek the righteousness of Jesus Christ will be spiritually satisfied. In the words of Psalm 107.9, we learn; “For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” Therefore, be spiritually satisfied with Jesus today!
Again, in 1 Timothy chapter 6, Paul, writing to young Timothy concerning the error of false teaching and greed, declared in verse 6; “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” This is not a verse often quoted by TV evangelists and mega church leaders. And yet, it is a verse that if truly believed would re-direct every Christian’s eternal perspective on seeking Jesus and obeying His Word!
If God’s people learn to become and remain content with their lives in Christ, they would no longer feel required to give greedily in order to hopefully gain more for their giving. From the outside looking in at this greed-filled process, it is as if God’s so-called people are involved in a religious lottery where the only real winners are those in charge of the non-biblical casino-like give to get selfish financial program. And if people stopped to think for themselves, they would realize this sham is not biblical due to the fact that this charade could not be carried out in any third world less fortunate financial nation.
A Few Final Words:
Paul followed up in 1 Timothy 6.7 by teaching, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” That is one of the reasons Jesus taught the truth concerning eternal rewards in Matthew 6.19-21, to all those seeking to be spiritually satisfied rather than just physically filled. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
Jesus finished His instructional teaching by also declaring, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where is your treasure today? Where is my treasure today? Is it in a 401K? Is it in stocks and bonds? Is it in a savings account in some bank that at the first sign of depression or stock market crash it will close and lock its doors to the general public until the Antichrist hits the reset button?
According to Jesus, our lives consist of more than seeking that which appears to elevate our livelihood and or financial status here on this earth. Therefore, are we seeking that which will spiritually satisfy us throughout eternity? Again, according to Jesus, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him [on Jesus].”
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, fill us to overflowing with that which will satisfy our longing souls with the goodness of our God and Savior. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 