on looking for God for the right reasons...

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." John 6:26-27 (NIV).

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Was looking through the Scriptures this morning on what verse or verses to send to my usual Bible verse "kakis"*. Came across the above verses in the Gospel of John. Somehow the verses just pulled at my heart, and I sms-ed it out to my people.

It's funny sometimes, when we read the Bible, how words just jumped off the page. For me, I was intrigued by the above passage, because the 2 verses didn't seems to connect at first. In verse 26, Jesus states the people are looking for him not because they wanted more magic from Him, but because they had been fed by Him the day before**. I guess in a way Jesus is admonishing them for looking for God for the wrong reasons.

Is it wrong to look for God to provide our daily need? I don't think so, and I don't think Jesus is teaching the crowd that God is not willing to provide for them. Rather, I think He is saying don't just look for Him just for the sole reason of being fed by Him physically. Jesus can provide for us physically, but He desires to provide so much more other than providing for your physical sustenance only.

So how come then Jesus talks about "working" for food in the next line? The people weren't exactly "working" in the conventional sense of going down to the vineyards and fields to plant their harvest. Nor were they in the pastures looking after their flocks. So how come Jesus talks about working?

If we read in context from the preceding lines in verses 22 to 24, the crowd that was looking for Jesus was working in the "unconventional" sense. They had to go around the countryside, physically exerting themselves. Then they had to drag out boats to go sailing across the Lake towards from Tiberias towards Capernaum. After that they still have leave their boats and go searching for Jesus on foot. Certainly sounds like a lot of work to me. 

Yet Jesus did not praise them for doing all these things. Why? Because He knew in the secret place of their hearts, they were looking for Him for not the right reasons. He did not say to them, "Well done, faithful ones, who toiled in your search for me. Come, have some more bread, be filled and rejoice." Rather, He challenged them to lift up their eyes from daily existence and work for food that will not spoil.

Again, I want to emphasize that Jesus is not saying that God doesn't care whether we can fill ourselves physically. Of course He cares for you. If He is the one who looks after even the sparrows of the air and the wild flowers of the field, would He not care for us, whom He says are created in His Image? I think Jesus wants us to believe that God has already promised to be our caretaker. Rather than being distracted on where our next meal is to come from, we should focus on the will and the kingdom of God. 

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*Malay term of endearment, for "good friends"

** in the miracle of Jesus feeding the five thousand (see John 6:1-15, Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17).

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P.S. Well, two minor "miracles" happened in the choosing of this text. The first is that I sent out an additional sms to a friend whom is not on my weekly SMS schedule. But somehow was just prompted to send the verse to her anyway. Her reply back was "Thanks jack. Was asking GOD ABT SOMETHING LAST NITE. U made me tear tis morning. Thanks and God is gd." Goosebumps were raised, as I guess the Lord used my message supernaturally to convict her of certain things in her heart. Replied back "Amen to dat. Will give thanks to God with you".

The second minor "miracle" was that I got offered a job in the afternoon today. Was joyous that I was finally offered a job at last. Had to take a pay-cut, but am not complaining. Think the Lord also used the above verses to be convicted about not worrying what is offered in my terms of employment. Rather, think about what I can offer to my new employer, even as I continue to labor in the market-place, for His glory to be made known. Give thanks!