Casting Your Pearls Before Swines

Success in life is a great achievement, but success in the wrong pursuit is the saddest tragedy of all. Time spent in pursuit of the wrong purpose or without purpose entirely is the greatest waste of human potential.

We all have a purpose specifically designed for us by God. When we follow that purpose, our lives become filled with joy, peace, and accomplishment. We gain a wealth of knowledge and truth that we can share with others and in doing so, we will find fulfillment every day.

At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus detailed the concerns and worries of people, explaining that if they put the kingdom of God first, everything else will fall into place. He instructed us not to be anxious about worldly things like food, clothing, and shelter. Instead, we should seek the kingdom of God above all else, and everything else will fall into place.

“Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.“ (Mat 6:31-34). 

What a radical approach to life! –Especially since most of us spend a great deal of time worrying about numerous things, setting our priorities specifically around them, planning our days and our entire lives around those worries. Worrying is in fact the opposite of seeking the kingdom of God. Medical scientists have now proven that worry is the main cause of all illnesses, as it causes stress. It is an attempt to figure out our lives on our own. According to God’s Word, “It is not in man to figure out his steps.” (Jer 10:23). 

Jesus’ command to seek first the kingdom of God really changes everything when it comes to prioritizing our lives. Interestingly, He never provided a second priority or what some may call “God’s second best.” He said that if we seek first the kingdom, all other things will align themselves and be provided for and added on to us, causing everything to fall into place. He essentially destroyed our “prayer list” by asking, “Why worry about what you’re going to eat, what you’re going to wear, and how you’re going to pay rent.” He said, “Tune in to one thing; the kingdom of God and everything else will fall into place. Don’t even think about the rest. Take no thought.”

Actually, Jesus never preached anything else but the kingdom. On the very outset of His ministry He said, “The kingdom of God is here within your midst.” The Pharisees later asked when the kingdom of God would be revealed, to which Jesus replied that it would come in a silent and unseen manner, its establishment was quietly underway among them, much like leaven working in dough. “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Matthew 13:33). It had already begun right under their nose. He was the King, bringing back the kingdom of God on Earth.

He also told them that His miracles were evidence of the arrival of the kingdom of God: “If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Luke 11:20). He demonstrated the kingdom through acts of love and compassion. He emphasized the importance of seeking the kingdom above all else. He compared it to a man seeking pearls, who, when he found that one pearl of a great price, he sold all the other ones, including everything else that he had, in order to get that one pearl, the one that had the most value, the most worth for his life.

So let’s add this all up: He preached only the kingdom, told them that He was bringing the kingdom without worldly fanfare or political overtaking, but by changing the present world from within. He told them that the kingdom was the greatest value anyone could find, worth selling everything for, and told people to make the kingdom and His righteousness their No.1 priority, and everything else would be taken care of. And He mentioned that His miracles were evidence that He had begun the new reign of God on earth. So what’s the message?

What does it mean for us to “seek first the kingdom of God”? For us, believers, it means to live ready. –Ready to give, ready to love, ready to heal, ready to pray, ready to destroy the works of the enemy in people’s lives. Jesus led by example in all these aspects of life, exhibiting obedience to His Father, and He set the standard for His disciples to follow, and to produce good fruit, by loving others, and infiltrating the world and making disciples. We are to prioritize God’s values over worldly values and possessions. Jesus assures us that He will care for our needs if we focus on living in obedience to His teachings and spreading the good news of the kingdom. We’re to bring the kingdom of God on earth in words and in deed, by being a doer of His teachings and by extending His Kingship on earth. That’s our assignment, that’s what we are to seek first. The kingdom and His righteousness.

In reality, Jesus only preached about the kingdom of God, never on healing, deliverance, abundance, baptism, prosperity, or even being born again. And He told us to put the highest value on the kingdom. And, when He sent out His disciples to all the nearby towns, He told them, “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” (Mat 10:7,8). 

This commission and prioritization from the Lord calls for the re-examination of how we spend our time and what we prioritize in our lives. Time is our most valuable commodity, and spending it on non-productive activities is equivalent to squandering it. Our schedules are chock-full of unproductive tasks that don’t bear good fruit in our lives.

I’m convinced that keeping people occupied with pointless activities is one of the devil’s most effective tools. Though we may be busy, most of us believers aren’t accomplishing as much for the kingdom as Jesus instructed us to. Being productive should be valued above being busy. Paradoxically, failure can be the result of working hard and doing excellent work, yet on the wrong thing; missing our destiny and purpose all together.

In view of what Jesus gave us as our priority, many of us need to reset our compass. Our time is the most valuable currency we possess. How we spend our time shapes our destiny; we are the culmination of all the time we’ve invested. Each day we’re all given the same currency: 24 hours. The key is to use that time wisely and focus on activities that will help us promote the kingdom of God, as per the one priority given us by the Lord.

The Bible teaches us to redeem the time, because the days are evil. Time is an actual currency that you can measure life with, not money. You actually use time to buy life. Whatever you have, you have purchased it with your time. That’s why people pay you to hire out your time; doing what they want you to do with your time.

Even our friends and family can demand our time. It becomes more and more important to check the time wasters in our lives. The book of Proverbs is full of advice on choosing our company and activities. Otherwise, we could be “casting your pearls before swine” -expending effort or resources on unworthy pursuits–just like the prodigal son did, paying a high price for worthless pursuits.

When we waste a significant amount of time, the feeling is the same as a hangover–emptiness, frustration, and dissatisfaction with nothing to show or gain from it. Divertissement is entertainment that diverts you from your priorities, goals, and challenges, and is equivalent to spending a night at the casino, seduced by a streak of luck and ultimately losing everything.

We have a greater calling and consequently we must find the ‘off’ switch on the remote control, on wasteful habits, and on being lured by advertisements, on those “shining objects“ that the world entices us with. Spending unproductive hours in media distractions will only leave us intellectually and spiritually impoverished, without any gains in wisdom or knowledge.

(To be continued)