In Luke 21:34-36 it says “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”
We live in a time when men run to and fro. Knowledge is increased, yet it is seemingly harder and harder to find the knowledge of God. And why is this? Why is it easier to learn how to be a doctor, or to study to be a banker, or to learn more about what we would like in life, than it is to learn and study to live in God and to hear His word? It is hard to live for God, when you have so much going on in your life. In other words, it is hard to live for God when you are living for yourself. “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged,” Does anyone else get overwhelmed by their struggles in life? I know I do. To have your heart overcharged is to be overwhelmed. “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”
Your walk with God is in danger when you allow your desires and cares for the things of this world to become your forethought. You will become stressed out, overwhelmed, and ineffective for God! And your very soul is in danger! Let me ask you, how easy is it to run after God while you are running after the cares of this world? You can’t do it can you?! God said you couldn’t. Matthew 6:24 says “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” So you will love either God or the world, not both. And let me tell you that if you are running after the things in this world you are going to miss God when He comes to visit you! Not only that, but if you continue then you are going to miss God when the day of the Lord comes…and it will “come upon you unawares.” Because your lost in the distractions of the devil. Having gone after the cares of this life, and leaving God behind.
Listen, we hear the word preached every Sunday. Why is it then that the very word we hear produces little or no fruit in our lives? Why is it that we can’t tell you what the word was that was spoken to us on Sunday when Monday comes? Luke 8:14 “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.” We have our hearts set on our job on Monday or our trip to the beach rather than on seeking God and knowing Him. Be careful, your goals and cares that overwhelm (that you allow to be your main focus of your heart) will steal your life away from God! His word will produce no fruit in your life because it could not take root in you through all the clutter and cares you filled your heart with, instead of filling it with His word.
John 15:2 “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away…” If the thorns choke out the word of God from your life, then in the end, not only will there be no fruit in your life but you will have lost your very soul. All you are left with is the cares of this life, while they will fade in time anyway. You will have a life full of thorns and not God. Hebrews 6:8 “But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.”
God’s word must take root in your heart and grow in you! Because if you care more about paying your bills, owning your home, doing a good job, or ANYTHING ELSE more than you care about God and His word then you will not be rooted and grounded in faith! God must be your first care, else as it is said in Jude 1:12 “…clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;”
Let me make it simple. If your focus is on anything other than God, and you care more to spend time in your own goals in life that will only last a moment than you do God, you will miss out on eternity with God…He said to them “I do not know you.” They sought their own will in life, and not God. Maybe they said some nice things, they prayed before bed, or they thought they were living as God wanted when they went to church. But instead of seeking God…doubtless they sought the world first. Do not get me wrong you must live. You have to pay your bills and work. God wants you to do so. But He wants you to do it WITH Him! He wants your every moment to be aware of Him. He wants you to talk with Him and listen to Him in the day. He wants you to meditate on His word in your heart and do your task in the day. It’s as simple as talking with a co-worker as you work. Don’t neglect the task of the day, but don’t let them rule you!
Your goal in life should not be to gather wealth or raise a family, or even anything that people care so much about. Your goal should not even be to run your church, pastor. These are tasks, but your goal and purpose in life is to seek and know God at all times. Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Yes you have to live. But “Watch ye therefore, and pray always…” So that it will be God who overwhelms your heart, not life. Let Him be your first concern, to seek Him through your day so that His word will not be so attacked by your hopes and dreams in this temporary life. So that your fruit will not be choked out by the thorns of daily strife. If you would seek after the cares of life rather than be content with doing Gods will the verse says “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” Riches are more than money…they can even be your family. Let God be your treasure…so that your heart will be with Him.
In closing I would like to tell you and plead with you once more. Seek after God in your life. Let Him be more important than anything else. If not, you will find that the devils snares will run your life. Your life will become a waste. But if you seek God, you will bear much fruit towards salvation. You must live and work. Sometimes the day is hot, but your heart should rest with God. Speak with Him through your trial and tribulation. You will find peace in prayerful living with God.
God knows your needs and dreams. He offers them to you! Matthew 6:31-33 “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.” But He asks that they do not rule over you. He asks that you don’t let them cause you to turn to follow them rather than Him.
Watch and pray ALWAYS, that you may be counted worthy to escape. Have you been caught up in your life? Maybe you find time to pray over your meal but the rest of the day you’re caught up with “trying to get things done”? You feel like…maybe your not as close to God as you once were. Maybe you’re burdened down under the load of care. God knows what you need and what you want. Let Him seek it for you…you just seek Him. Maybe it’s time to commit your WHOLE life to God? Why don’t you just come before Him now, and say God, I want to seek you before anything else. Give me a clean heart to do that. The invitations open. Let Him move into your life. Yes you still have to live, but you can have a friend with you who knows your cares. You can have a friend who will keep you from being anxious. Because your not living for your cares anymore. You’re living to be close to Him. And He will give you the desires of your heart. Come to Him now, it’s time to get out the weeds from the garden of your heart, and time to let His word grow in you as you meditate and stay on it, rather than on the things that will pass away.
