'Jara'

Imagine you sent your child to buy something on a ‘buy a product and get something free’ promo and the child comes home with only the free something but not the product the gift is attached to. How would you feel? In our local markets in Southwest Nigeria, we often ask for extra from the seller especially when buying grains. We call it "jara". It is over and above the purchase quantity. Whatever is put in a measure is not considered extra until the measure is full to the brim. Only then does the concept of ‘jara’ makes sense. It will be stupidity to ask for only the ‘jara’ and not the real measure.

Yet, that is how most of us live our lives. We focus on, strive after, chase after the 'jara', and even give up the main for the extra. In Matthew 6:33, the Lord instructed us to focus on the main with a promise that He will give the ‘jara’. He directs us to what He considers the main thing. He says, ‘But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’

God wants us to focus on Him. When we do so, He in turn focuses on us. Even though we are always under His radar, His focusing on us put us in the position to receive special attention. Our focusing on Him puts us in the right frame of mind and place to receive of Him, to receive what He has always wanted to give us but we were unable to receive. It makes us available to receive His blessings. Satan, The Accuser of the brethren, is always ready to give reasons why we should not be blessed; we render his case against us null and void when we seek the kingdom of God first above all other things.

We may wonder what seeking the kingdom of God entails. I believe it is actively living in obedience, seeking to know His will and way, and allowing Him to have the final say in all situations. When issues arise, seeking the kingdom of God requires that you make a decision that honours God even it is not popular or appears to benefit you. The refrain of such a person is "Christ must be honoured in my life every day."

Seeking His kingdom and its righteousness means pushing the agenda of the kingdom. This may mean seemingly inconsequential actions and decisions like being nice to someone, praying for someone, speaking about Christ to a co-worker, making sure our children attend church with us, having regular family altar, saying no your daughter's fashionable but inappropriate dressing, going the extra mile for the undeserving, and the list goes on. It is doing the ‘needful’ so we can get the main thing.

I love the way the Message Bible puts it. It reads thus:

People who don’t know God and the way He works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how He works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

This week, take a step back and evaluate your life. Are you chasing the ‘jara’ and forgetting the main thing? It is God’s duty to add the extra; let Him do His job. Focus on yours!