Christians should have a true walk with God. We are to (seek) look for, try to obtain, desire to possess, run after, and seek earnestly the kingdom of God.
· But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Luke 12:31 KJV
To seek is a command that means to do something that involves continuous or repeated action.
Many Christians have memorized Luke 12:31, but there can be a whole new depth when we understand this principle through Matthew 6:33.
· But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33 KJV
Kingdom – is the area of rule (Heaven) or the rule (God’s power) He has over the enemy.
Righteousness – what is right, the act of doing what agrees with God’s standards, uprightness, conduct in common life, having a right heart with God.
This can include coming to church (God’s kingdom) and not being moved by God or not having a right relationship with God (God’s righteousness). This gives the impression that you are something you are not. You are a gimcrack Christian.
Gimcrack (jim-crack)
1. A showy object of little use or value.
2. Flimsy (without strength, weak) or poorly made but deceptively attractive.
3. A cheap and showy ornament, knick-knack.
4. Second rate, low-grade.
A gimcrack Christian has lots of show but is of little value to the kingdom of God. They lack the power or strength of a true walk with God. We must seek not only the kingdom of God, but also His righteousness.
Let’s look at some signs of a gimcrack Christian.
- This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.
2 Timothy 3:1-4 KJV
1. Lovers of their own selves = selfish, self-centered
2. Covetous
3. Boasters
4. Proud = appearing above others, arrogant
5. Blasphemers = against man, against God, sluggish (spirit of slumber), slow, stupid, slanderous, insulting, mocker
6. Disobedient to parents
7. Unthankful
8. Unholy
9. Without natural affection = hard-hearted, without family love, hostile, hateful
10. Trucebreakers = one that does not agree, quarrelsome
11. False accusers
12. Incontinent = without self-control, without strength or power
13. Fierce
14. Despisers of those that are good = hostile to virtue, unfriendly to good people, without honor, useless, unprofitable
15. Traitors
16. Heady = falling forward, rash, thoughtless, reckless
17. High-minded
18. Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God
Now the point can be made that this is mankind in the last days, but let’s look at the last point again. Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God = this does not mean they did not love God, but they love other things more than God.
Examine your heart right now and see if there is anything you love more than God. Be honest with yourself because it only hinders your walk with God if there is something and you pretend it is not there.
- Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Timothy 3:5 KJV
Form – appearance, fashion, exact image
Godliness – holiness, reverence for God, motivated by the fear of God or caution more than by love for God
Denying – contradict, renounce, reject, to desert the Christian faith, to apostatize (the desertion or departure from one’s religion, principles, cause)
· They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
2 Timothy 3:5 NLT
God desires His children to have a heart after Him and not just seek His kingdom. He desires you to be holy not through action but through your heart seeking after His righteousness. If you heart is aligned with God and His righteousness your actions will follow but have the power to back up your genuine love and obedience for God.
- And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
Matthew 22:1-4 KJV
The custom of the Jewish days was for the king or host to provide wedding garments for the guests to put on for the celebration especially since these guests were from the streets.
When the king found one guest that was seeking the benefits of being at the king’s house and the marriage feast without putting on the proper attire the king was furious because of disobedience. This is the cause for the king’s reaction toward that guest and had him bound and thrown into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This is how God views us when we are only seeking His kingdom. Seeking the kingdom of God puts you in the right area, but seeking His righteousness places the right “garment” on you to truly participate in the things of God.
· For I tell you, unless your righteousness (your uprightness and your right standing with God) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:20 AMP
The Scribes and Pharisees knew the Law and kept it with such prestige and pride because they were gimcrack believers. Here Jesus says that if you are not seeking His righteousness (being in right standing with God’s heart and standard) you will not enter heaven at all.
We as Christians must not be gimcrack Christians. We should be determined to be genuine and real Christians that love God wholeheartedly. Are you a gimcrack?