Which Bread Do You Seek?

Which Bread Do You Seek?

Do you seek for the bread that benefits the body or for the bread that benefits the soul? Therefore, there are two kinds of bread which men come to Jesus to seek for. The bread that benefits the body refers to the material things of the world. The material prosperity that men seek for constitute the bread for the body. They are described as the temporal, mundane things and vanities because they have no eternal value.

We cannot live on earth without the bread that benefits our bodies. God has made abundant provision in His Word for the bread that benefits the body.  God delights in our prosperity and it is His will that we prosper materially on earth (Psalm 35:27) (3 John 2) (Matthew 6:11). But access to these benefits is based on obedience to God (Deuteronomy 28:1). 

Though God wants us to prosper materially on earth, it must not be at the expense of the salvation of our souls. For this reason, the bread that benefits the soul is much more important. The bread that benefits the soul of man is the Word of God which gives us eternal life in Christ. The life of a man is not measured by the abundance of his possessions on earth but by his relationship with God (Luke 12:15). What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world (running after the bread for the body), and losing his own soul? (Matthew 16:26).

Matthew 4:4 says, ‘Man shall not leave by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ The word of God goes beyond its abundant provisions for material prosperity. It includes other more important and eternally rewarding provisions: repentance; holiness and righteousness; purity; chastity; faith in Christ; sanctification; restitution and many others. God is more interested in the bread that benefits the soul and determines its eternal destination.

All the riches and glories of the world cannot repurchase a single soul from eternal condemnation. Proverbs 11:4 says, ‘Riches profit not in the day of wrath but righteousness delivers from death.’ The riches and prosperity in the goods of the world can work wonders in your life on earth but cannot speak for you on the Day of Judgment. What matters on that day is whether your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. Your salvation, not earthly riches or material prosperity, determines the inclusion of your name in the book of life.

This is the reason why the Bible mandates in Matthew 6:33 that, ‘seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.’ That is, take action to first of all secure the salvation of your soul and do not be distracted by the mundane issues and vanities in the world that cannot save your soul. You brought nothing into the world and can take nothing out of it.

Your relationship with God is more important to God. It can be established by complying with Ecclesiastes 12:13 which says, ‘Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.’ The first commandment that God expects you to keep is Matthew 22:37 which says that, ‘Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and will all thy soul, and with thy entire mind.’

But your love for God and your relationship with Him starts with your compliance with Acts 17:30-31 where He commands all men to repent now because He has appointed a day to judge the world in righteousness. It is righteousness in Christ that matters on the Day of Judgment, not the abundance of your riches on earth. Your riches and pleasures benefit your body which is returning to dust while your soul faces judgment for all that you did in the body.

Where do you stand? Have you truly repented? Which bread are you running after? Repent now, tomorrow may be too late (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Ayodele Adegbulugbe
www.relationship4growth.blogspot.com 

Phone:+2348035978352

Email:ayodeleade2002@yahoo.com