In his book, Servant Leadership, Robert Greenleaf refers to: the level of mediocrity in which so many of our institutions seem mired. By mediocrity, he meant that we are less than we could be with our available resources. In this context, he writes about seekers: There is now seeking on unprecedented scale and the land abounds with gurus who are feeding the hunger of the seekers. The problem, Greenleaf points out, is that the seeking is for self-aggrandizement, rather than in the service of others. He rightly points out that this does not work: because one is rarely satisfied with what one seeks only for oneself. We remember that: ‘It is better to give than to receive.’ The principle works in various contexts, not merely in materialism or naturalism.
Seeking has its priorities, if it is the seeking to which Christ refers. It is that quality of the action of seeking that I seek here. Jesus asserts that the priority for search is to discover God in a context of faith, and close to that is to search for ways to serve the needs of his creation. The first objective of my seeking is to find God, and the second is to join in his creative gestures, which is to do good in love for him to others – to lift, to give, to befriend, to help, to encourage. We need to understand the dual motivation: 1) for the Lord (obedience to God) and, 2) in righteousness (living by that which is right). The motivation for the Christian is that whatever he/she does it is done in obedient service to God, regardless of any human reason for action. The second motivation, righteousness, relates to the quality (good) of the thing, the need for it, the relational experience, which is love not only to God, but to the person or group of persons served. It is done without thought of return, even the return of appreciation. There may be some return, but that is external from the one who seeks to achieve what Jesus, each time we hear him, told the people to do. Reward is in spiritual fulfillment. In the natural world it is thought of as altruism.
When I ask people what they are seeking for in their lives they usually answer in the terms of education, of some lucrative professional position, of gaining a family, or some such honorable objective. I do not remember a young person telling me the priority of their seeking was to begin with the search for God, then to serve others, and then go on with the list of appropriate human goals to seek. Even many students brought up in evangelical Christian environments tell me, they want to do well in a chosen profession and make money for the family. When I probe further, I get the response, Oh yes, I want to be the Lord’s servant; I want to be a good Christian. That too requires a probe: Have you prayed today? Have you read any Scripture? These actions are first evidences of seeking God. Most respondents acknowledge they have not sought God that day, in that way. God becomes or seems remote even to faith persons, but he informs us he is with us. Prayer and Scripture reduce any sense of remoteness, and promote intimacy with God.
According to Scripture there is a priority list in nearly everything. These other things will be added – if priorities are kept. I may gain a desirable appointment, if I seek it, and that will be all. That appointment will never lead me to God. If I seek God, as priority, I not only find him, but meaning relating to any appointment is gained as well. In seeking God and then going about my other business there is an order that gives peace, excellence, and meaning to fulfillment. Thus, human business becomes more meaningful than stewardship only. I was checked, early in my adult life, to avoid seeking for self-interests as primary. The lessons came in several episodes. They provided some of the most life-saving factors for my spiritual life. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020