Newer isn't always better.

It seems like most people of our generation have dismissed the Bible as an ancient book written by ancient men and having little to no relevance or importance for our day.

Ours is a generation and a culture that is intoxicated with the "now." They love things that are "relevant" and "cutting-edge."

Maybe our exaltation of contemporary philosophy is motivated by our love for technology. In my generation, we have listened to music on tapes, Cd's, and now mp3.

We have watched movies on VHS tapes, DVDs, and now Blu-Ray. We listen to satellite radio and watch high definition television. We have instant access to Internet information and laugh at old forms of communication like newspapers.

The point is that we have been taught to despise the old and embrace the new. The philosophy of new is better isn't bad if you are applying to technology but it can be deadly if we apply to where we go for the answers to life's deeper questions.

Scientology, a relatively new religions, has new national commercials. Oprah pimps one new-age guru after another. The self-help and spirituality sections at Barnes and Noble are among the most frequented and largest parts of the store. Heck, there is even a guy claiming to be Jesus on My Space.

But in Job 8:8-10, Bildad reminds Job that there is a problem with contemporary philosophy and that there are better places to go for knowledge--

For inquire, please of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out. For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth as a shadow. Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding?

We really are of yesterday and know nothing. Our "new" philosophies don't really work. "New" religions come and go. Today's self-help "guru" is tomorrow's punchline.

So, where do we go for this ancient wisdom and understanding? Do we go to Socrates? Aritstotle? Nietsche? Heigel? Marx? Darwin? Freud? Russel?

The answer to all of the above is no. To be certain those men could teach us something about life either positive or negative, but they cannot give us eternal answers to eternal questions. Going to them for wisdom is like trying to fill your swimming pool with a squirt gun.

Instead, we should go to Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Luke, Peter, Paul, and John. We should go to the "ancients" who were moved by God to speak the truth that is unchanging and incapable of being "improved."

We should reject our culture's faulty logic that equates "new" with "better" and "old" with "irrelevant."

We should heed the words of God who said this to his people through the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 8:20 when he tells them to go to one place in their search for wisdom--

To the teaching and to the testiomony!

Something tells me God wasn't talking about Oprah.

What are you seeking?

Jesus makes a very simple statement in Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

It is a statement that has become very famous and cliche but as Blackburn students are approaching the busiest part of the semester, where finals and procrastinated projects are coming due, I think it is one that is appropriate to focus on.

In Matthew 6, Jesus' main concern is that his followers trust God completely.

He tells us to give generously trusting God to take care of us (implication) in 6:1-4.

He tells us to pray to God trusting Him to hear and answer our prayers in 6:5-15.

He tells us to fast before God trusting Him to see our secretive devotion and earnestness and reward us accordingly in 6:16-18.

He tells us to trust God and not possesions or money as our Lord and Master in 6:19-24.

And he closes the chapter by encouraging us to trust God for our daily provision and not fill ourselves with worry like non-believers do in 6:25-34.

But at the end of the chapter, Jesus closes this entire discussion of trust, in all of the arenas he has mentioned, with this simple verse--

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

It would be easy to read this verse in its immediate context and come away from understanding it to mean that you are to seek God's kingdom and righteousness while trusting him to provide you with food and clothing. After all, it comes immediately after Jesus' lengthy diatribe on flowers, birds, food, and clothing.

And that is what Jesus is talking about. Well, at least is one thing He is talking about, but if we place the verse within the larger context of Matthew 6, a passage on trust, we come away asking what does this verse have to do with trusting God?

And the answer to that question is simply this: Apart from trusting Jesus Christ as our Redeemer, the number one way you and I trust God is by seeking His kingdom first.

Matthew 6:33 is the summation of Jesus' whole discussion of trust, in other words, if you and I will seek first God's kingdom and righteousness then we will find ourselves trusting God in our giving, prayer, fasting, finances, and daily needs.

God desires that we, because we trust Him, move His kingdom and righteousness to the top of priority list. He knows this is not easy for us. He knows that we will have papers, tests, and projects. He knows that we will have jobs, boyfriends/girlfriends, friends, and family responsibilities. He knows that we have plans and dreams.

But he desires that we put His kingdom first and promises that if we do all these things will be added to us. In other words, if you and I will be diligent, faithful, and trusting enough to place God's kingdom (sharing the gospel, living the gospel, showing the gospel, etc...) at the top of priority list God will provide for us in all of our other areas.

So, let this verse be a reminder to you, during a very busy time of your life, to avoid the temptation to slide a paper, a test, or a project to the top of your priority list. Let it be a warning to not justify sacrificing devotional time for study time.

Let it be an encouragment to place God's kingdom and righteouesness in its rightful place--FIRST.