What are You Really Chasing? Is it Worth It?

To pursue means to follow someone or something in order to catch or capture it, or to try to achieve a goal or objective over a period of time. Everyone is either chasing a goal or they are wandering aimlessly. The danger of the latter is that you won’t achieve anything of lasting value. The danger of the former is that you can chase the wrong thing(s) or focus on the wrong goal(s).

The following was a helpful reminder of the passion involved with pursuit. “Use the verb pursue when you’re chasing after someone or something. A hungry lion might pursue a zebra, the paparazzi might pursue a celebrity, and a young dancer might pursue her dream of becoming a prima ballerina.” – Vocabulary.com

What are you chasing? What are some of the choices?

Pursuing Money

Money is not the root of all evil. However, the love of money is. We are to flee from the love of money and pursue “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness.” Paul tells Timothy this in his first letter to the young pastor:

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” 1 Timothy 6:10-11

Pursuit of Passions

There are certainly some passions that are good. However, when I was youthful there were passions that were destructive. Paul has more guidance for Timothy in his second letter to his son in the faith. “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22

Notice that the things Timothy should pursue sound like what Paul told him in his first letter. If something is repeated, it is important.  We all need these reminders.

Pursue Peace

“Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” Romans 14:18-19

If you want to know what he means by “thus serves Christ” it is found in the verses just before this instruction: “For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:15-17

How can we pursue peace? One way is to desist from doing things that are evil (gossip, lying, murder, adultery, slander, and the like) and do good. The Psalmist said: “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Psalm 34:14

Pursue Love

1 Corinthians 13 is the great “love” chapter. It is a passage that is sometimes used in wedding ceremonies because it describes love and what love is and what love is not. Then, in the next chapter Paul says we are to pursue what he described in chapter thirteen: “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” 1 Corinthians 14:1

Pursue Righteousness and Kindness

“Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.” Proverbs 21:21 Note what you find when you pursue the things that imitate God. God is kind and he is holy. When you pursue the attributes of God in your life, you find life.

How to Identify a Follower of Jesus

They love people without expecting love in return. It never ends.

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends…” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

Five Minute Friday

This post is part of the weekly Five-Minute Friday link-up.

All scripture passages are from the English Standard Version except as otherwise noted.