Walking with the Wise #104: In Hot Pursuit

“Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
 

but evil comes to him who searches for it.” 

—Proverbs 11:27 

When I was a teenager, I loved basketball. I was taller than my peers, had some athletic ability, and really enjoyed playing the game. Michael Jordan was huge at the time, and every teenage boy with a basketball wanted to be him. Coaches preached that if I worked hard enough, then I could be him. But no matter how hard or long I practiced, I never could be anywhere near as good as Michael. As I aged, I realized that I lacked several key ingredients to be Michael Jordan—height, talent, skill and drive.

My coaches were wrong; it took more than hard work to be a professional athlete. There are some who have the ability, talent, and opportunity, but for most of us, professional athletics is just a dream.

People hotly pursue goals every day—some good, some bad. Some are possible and others are not. But the Bible is clear that there are two pursuits that will always be rewarded—the pursuit of evil and the pursuit of good. Evil will be rewarded with punishment and wrath. The pursuit of good, which is ultimately seen in the pursuit of God, will be rewarded with blessing and favor.

What are you pursuing? Are you diligently pursuing God? Or are you diligently pursuing the that which God says is evil? Pursue God and He will honor you with the ultimate reward imaginable—Himself. As the Lord says, “You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart”—Jeremiah 29:13. Amen.