Seeking Great Things for Self

Jeremiah 45

Introduction

1.      Great questions from the Bible – Job 2:10 “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?”  “Job 9:1 “But how can a man be in the right before God?”  Job 38:4  “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?”  Matt 16:26 “For what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”  John 1:38  “What do you seek?”

2.      Jer 45:5 “But you, are you seeking great things for yourself?”

3.      The Bible furnishes us with many examples, both of those who sought for themselves and those who sought for God and others

Discussion

1.      Those who have sought great things for themselves

a.       Balaam – Num 22-24; 2 Peter 2:15  

b.      Haman – Esther 3:5-6  

c.       James and John – Mark 10:35-37  

d.      Diotrephes – 3 John 9  

e.       The scribes and Pharisees – Matt 23:1-7  

f.       Those who have sought for themselves, but then used what they had gained for others  

g.       Those who began for God, but ended up seeking for themselves – King Saul, 1 Sam 15:17

2.      Those who have sought great things for God and others

a.       Paul began by seeking for himself, but gave up all that he had gained to seek for the glory of  God – Phil 3:4-14; Matt 5:16  

b.      Peter – Acts 10:25-26

c.       Jesus – 1 Peter 2:21; Phil 2:3-8  

Conclusion

1.       Jer 45:5 “Do not seek them”

2.      Matt 6:33

3.      James 4:10