A Kingdom, but not the King?

Many want the Kingdom, but not the King. 

They would not phrase it that way, but their lives bear out this truth: they want the benefits of Christ’s Kingdom without the cost of a relationship with Him and His Lordship.

They want a cure for cancer, but they do not want the Healer.

They desire money and material blessings, but not the actual Provider.

They want peace, but not the Prince of Peace; joy, but not Him in whose presence is fulness of joy. 

Before we think too critically of non-believers for desiring the Kingdom benefits without the King, we need to examine whether we ourselves are guilty of the same thing. Unfortunately, many Christians also live like they want the Kingdom but not the King. Existing like functional atheists, they regularly ignore God. They want to enjoy the benefits of the Kingdom and when they have a problem, they are motivated to pray for the King’s help, but otherwise they leave Jesus out of their daily routine.  

This mentality of desiring a kingdom but not the King even creeps into those involved in Christian ministry. Too many times Christians attempt to enact Kingdom change without consulting the King. They jump into programs without asking the King for wisdom, anointing, and power. How many programs have been started because of a good idea, rather than a God idea? How often are messages crafted to get attention or laughs, rather than to prophetically communicate what God desires? Why do God’s people often lean into what they can do with the church’s money rather than God’s power? God’s Kingdom should be built with the King in mind. God forbid we build a beautiful kingdom only to find out that the King is not even in the castle. 

Righteousness, peace and joy are benefits of the Kingdom that God wants all people to enjoy.[1]God is a good Father who causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.[2] These gifts, however, can only be fully experienced as we walk with the King. He is always necessary for lasting change to take place in people’s minds and hearts. He is not only the originator of all good, but the One who gives power to live holy and fruitful lives. The King is love and peace, and those who walk with Him enjoy these blessings without measure.

“We are called to an everlasting preoccupation with God.”

-A. W. Tozer

 A. W. Tozer wrote, “We are called to an everlasting preoccupation with God.”[3] Too many of us are preoccupied with things of far less value. We are cheating ourselves. May the King be the One we love with all our heart, soul, and mind.[4]      

[1] Romans 14:17

[2] Matthew 5:45

[3] https://www.cmalliance.org/devotions/tozer?id=518

[4] Matthew 22:37-38