Kingdom Scouts

Our human experience is a real whopper, full of wonder and complexity, but it’s got some real doozies of challenges. Among them: stress, the modern-day affliction that can lead to all sorts of nasty things like heart disease and mental health issues. According to the American Institute of Stress, it’s affecting 77% of people, and the World Health Organization has called it “the health epidemic of the 21st century.” And if that ain’t enough, it’s costing American businesses up to $300 billion a year.

In today’s world, we can find many solutions available over the counter, but in this investigation, we are trying to find a more definite one, a solution that could solve the problem from its roots. So we are asking the question: could Seeking the Kingdom of God, as Jesus taught us, be the solution to this problem? And if so, how can we go about doing it?

 The Proposal

The main source of this investigation comes from Matthew 6:33. It is during the Sermon of the Mount, when Jesus said something like: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.“

Sure, at first, it might not sound like he was addressing the stress issue, but consider the context of this teaching:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap… Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil

Enter the Baptist

For the first evidence in this investigation, we’re bringing in the big guns: John the Baptist, who called upon us to transcend our minds as a preparation to receive the Kingdom of God. In Christian tradition, we are familiar with his words, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” The Greek word used for “repent” is “metanoia” or “metanoiate,” which means “go beyond your mind.”

Given that the mind plays a significant role in the experience of stress, it is reasonable to suggest that transforming our mind could alleviate or even eliminate stress.

For instance, if we interpret The Baptist’s message as a call to action to shift the way we perceive things, and considering that much of the stress we experience is imaginary, engaging in a task that requires concentration could help shift our focus away from stressors and promote a sense of accomplishment, which can be calming.

Surviving the concentration camp

As we journey forward in our investigation, we come across the second piece of evidence and the remarkable story of Viktor Frankl, a survivor of the Nazi concentration camps during World War II. His memoir, “Man’s Search for Meaning,” highlights the power of finding meaning and purpose in life even amidst the most horrendous of circumstances. His words still resound with us today: “Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’.”

Seeking the Kingdom of God can provide us with a clear sense of mission and purpose that can help us better cope with the stresses and challenges of life. Through a sense of purpose, we can find motivation, direction, and a sense of control over our lives, and prioritize what truly matters, which in turn can alleviate feelings of being overwhelmed and anxious. Some of the most prominent contemporary intellectuals, such as Jordan Peterson and Simon Sinek, also emphasize the importance of having a sense of purpose to achieve personal fulfillment and success.

 Ancient wisdom

The last evidence of this investigation leads us to ancient Greece, where Aristotle noted in his “Nicomachean Ethics” that cultivating virtues, such as kindness and compassion, can lead to eudaimonia – a state of human flourishing and well-being. Eudaimonia is often translated as “happiness” or “fulfillment” and is important to note that Aristotle did not conceive virtues as inherent qualities of human beings, but rather habits that required consistent practice to develop.

Similarly, practicing habits of kindness and compassion is a central teaching of Jesus. It is reasonable to assume that seeking the Kingdom involves engaging in precisely that kind of behavior.

Research shows that such prosocial behaviors can improve mood and reduce stress levels. Studies have demonstrated that people who regularly engage in these behaviors experience reduced levels of stress hormones like cortisol and increased feelings of well-being.

Conclusion

So, fellow Kingdom Seekers, whether through transcending our thoughts like John the Baptist, discovering a sense of purpose like Viktor Frankl, or developing virtuous habits like Aristotle, we have encountered compelling evidence to heed Jesus’ counsel to seek the Kingdom of God. 

But, as with any expedition, we must press on and answer the crucial questions: How do we undertake these practices? What’s their mechanism of action? And, most importantly, how do we actually Seek the Kingdom?

Fear not, fellow travelers, for we are not alone in this quest. Together, we will navigate uncharted terrain and discover the answers to these questions. Join us on this spiritual adventure by leaving your comments below and subscribing for the next entry. Together, we shall uncover the secrets of Seeking the Kingdom of God!