Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe, was throwing a pity party for himself.
He had delivered Jeremiah’s words to King Jehoiakim, but Jehoiakim merely took the scroll, cut it into pieces, and burned it.
As a result, Baruch was totally discouraged, saying,
Woe to me! The Lord has added sorrow to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest. (Jeremiah 45:3)
In short, “Why am I doing this? What profit am I getting from serving Jeremiah and the Lord. I do what they say, and all that ever happens is that I get into trouble.
“I could be doing other things. I could be out there in the world earning money, and becoming rich. I could be doing something that actually amounts to something. Why do I have to subject myself to all this?”
But God responded to him, saying,
This is what the Lord says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted, throughout the land.
Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not.
For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life. (4-5)
What was God saying? Basically he was telling him that this world is temporary. All that we see will ultimately be destroyed.
So don’t seek the things of this world which are here today and gone tomorrow. But seek God and his kingdom.
And while all those who serve themselves will ultimately perish, you will find true life.
Do you get discouraged sometimes about doing what’s right? Do you ever feel like you’re wasting your time serving God? Do you think you’d be better off seeking the things of the world?
Don’t waste your time seeking what’s temporary. Seek what’s eternal. For only in doing so will you ever find true life and true reward.
As Paul wrote,
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 