Striving for Eternal Excellence, Part I

Striving for Eternal Excellence

John 6:27
Labour not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Labour /ergazomai/ here literally means to work, toil, do business, earn by working, to trade for gain.

Meat /brosis/ means food, something that can be eaten or the act of eating.
The quality of this meat is the point of the verse because there are such food that are corrosive, has not eternal effect and the one that gives everlasting life.

Sealed /sphragizō/ to set a seal upon, mark something/someone with a seal, to attest to, prove or confirm, to authenticate a person or thing.

1.
Question is, what food is lacking the everlasting effect?
In fact, food is a benevolent but common supply of God. Acts 14:15-17, 2 Corinthians 9:10, Genesis 1:29-30

This unique thing about this food is that it perishes, indicating it is an earthly thing because corruption is of the earth.
Matthew 6:19-21
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Nonetheless, people still crave it tremendously, many times trading things with long term value for it. The most prominent example was Esau. Hebrews 12:16 (Genesis 25:29-34)

Hebrews 12:16-17
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Forgetting that food as indeed everything of this earth shall pass away with this earth. Matthew 16:26-27
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

The bible further teaches that food does not commend us to God, it does not make us acceptable to God more or less. In other words, food or supply of food is not a measure of spirituality.
1 Corinthians 8:8
But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

The plan of God for work was not to create an idol that we worship. The purpose of work is simply God's excuse to "earn" your bread and provide support to those around you and not to accumulate elusive wealth for the most part as it is the case in this world presently.
Acts 20:33-35, 1 Thessalonians 2:9, 4:11-12, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12

The point of labour is for man's insatiable appetite. Ecclesiastes 6:7

The emptiness of human travails for his own sustenance.
Ecclesiastes 5:11-16, Habakkuk 2;13

Why spend money for what is not eternal?
Isaiah 55:2, John 4:14

Why labour for what is not eternal?
Luke 10:40-42, 1 Corinthians 6:13, 7:29-31

The race before us is for an eternal reward. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 2 Corinthians 4:18

2.
The natural supply is limited in effect because you have to continually seek and eat it. On the other hand, anyone who eats this special food will have eternal life. John 4:10-14

The food that impacts eternal life
The bible teaches that the kingdom of our God is not food and drinks.
Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Yet, there is food (a non carnal supply) that has effect onto eternal life.
John 6:55
For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

Only one person in all history has the power to give this type of food, the Lord Jesus Christ because he is the one the Father has sealed/authorized to do it.

John 6:27
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

His validation from the Father comprising of:
i. The work that He does, miracles and other ministry activities. John 4:48, 5:36, 10:25, 32, 37, 38, John 14:10-12, 15:24
ii. Testimony of the Father. He spoke publicly from heaven twice and once more before select apostles. Matthew 3:17, John 12:27-30, Matthew 17:5 (2 Peter 1:17)
iii. His resurrection from the dead. John 10:14-18, Matthew 12:38-42, 16:1-4, John 2:18-22, Romans 1:4

Anyone who receives the testimony of Christ has subscribe to God's testimony about his son that it is true. John 3:32-35, John 6:40, 51, 54, 58, 68

To do the work of God - Believe in the Son of God.
John 6:28-29

Such people (who believes the Son) also receive a mark, a seal of God's approval because they received his testimony concerning his son. 2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13, 4:30.

While eternal life is the gift of God, to understand it and live its reality is not a gift, it requires learning. This is where the labour comes in. Now that you are in Christ, you bestow labour in the things that matter, to learn the scriptures, to pray with fastings, share the gospel with others, attend church meetings where the scripture is taught. Participate in the virtues of the faith.
1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am : and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain ; but I laboured more abundantly than they all : yet not I , but the grace of God which was with me.

1 Timothy 6:17-19
Charge them that are rich in this world , that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches , but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

This labour is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58, Philippians 2:16, Hebrews 6:10

There is nothing wrong with attending prayer meetings where needs are met afterall God cares for our needs. But if you only attend prayer meetings where needs are met, you are laboring for something that is nothing. Because the reward of that prayer is that need that was ministered to, which at the end of the age has no eternal value.

God is bigger than you, so, focus on the big picture.

You quantify the goodness of God (fully demonstrated in eternal life he has given to us) in material supply or possession, forgetting that a man's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.
Luke 12:15
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Colossians 3:1-2
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.