As important as the healings were, Jesus knew His preaching was more important. Jesus knew that the crowds, pleading for healings, could interfere with His preaching. And so, Jesus wanted to find towns nearby where He could preach away from the crowds who so focused on the healings (as we see in verse 38). And so, we see Jesus warn the leper to not tell anyone about his healing (as we see in verses 44 and 45).
Likewise, food may be even more important than healing, but Jesus urged seekers to seek eternal life more than food. “Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” John 6:26-27.
Even beyond healing and food, we chase after so many even lesser important things. We are like Martha worried about so many things. “But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42. That one necessary thing is our salvation.
Matthew 16:26 states: “For what will 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?
We see this point emphasized in the comparison between the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31. It is better to be like Lazarus without good health and without good food but possess salvation and eternal life, than it is to be a rich man with good health and with good food but be without salvation, be without eternal life, and be headed toward eternal punishment.
“19 “Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day.
20 “And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores,
21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.
22 “Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried.
23 “In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 “And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’
25 “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.” Luke 16:19-25.
God often does bless us with good health and with good food, and Scripture allows us to pray for good health and good food, but we must make it our first priority to seek salvation and the kingdom of God. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33.
But, even if we do not have good health or good food as we desire, let us press on toward salvation. “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;” Philippians 3:13-15.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 