Solemn Search

 “So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”” Luke 2:48-49 NKJV

Without prejudice to the sincerity of care in the question “Son, why have You done this to us?“, the response from the Boy Jesus with another question “Why did you seek Me?“opens up the difference between the common principle of selfish search in human endeavour and the burden in a desirable solemn search. For example, mothers are naturally obsessed with an instinct to possess their children and often struggle with the true reality that these children are the heritage of the Lord. While Mary was expected to be more informed that Jesus is the Son of God than Joseph, “Son, why have You done this to us?” was a polite way of refusing the obvious. Likewise, the human search in all pursuits through family orientations, career ambition, professional development, and ministerial accomplishment is mostly in favour of selfish gains. Whereas, God always grants his children privileges and opportunities in anticipation of their solemn search for the understanding and propagation of the kingdom business. Only if we can all provide an acceptable response to “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”, then our search for relevance in life, career, and ministry will be solemn; and not irrevocably selfish.