Seek First the Kingdom

“But seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” - Matthew 6:33 (nkjv)

As Jesus’ followers we must settle the question of priorities. We must be different from unbelievers whose priorities are comfort, security, money, fashion, etc.

Jesus’ followers seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

The word “seek” is a present imperative, a command to fulfill a continuing obligation. To “seek the Kingdom” means both to submit to God’s sovereignty here and now and to work for the future coming of His Kingdom.

To “seek His Righteousness” means to seek to live as God requires, to truly seek “first” calls for total loyalty and commitment. It means to:

• Turn to God first for help,
• Fill our thoughts with His desires,
• Take His character for our pattern, and
• Serve and obey Him in everything.

What is most important to us; what do we “seek first”? People, objects, goals, money, pleasure, and other desires, they all compete for priority. Any of these can quickly bump God out of first place if we don’t actively choose to give Him first place in every area of life.

Strangely enough, when we get our priorities right, Jesus promised that "all these things shall be added to you". When Jesus’ followers seek "His Kingdom" first, God takes care of their needs.

But how can we truly be undistracted by materialistic pursuits? We all have to work, dress, drive, pay taxes—these responsibilities take up most of our days. We may not be materialistic; we just have to live.

Should we leave it all and become monks? If there is no middle road, how do we do both— "seek the Kingdom" and provide for our needs? Disciples of Jesus must understand the action (seek, strive), the priority (first), and the objectives (the kingdom of God and his righteousness).

Priorities and sequence, however, are quite different matters. We determine sequences of work, rest, prayer, and worship according to time available, the cooperation of others, and many variables. But there can be only one central priority, which by its nature affects all others. The central priority determines the ways we pursue all our priorities.

Keeping Priorities

Good grades are important, and physical fitness is better than frailty, but neither are top-of-the-list priorities. A loving marriage makes life happy, and workplace promotions affirm our skills, but neither constitutes the last word.

Jesus put all the good we seek to do in divine perspective here: Seek God’s kingdom! Here are some ways to do that:

• Realize that your church, for all its faults, is your extended Christian family. Serve it well. Give it your energy and time.   
• Eagerly tell people how much Jesus means to you personally.
• Direct your work to projects and purposes that God would approve.
• Keep promises made to family and friends.    
• Show a lot of love to the people God puts in your life.  
• Get with a group of Christian friends and add three specific items to this list that you will work on during the next month. These friends can hold you accountable.

When we attempt to assign the appropriate amount of time to the “Kingdom of God and His Righteousness” so that we can figure out how much time we have left to do other activities, we reduce Jesus’ words to a lesson in sequence and planning rather than a command about the whole of life.

But if we think of “Seek First” as “consistently look for, honor throughout, represent constantly, and remember always,” then the ways we deal with family, friends, work, leisure, etc., will all be transformed.

The rule of God and God’s rules will determine and direct our efforts in every area of life. If this is not the case, we are not seeking first God’s kingdom or His Righteousness.

Have a Blessed Day!