Seek ye first the Kingdom of God

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. -Matthew 6:33

Above is a well-known and oft-quoted verse spoken by Jesus during His “Sermon on the Mount.” But what does it mean to our everyday lives? It’s implications are significant and far-reaching.

The search

First of all, Jesus tells us to seek. We are to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness. And at the end of the verse, He mentions that all of the things that we think we need for this life, (such as food, clothing, etc.) will be added to us: almost as a bonus.

How often do we try to turn this principle completely upside down? We seek after the things that we think we’ll need, and go to considerable efforts to obtain them. And in so doing, we expect that perhaps—since we’re Christians—that we’ll just stumble upon God’s righteousness as a blessing on the side.

How completely opposite are God’s ways than ours! “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 55:8). Our Lord Jesus has told us rather that we ought to be seeking, (i.e., looking for, searching, hunting) God’s kingdom and righteousness. They are to be our primary focus, and all of the other things of this life ought to be esteemed as only secondary: even so much as the very food that we eat. For God cares for us so deeply that He will not allow His children that are truly seeking Him to go hungry.

Our top priority

Not only does Jesus tell us to seek the kingdom of God, but that we ought to seek it first. It is not enough to simply seek after His righteousness with our “leftovers.”

God deserves our very best.

The Bible sometimes refers to this as the “firstfruits,” it’s the cream of the crop. God deserves our best of our time, our money, our efforts, and any other thing that we have under our control: we ought to use it first and foremost for God’s kingdom.

Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. -Proverbs 3:9-10

God’s kingdom and righteousness

Jesus tells us earlier in the Sermon on the Mount to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, and not on this earth. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).

Everything that is done for eternity will be as rewards to us that will never grow old, yet the works that we do for ourselves will perish with our earthly bodies. But more than this, when we are working for eternity—to the neglecting of our own needs and necessities—God delights to show us His provision while we are focused on His tasks.

Truly, if we had been looking after our own needs, (such as food, clothing, etc.) we probably would’ve been able to provide these things for ourselves anyway; but I believe that a special blessing comes when we focus intently on God and His kingdom, and allow our Heavenly Father to provide our needs for us. We become dependant on Him (a good thing) and we increase in our faith and gratitude. Plus, when it comes to providing for a need, nobody can do it better than God!