Trust
Seeking First God's Kingdom: A Life-Changing Perspective
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus gives us a profound instruction: "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." This familiar verse holds a transformative message that can reshape our entire approach to life, but we need to understand it in context to grasp its full power.
What Does "Seek First the Kingdom" Really Mean?
The context of this verse begins with Jesus teaching about our treasures, our priorities, and our worries. He warns against storing up treasures on earth "where moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal." Instead, He encourages us to store up treasures in heaven.
Jesus then addresses anxiety about basic needs—food, drink, clothing—and reminds us that God cares for birds and flowers, so how much more will He care for us? He points out that worrying adds nothing to our lives, yet we spend so much energy doing it.
This is where the powerful transition happens. Rather than worrying about all these things, Jesus offers an alternative approach: "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness."
How Should We Understand "Seek"?
Jesus doesn't say "if it happens to occur to you, think about the kingdom" or "every once in a while, look around for the kingdom." He says seek it—pursue it actively and intentionally. Seek it like you would lost car keys when you're running late, or like something precious that's missing.
The word "first" (protos in Greek) means first out of all options—the primary thing. It's not just one priority among many; it's the top priority from morning until night.
What Is the Kingdom of God?
The kingdom of God is the world becoming through Jesus how God originally designed it. When we pray "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," we're acknowledging that God's perfect rule isn't fully realized on earth yet.
Living in God's kingdom means recognizing we're on someone else's turf. Just as we behave differently when we're in someone else's home, we should approach life understanding that everything belongs to God.
How Do Our Treasures Reveal Our Kingdom Priorities?
One test of whether we're truly seeking God's kingdom comes through how we handle our resources. John Maxwell illustrates this with a powerful analogy about a parent taking children to McDonald's.
When a child refuses to share their fries with the parent who bought them, they demonstrate three misunderstandings:
They don't recognize the parent as the source of the fries
They don't understand the parent has power over the fries
They don't realize the parent doesn't need their fries but wants them to share
Similarly, when God asks us to give back some of what He's given us, He's inviting us to acknowledge that everything comes from Him, that He has authority over all things, and that sharing demonstrates our understanding of His kingdom principles.
What Does "His Righteousness" Mean?
Seeking God's righteousness isn't about being "good enough." It simply means acknowledging that His ways are the right ways. Since He created everything and established how life works best, following His design makes perfect sense.
What Are "All These Things" That Will Be Added?
"All these things" refers to everything Jesus mentioned earlier—the necessities we worry about, our material needs, our future concerns. When we prioritize God's kingdom, He promises to take care of these things. But He gives us something even better: the joy and peace that come from living as He designed.
Is God's Kingdom Really Better?
Many of us hesitate to fully commit to God's kingdom because we fear missing out. But when we examine the principles Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount, we see they lead to a better life:
Forgiveness instead of hate
Faithfulness instead of adultery
Keeping your word
Giving instead of retaliating
Generosity toward those in need
Trusting God with our resources
Modern neuroscience even confirms biblical principles like "it is better to give than receive." When we give, our brains show we're in a better emotional and healthier place.
How God's Kingdom Exceeds Our Expectations
When we seek first God's kingdom, we don't just get what we were aiming for—we get something far better. It's like planning to reach destination B, but God takes us to destination C—something "immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20).
This isn't just about financial prosperity. It's about a completely different value system, a different peace, and a different power that transforms every aspect of life.
Life Application
The decision to seek first God's kingdom can have a butterfly effect that impacts not just your life but generations to come. What if one simple shift in priority could transform your family's future?
Questions to Consider:
In what areas of my life am I still trying to maintain control rather than seeking God's kingdom first?
How might my worries reveal where I'm not trusting God's provision?
What would change if I truly believed God's ways are the right ways in every situation?
What "treasures" am I holding onto that might end up meaningless in the long run?
Remember: Make a conscious decision today to stop acting like someone who has to worry about everything and instead live as a citizen of God's kingdom. Remember that we're not taking anything with us when we leave this earth—only what we send ahead by investing in God's kingdom now.
When we look back on our lives, we'll recognize the countless times God was faithful when we acknowledged His ways were right. Our lives begin to move in the direction they were designed to go when we truly seek first His kingdom.
