Matthew 6:33

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Matthew 6:33 is the thirty-third verse of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New
Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount.[1] This verse continues the discussion of worry
about material provisions.

Contents

 1Content
 2Analysis
 3Interpretation
 4References

Content[edit]
In the Authorized King James Version of the Bible the text reads:
But seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and his righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you.
The World English Bible translates the passage as:
But seek first God’s Kingdom, and
his righteousness; and all these
things will be given to you as well.
For a collection of other versions see BibleHub Matthew 6:33

Analysis[edit]
Jesus has just told his followers not to worry about material things such as
food or clothing, as God will provide the needs of his followers. Earlier in the
chapter Jesus presented a discussion on how one must not pursue wealth
and material things before God. This verse ties the two notions together. If
one places the pursuit of the Kingdom of God first, then material needs will
follow without need for worry or anxiety. The present imperative
verb seek makes clear that pursuing the eschatological kingdom is not a
passive act, but one that must be pursued with rigour. Hill notes that the
word God is left out of many of the better early manuscripts of the Gospel,
and it thus might be a later addition. Kingdom of God is a somewhat
unusual phrase, with the author of Matthew generally preferring Kingdom of
Heaven. Even without the word it is quite clear that this is a reference to the
Kingdom of God.[2] The parallel to this verse at Luke 12:31 does not
mention righteousness, but as France notes the author of Matthew shows a
special interest in righteousness throughout his gospel.[3]

Interpretation[edit]
 The interpretation or meaning of this verse may be a subjective matter.
However, the common perception is speaking of prioritization, in which one
who is a believer is to place God above all other things.

References[edit]
1. ^ "Matthew 6:33" Archived 2014-10-13 at Archive.today
2. ^ Hill, David. The Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1981
3. ^ France, R.T. The Gospel According to Matthew: an Introduction and Co
Kingdom of God, also called Kingdom Of Heaven, in Christianity, the spiritual realm over
which God reigns as king, or the fulfillment on Earth of God's will. The phrase occurs frequently
in the New Testament, primarily used by Jesus Christ in the first three Gospels
Righteousness is one of the chief attributes of God as portrayed in the Hebrew Bible. Its chief
meaning concerns ethical conduct (for example, Leviticus 19:36; Deuteronomy 25:1; Psalm 1:6;
Proverbs 8:20). In the Book of Job the title characteris introduced to us as a person
who is perfect in righteousness
Seeking the Lord means seeking his presence. “Presence” is a common translation of the
Hebrew word “face.” Literally, we are to seek his “face.” But this is the Hebraic way of having
access to God. To be before his face is to be in his presence.
It means that you take the time to get to know who you were created to be and let go of the
rules in your subconscious mind telling you how you should behave. To trulyput God first you
have to let go of what others think and follow your heart. ... When you put God first, you give
yourself a voice.
In the Authorized King James Version of the Bible the text reads: But seek ye first the
kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these. things shall be added unto you.

(33) Seek ye first the kingdom of God.—The context shows that the words point to
the “seeking” of prayer, rather than of act, though the latter meaning is, of course, not
excluded. What is thus to be sought is “the kingdom of God” (the change from the less
personal “kingdom of heaven” is significant), the higher spiritual life in its completeness,
for ourselves and for others; and with it we are to seek “His righteousness,” that which,
being perfect beyond the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, must be His gift to
us, and therefore to be sought in prayer. One who seeks for this may well be content to
leave all else in his Father’s hands. Even without his asking “they shall be added unto
him” in such measure as is best for him. Among the few traditional sayings ascribed to
our Lord of which we can think as probably an authentic report of His teaching, is one to
the same effect quoted by Origen and Clement of Alexandria,” Ask great things, and
little things shall be added to you: ask heavenly things, and earthly things shall be
added to you.”
Benson Commentary
Matthew 6:33. But — You my disciples have more important business to employ your
minds about, and have higher hopes to encourage you. Therefore seek ye first — That
is, in the first place, and with the greatest earnestness and concern, as being the
principal things, the kingdom of God — As described Romans 14:17, namely, that God,
reigning in your heart, may fill it with the holiness above described, and the happiness
consequent thereon; and, in order thereto, his righteousness — Not your own
righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the
righteousness of God by faith. Compare Romans 10:3; Php 3:9. For it seems most
natural to interpret the expression of that way of becoming righteous which the gospel
proposes, and by which alone we can be put in possession of the kingdom of God on
earth, or in heaven. And all these things shall be added unto you — For if you seek, as
now directed, the kingdom of God, first and principally, all things pertaining to this life
shall, in the course of the divine providence, be bestowed on you as far as they can
contribute to your real welfare, and more you would not desire.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
6:25-34 There is scarcely any sin against which our Lord Jesus more warns his
disciples, than disquieting, distracting, distrustful cares about the things of this life. This
often insnares the poor as much as the love of wealth does the rich. But there is a
carefulness about temporal things which is a duty, though we must not carry these
lawful cares too far. Take no thought for your life. Not about the length of it; but refer it
to God to lengthen or shorten it as he pleases; our times are in his hand, and they are in
a good hand. Not about the comforts of this life; but leave it to God to make it bitter or
sweet as he pleases. Food and raiment God has promised, therefore we may expect
them. Take no thought for the morrow, for the time to come. Be not anxious for the
future, how you shall live next year, or when you are old, or what you shall leave behind
you. As we must not boast of tomorrow, so we must not care for to-morrow, or the
events of it. God has given us life, and has given us the body. And what can he not do
for us, who did that? If we take care about our souls and for eternity, which are more
than the body and its life, we may leave it to God to provide for us food and raiment,
which are less. Improve this as an encouragement to trust in God. We must reconcile
ourselves to our worldly estate, as we do to our stature. We cannot alter the disposals
of Providence, therefore we must submit and resign ourselves to them. Thoughtfulness
for our souls is the best cure of thoughtfulness for the world. Seek first the kingdom of
God, and make religion your business: say not that this is the way to starve; no, it is the
way to be well provided for, even in this world. The conclusion of the whole matter is,
that it is the will and command of the Lord Jesus, that by daily prayers we may get
strength to bear us up under our daily troubles, and to arm us against the temptations
that attend them, and then let none of these things move us. Happy are those who take
the Lord for their God, and make full proof of it by trusting themselves wholly to his wise
disposal. Let thy Spirit convince us of sin in the want of this disposition, and take away
the worldliness of our hearts.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
For after all these things do the Gentiles seek - That is, those destitute of the true
doctrines of religion, and unacquainted with proper dependence on Divine Providence,
make it their chief anxiety thus to seek food and clothing. But you, who have a
knowledge of your Father in heaven; who know that He will provide for your needs,
should not be anxious. Seek first His kingdom; seek first to be righteous, and to become
interested in His favor, and all necessary things will be added to you. He has control
over all things, and He can give you what you need. He will give you what he deems
best for you.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
33. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you—This is the great summing up. Strictly speaking, it has to do
only with the subject of the present section—the right state of the heart with reference to
heavenly and earthly things; but being couched in the form of a brief general directory, it
is so comprehensive in its grasp as to embrace the whole subject of this discourse. And,
as if to make this the more evident, the two keynotes of this great sermon seem
purposely struck in it—"the KINGDOM" and "the RIGHTEOUSNESS" of the kingdom—
as the grand objects, in the supreme pursuit of which all things needful for the present
life will be added to us. The precise sense of every word in this golden verse should be
carefully weighed. "The kingdom of God" is the primary subject of the Sermon on the
Mount—that kingdom which the God of heaven is erecting in this fallen world, within
which are all the spiritually recovered and inwardly subject portion of the family of
Adam, under Messiah as its Divine Head and King. "The righteousness thereof" is the
character of all such, so amply described and variously illustrated in the foregoing
portions of this discourse. The "seeking" of these is the making them the object of
supreme choice and pursuit; and the seeking of them "first" is the seeking of them
before and above all else. The "all these things" which shall in that case be added to us
are just the "all these things" which the last words of Mt 6:32 assured us "our heavenly
Father knoweth that we have need of"; that is, all we require for the present life. And
when our Lord says they shall be "added," it is implied, as a matter of course, that the
seekers of the kingdom and its righteousness shall have these as their proper and
primary portion: the rest being their gracious reward for not seeking them. (See an
illustration of the principle of this in 2Ch 1:11, 12). What follows is but a reduction of this
great general direction into a practical and ready form for daily use.
Matthew Poole's Commentary
The kingdom of God, and his righteousness, in this verse, are terms comprehensive
of whatsoever appertaineth to the honour and glory of God, either as means, or as the
end. Let your principal care and study be how to get to heaven, and how to promote the
kingdom of God in the world; to bring your hearts into subjection to the will of God, that
the kingdom of God may be within you, and how to bring others to the obedience of faith
and of the will of God. And for the things of this life, it shall fare with you as it did with
Solomon, 1 Kings 3:12, who asked not riches and honour, but had them. You shall
have for your necessities, Psalm 37:4 Mark 10:30 1 Timothy 4:8.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
But seek first the kingdom of God,.... Meaning either the Gospel, and the ministration of
it; in which sense this phrase is often used, see Matthew 21:43 and which is diligently to
be sought after, and into; to be constantly attended on, and to be preferred to our
necessary food, to raiment, or riches, or any enjoyment of life: or else the kingdom of
glory, which is prepared by God, and is his gift; for which he makes his people meet
here, and will introduce them into it hereafter.
And his righteousness; the righteousness of God, which is revealed in the Gospel, and is
what gives a right and title to the kingdom of heaven. This is not the righteousness of
man, but of God; and is no other than the righteousness of Christ; so called, because he
is God who has wrought it; it is what God approves of, accepts, and imputes, and which
only can justify in his sight, and give an abundant entrance into his kingdom and glory.
Heaven is to be sought for in the first place, as the perfection of the saints' happiness;
and Christ's righteousness is to be sought for, and laid hold on by faith, as the way and
means of enjoying that happiness; without which, there will be no entering into the
kingdom of heaven.

And all these things shall be added unto you: of the free bounty, goodness, and liberality
of God, without your thought and care, and much less merit; even "all these things", meat,
drink, clothing, or whatsoever worldly sustenance else is necessary for you: which are not
parts of the happiness of saints, only appendages thereunto; which they have over and
above what they are, or should be chiefly seeking after. The Hebrews (r) say,

"that no good sign will be shown to Israel, until they return and "seek" three things:
"afterwards the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord"; , "this is the kingdom of
heaven"; and "David their king", according to its literal sense; "and shall fear the Lord and
his goodness"; this is the house of the sanctuary, as it is said, "this goodly mountain", and
Lebanon.''

(r) Jarchi & Kimchi, in Hosea 3.5.

Geneva Study Bible

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

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God
Meaning either the Gospel, and the ministration of it; in which sense this phrase is often
used, see ( Matthew 21:43 ) ( Mark 1:14 ) ( Luke 4:43 Luke 9:2-60 Luke 16:16 ) and
which is diligently to be sought after, and into; to be constantly attended on, and to be
preferred to our necessary food, to raiment, or riches, or any enjoyment of life: or else the
kingdom of glory, which is prepared by God, and is his gift; for which he makes his
people meet here, and will introduce them into it hereafter.
And his righteousness;
the righteousness of God, which is revealed in the Gospel, and is what gives a right and
title to the kingdom of heaven. This is not the righteousness of man, but of God; and is no
other than the righteousness of Christ; so called, because he is God who has wrought it; it
is what God approves of, accepts, and imputes, and which only can justify in his sight,
and give an abundant entrance into his kingdom and glory. Heaven is to be sought for in
the first place, as the perfection of the saints' happiness; and Christ's righteousness is to
 be sought for, and laid hold on by faith, as the way and means of enjoying that happiness;
without which, there will be no entering into the kingdom of heaven.
And all these things shall be added unto you:
of the free bounty, goodness, and liberality of God, without your thought and care, and
much less merit; even "all these things", meat, drink, clothing, or whatsoever worldly
sustenance else is necessary for you: which are not parts of the happiness of saints, only
appendages thereunto; which they have over and above what they are, or should be
chiefly seeking after. The Hebrews say,F18

``that no good sign will be shown to Israel, until they return and "seek" three things:
"afterwards the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord"; (Mymv twklm) (wz) ,
"this is the kingdom of heaven"; and "David their king", according to its literal sense;
"and shall fear the Lord and his goodness"; this is the house of the sanctuary, as it is said,
"this goodly mountain", and Lebanon.''

Kingdom of God
CHRISTIANITY
WRITTEN BY:
 The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
See Article History
Alternative Title: Kingdom of Heaven
Kingdom of God, also called Kingdom Of Heaven, in Christianity, the
spiritual realm over which God reigns as king, or the fulfillment on Earth of
God’s will. The phrase occurs frequently in the New Testament, primarily used
by Jesus Christ in the first three Gospels. It is generally considered to be the
central theme of Jesus’ teaching, but widely differing views have been held
about Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of God and its relation to the
developed view of the church.
 READ MORE ON THIS TOPIC

Christianity: Eschatology

…their hope was the coming Kingdom of God . They believed that the promises of

the Old Testament about the coming bringer…

Though the phrase itself rarely occurs in pre-Christian Jewish literature, the
idea of God as king was fundamental to Judaism, and Jewish ideas on the
subject undoubtedly underlie, and to some extent determine, the New
Testament usage. Behind the Greek word for kingdom (basileia) lies the
Aramaic term malkut, which Jesus may have used. Malkut refers primarily not
to a geographical area or realm nor to the people inhabiting the realm but,
rather, to the activity of the king himself, his exercise of sovereign power. The
idea might better be conveyed in English by an expression such as kingship,
rule, or sovereignty.
To most Jews of Jesus’ time the world seemed so completely alienated from
God that nothing would deal with the situation short of direct divine
intervention on a cosmic scale. The details were variously conceived, but it
was widely expected that God would send a supernatural, or supernaturally
endowed, intermediary (the Messiah or Son of Man), whose functions would
include a judgment to decide who was worthy to “inherit the Kingdom,” an
expression which emphasizes that the Kingdom was thought of as a divine
gift, not a human achievement.
According to the first three Gospels, most of Jesus’ miraculous actions are to
be understood as prophetic symbols of the coming of the Kingdom, and his
teaching was concerned with the right response to the crisis of its coming. The
nationalistic tone of much of the Jewish expectation is absent from the
teaching of Jesus.
Facts Matter. Support the truth and unlock all of Britannica’s content.Start
Your Free Trial Today
Scholarly opinion is divided on the question as to whether Jesus taught that
the Kingdom had actually arrived during his lifetime. Possibly, he recognized
in his ministry the signs of its imminence, but he nevertheless looked to the
future for its arrival “with power.” He may well have regarded his own death as
the providential condition of its full establishment. Nevertheless, he seems to
have expected the final consummation in a relatively short time (Mark 9:1).
Thus, Christians were perplexed when the end of the world did not occur
within a generation, as Paul, for example, expected. Christian experience
soon suggested, however, that, as the result of Christ’s Resurrection, many of
the blessings traditionally reserved until the life of the age to come were
already accessible to the believer in this age. Thus, though the phrase
Kingdom of God was used with decreasing frequency, that for which it stood
was thought of as partly realized here and now in the life of the church, which
at various periods has been virtually identified with the Kingdom; the Kingdom
of God, however, would be fully realized only after the end of the world and
the accompanying Last Judgment. The Johannine writings in the New
Testament played a large part in the transition to this traditional Christian
understanding of the Kingdom of God.

Righteousness is defined as "the quality of being morally correct and justifiable."[1] It can
also be considered synonymous with "rightness".[2]It is a concept that can be found
in Indian religions and Abrahamic traditions as a theological concept. For example, from
various perspectives in Hinduism, Christianity, and Judaism it is considered
an attribute that implies that a person's actions are justified, and can have the
connotation that the person has been "judged" or "reckoned" as leading a life that is
pleasing to God.
It is also found in Tamil literature in the name of அறம் (aram). In Tamil literature there is
separate section called அற நூல் கள் ("righteous books"), for
example Thirukkural, Nālaṭiyār and many more books. Tirukkural dedicates chapters 1–38
of the Book of Aram for righteousness. A poem in Purananuru written by Kaniyan
Pungundranar, it showcases the practice of righteousness leads to world peace and
harmony in society.
William Tyndale (Bible translator into English in 1526) remodelled the word after an earlier
word rihtwis, which would have yielded modern English *rightwise or *rightways. He used it
to translate the Hebrew root ‫( צדקים‬TzDYQ), tzedek, which appears over five hundred
times in the Hebrew Bible, and the Greek word δίκαιος (dikaios), which appears more than
two hundred times in the New Testament.

What Does ‘Put God First’ Really Mean?

07/02/2014 04:50 pm ET Updated Aug 31, 2014


What does “Put God first” REALLY mean? I feel guided to write about this
topic since here in the U.S. we are celebrating the 4th of July this week. It’s
our Independence Day...a day all about freedom. However, I see that many of
us don’t feel very free because we are living in self-imposed chains due to our
belief of what it means to put God first.

We all want to feel free, but from what I can see from my own life and from
coaching the many men, women and kids I’ve worked with over the years, the
old way of putting God first doesn’t give us peace, joy, and happiness. It
doesn’t give us freedom. Instead, this old belief keeps us from knowing and
experiencing God. It creates pain and suffering.
 REAL LIFE. REAL NEWS. REAL VOICES.
Help us tell more of the stories that matter from voices that too often remain
unheard.
Become a founding member
Like many, I was raised to believe that putting God first meant to put myself
on the back burner and have compassion for everyone else. It meant that I
had to treat others with thoughtfulness, love and kindness, but not do this for
myself. It meant that everyone else mattered and I had to “be good” by putting
myself last.

Putting your thoughts, feelings and desires last is like putting God last.
When you believe that you must deny the real you because this is the good
and loving thing to do, you disconnect from your truth. And when you
disconnect from your truth, you disconnect from God.

God created you to be YOU. When you deny yourself, it’s as if you’re saying,
“God, you made a mistake when I was created.”

God didn’t make a mistake when you were created. But every time you put
yourself and your feelings on the back burner, you’re acting as if you are a
mistake. Treating yourself this way is what causes your pain. That’s because
you are separating yourself from love. Love is putting God first by giving
yourself permission to be you.

What’s a good way to tell that you’re disconnected from God? When you
feel like an emotional mess. Every time you feel angry, sad, resentful,
unworthy, depressed, you name it, you are being given a sure sign that you’re
putting God last.

Being an emotional mess is not love!

THIS is NOT putting God first!

You know what I mean by this. When we feel like an emotional mess, we tend
to take out our pain on the people around us. This is definitely NOT the loving
thing to do.
Loving yourself is!

On this 4th of July week, I invite you to step into freedom. Try a new way of
putting God first. It starts with loving and accepting yourself unconditionally! It
means that you take the time to get to know who you were created to be and
let go of the rules in your subconscious mind telling you how you should
behave. To truly put God first you have to let go of what others think and
follow your heart. This means letting go of what your parents, spouse, kids,
boss, and friends think. When you put God first, you give yourself a voice. You
express yourself in a way that is true to you. You set boundaries and respect
yourself. You let your light shine.

Now here’s the really cool part...

WHEN YOU LOVE YOURSELF THIS WAY, YOU BECOME A MESSENGER

OF GOD!

That’s because you become more joyful, playful, peaceful, and abundant. In
this love, you feel worthy and open up to receive miracle after miracle! Lack
and the need to compete melt away. No longer do you feel separate from the
world. You feel a part of the whole. And in this feeling, you want the best for
everyone. You want them to experience this same kind of love.

You thought you were kind, compassionate and loving to others before!
Well, wait until you try it this way! As you put God first this NEW way, the
love EXPLODES from you! You see everything with a whole new set of eyes.
YOU BECOME AN EXPRESSION OF GOD’S LOVE IN EVERYTHING YOU
DO!

I’ve been living this way for a long time. My whole life changed when I shifted
my attitude of what it truly means to put God first. To feel this kind of freedom
and connection is AMAZING!

We all want freedom to be who we are. But we are the ones who keep the
chains intact by continuing to suppress ourselves. We don’t love ourselves
unconditionally because we feel we will be “bad” if we do. But this old way of
putting God first is not the truth.
 YOU’RE NOT BAD WHEN YOU LOVE YOURSELF.

YOU PUT GOD FIRST WHEN YOU HONOR AND LOVE THE REAL YOU!

Matthew 6:33 is the thirty-third verse of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New
Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount.[1] This verse continues the discussion of
worry about material provisions.
Contents
ContentEdit
In the Authorized King James Version of the Bible the text reads:
But seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and his righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you.

The World English Bible translates the passage as:

But seek first God’s Kingdom, and
his righteousness; and all these
things will be given to you as well.

For a collection of other versions see BibleHub Matthew 6:33

AnalysisEdit
Jesus has just told his followers not to worry about material things such as food or clothing, as
God will provide the needs of his followers. Earlier in the chapter Jesus presented a discussion
on how one must not pursue wealth and material things before God. This verse ties the two
notions together. If one places the pursuit of the Kingdom of God first, then material needs will
follow without need for worry or anxiety. The present imperative verb seek makes clear that
pursuing the eschatological kingdom is not a passive act, but one that must be pursued with
rigour. Hill notes that the word God is left out of many of the better early manuscripts of the
Gospel, and it thus might be a later addition. Kingdom of God is a somewhat unusual phrase,
with the author of Matthew generally preferring Kingdom of Heaven. Even without the word it is
quite clear that this is a reference to the Kingdom of God.[2] The parallel to this verse at Luke
12:31 does not mention righteousness, but as France notes the author of Matthew shows a special
interest in righteousness throughout his gospel.[3]
InterpretationEdit
The interpretation or meaning of this verse may be a subjective matter. However, the common
perception is speaking of prioritization, in which one who is a believer is to place God above all
other things.

Matthew 6:33
 Read in another language

 Watch this page
 Edit
Matthew 6:33 is the thirty-third verse of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New
Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount.[1] This verse continues the discussion of
worry about material provisions.
Contents

ContentEdit
In the Authorized King James Version of the Bible the text reads:
But seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and his righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you.
The World English Bible translates the passage as:
But seek first God’s Kingdom, and
his righteousness; and all these
things will be given to you as well.
For a collection of other versions see BibleHub Matthew 6:33
AnalysisEdit
Jesus has just told his followers not to worry about material things such as food or clothing, as
God will provide the needs of his followers. Earlier in the chapter Jesus presented a discussion
on how one must not pursue wealth and material things before God. This verse ties the two
notions together. If one places the pursuit of the Kingdom of God first, then material needs will
follow without need for worry or anxiety. The present imperative verb seek makes clear that
pursuing the eschatological kingdom is not a passive act, but one that must be pursued with
rigour. Hill notes that the word God is left out of many of the better early manuscripts of the
Gospel, and it thus might be a later addition. Kingdom of God is a somewhat unusual phrase,
with the author of Matthew generally preferring Kingdom of Heaven. Even without the word it is
quite clear that this is a reference to the Kingdom of God.[2] The parallel to this verse at Luke
12:31 does not mention righteousness, but as France notes the author of Matthew shows a special
interest in righteousness throughout his gospel.[3]
InterpretationEdit
The interpretation or meaning of this verse may be a subjective matter. However, the common
perception is speaking of prioritization, in which one who is a believer is to place God above all
other things.

What does it mean to seek first the

kingdom of God?
Question: "What does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God?"

Answer: Jesus said to seek first the kingdom of God in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew
6:33). The verse’s meaning is as direct as it sounds. We are to seek the things of God as a
priority over the things of the world. Primarily, it means we are to seek the salvation that is
inherent in the kingdom of God because it is of greater value than all the world’s riches. Does
this mean that we should neglect the reasonable and daily duties that help sustain our lives?
Certainly not. But for the Christian, there should be a difference in attitude toward them. If
we are taking care of God’s business as a priority—seeking His salvation, living in obedience to
Him, and sharing the good news of the kingdom with others—then He will take care of our
business as He promised—and if that’s the arrangement, where is worrying?

But how do we know if we’re truly seeking God’s kingdom first? There are questions we can
ask ourselves. “Where do I primarily spend my energies? Is all my time and money spent on
goods and activities that will certainly perish, or in the services of God—the results of which
live on for eternity?” Believers who have learned to truly put God first may then rest in this
holy dynamic: “…and all these things will be given to you as well.”

God has promised to provide for His own, supplying every need (Philippians 4:19), but His idea
of what we need is often different from ours, and His timing will only occasionally meet our
expectations. For example, we may see our need as riches or advancement, but perhaps God
knows that what truly we need is a time of poverty, loss or solitude. When this happens, we
are in good company. God loved both Job and Elijah, but He allowed Satan to absolutely
pound Job (all under His watchful eye), and He let that evil woman, Jezebel, break the spirit
of His own prophet Elijah (Job 1–2; 1 Kings 18–19). In both cases, God followed these trials
with restoration and sustenance.

These “negative” aspects of the kingdom run counter to a heresy which is gaining ground
around the world, the so-called "prosperity" gospel. A growing number of false teachers are
gathering followers under the message “God wants you to be rich!” But that philosophy is not
the counsel of the Bible—and it is certainly not the counsel of Matthew 6:33, which is not a
formula for gaining wealth. It is a description of how God works. Jesus taught that our focus
should be away from this world—its status and its lying allurements—and placed upon the
things of God’s kingdom.

Matthew 6:33 Get Your

Priorities In Order
January 6, 2016
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all
these things shall be given to you.

This text is part of what is known as Jesus “Sermon On The Mount.”

The call today is to get our "priorities" in order by "Putting God "First" in our
lives.

In this part of His sermon Jesus assures His listeners that there is no need for
those who put Him first to fret or worry about the lack or need for the basic
necessities of life like food, drink and clothing, for He said if God provide for
the fowl of the air, man being more than them, won't God provide much more
for man? O ye of little faith!

Having said that, Jesus drives home His point which says not to worry, but
instead, "seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness" and all these
things will be added unto you.

Seek the kingdom of God! Seek the rule and reign of Christ on the throne of
your heart. This is the kingdom that Jesus is calling us to seek on today. Seek to
know Christ, seek to know His will for our lives and obey it.

We as humans have a tendency to seek and put before God everything

imaginable and all of them last but for a little while.

Proverbs 14:12- There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way
of death.

Anything that is not adding to your spiritual growth is hindering it and affecting
your relationship with God and His purpose for your life.

It is not enough to just seek God, but to seek Him “first”. First means first. How
do you seek Him? By faith through His Word and prayer.

God promise to you and I on today is that if we seek Him with our whole heart,
seek His rule and reign in our lives, we will not only find Him but He will also
supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Life is uncertain, time is short, therefore, we need to attend to the matter of

making God first “priority” in our lives an urgent matter.
Until we put God “first” in our lives, we will never be satisfied. We can shop
and buy all we want, we can take one vacation after another, we can seek one
career after another, we can do this and we can do that, but we will still be
empty and find our self still needing more and more “stuff”.

Jeremiah 17:7 - "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made
the LORD their hope and confidence.

We will never know the full reward of obedience until we put God "first.”

Where does God fit in your life? Is He first? If not, who is?

God bless you all.

Seek First the Kingdom of God

by Richard Pinelli

Jesus tells us to “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew

6:33) and promises blessings if we do. Why should we
seek first the Kingdom of God? How should we do it, and
how will seeking God’s Kingdom change our lives in
the process?
What does it mean to “seek first” the Kingdom of God? How can this change your daily life? Watch this
short video by Foundation Institute instructor Dave Myers to learn some practical ways you can “seek
first” the Kingdom of God in your life starting today.

As part of His famous Sermon on the Mount—one of the most extensive documentations of His
preaching—Jesus addressed the common questions each of us faces in order to survive (Matthew
6:25-34). How am I going to meet my needs? Will I have food and drink? Will I have clothing?

Addressing these questions, Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you” (verse 33, King James Version). In essence, Jesus
was cautioning us not to worry about these human concerns and to instead place our greatest
priority on seeking God’s Kingdom. For more about the Kingdom, see the article “What Is the
Kingdom of God?”
Why we must seek the Kingdom of God

The simple, yet profound, reason we must seek God’s Kingdom is that thousands of years of
history show that we humans cannot effectively rule ourselves; and in the end, all human
governments apart from God will fail.

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 14:12 that “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the
way of death” (emphasis added throughout). Jeremiah added: “O LORD, I know the way of man
is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).

Humans have tried every form of government, yet all have eventually come to an end. In
addressing events leading to the end of man’s age of self-rule and the beginning of God’s rule on
this earth, Jesus said, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the
beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Continuing, He said, “And unless
those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved” (Matthew 24:21-22).

In short, humans need a better government, a government that will be able to produce peace and
prosperity forever.

The Bible promises that there will indeed be a better government coming to this earth to replace
all human governments.The Bible promises that there will indeed be a better government coming
to this earth to replace all human governments. After explaining that there would be three more
world-ruling empires following the one headed by King Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel the prophet
wrote: “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never
be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume
all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever”(Daniel 2:44).

(Our bimonthly Discern magazine covers issues like this regularly. We’d be happy to give you a
free subscription to Discern. Digital subscriptions are available worldwide; print subscriptions are
currently available in the United States, Canada and much of Europe.)

How we can seek the Kingdom and God’s righteousness

Jesus’ teaching included instruction on how to seek God’s Kingdom: “The time is fulfilled, and
the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Repentance and
belief are the two foundational stepping stones by which entrance into this glorious Kingdom will
be permitted.

The reason we must repent is because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans
3:23). Romans 6:23 adds that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord.”

To repent means we must change our normal way of thinking, which is against God. The Bible
reveals that “the carnal [natural, human] mind is enmity [hostile] against God; for it is not subject
to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (Romans 8:7). We thus need a change in thinking that will
then lead to turning away from sin and keeping God’s commandments. As Jesus said, If you want
to enter into life, keep the commandments (Matthew 19:17).

Baptism is necessary to enter the Kingdom of God

When we repent of our sins and begin keeping God’s commandments, the next step is baptism.
Speaking to people who had been convicted of their sins and who wanted to know what they should
do, Peter said, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

Baptism—immersion under water as a symbol of the washing away of our sins and the end of our
sinful lifestyle—is a covenant we make with God and Christ. It represents our understanding that
we have broken God’s law and need to be forgiven of our sins. It also signifies our commitment
to obey God’s law.

We are now convicted of our need to live by every word that comes from God and Christ. As Jesus
noted, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of
God” (Matthew 4:4).

The next step in baptism is the laying on of hands for the receiving of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:6).
The gift of the Holy Spirit is what makes one an actual child of God. “For as many as are led by
the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14).

As children of God, we are then to grow in “the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). John referred to this as an ongoing purification process (1 John 3:3).

What we gain by seeking the Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of God is currently centered in heaven, so the Bible also calls it the Kingdom of
Heaven. (Read more about this in our article “The Kingdom of Heaven.”) It is a real government
that God says He is going to establish on this earth—but it’s not here yet.

We have no guarantee about exactly when it will actually arrive. In fact, Jesus explained that none
of us can be sure about when He will return to establish His Father’s Kingdom: “Of that day and
hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew 24:36). But He
wants us to pray urgently for it to come (Matthew 6:10).

What if that takes a while? It’s already been almost 2,000 years since Jesus spoke those words.
What if we live out our entire lives and die before He returns with the Kingdom He promised to
bring?

The good news is that seeking first the Kingdom of God means more than just waiting on Christ’s
return. When the coming Kingdom becomes our focus—when we make the decision to live by
every word of God—that changes who we are.
No, the Kingdom of God isn’t here yet, but the focus of Christianity is learning to live as if it
already were. If we want to be part of the Kingdom of God, that desire should affect the things we
say and the things we do in this life. Every day we’re alive between now and the arrival of the
Kingdom gives us the opportunity—and the challenge—to make sure we’re living up to the
standards God has set for us.

In seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, we also learn to look at the difficulties
of this life in a different light. When the congregation in Rome was arguing about whether
Christians should eat meat that might have been previously offered to idols, the apostle Paul had
to remind them to step back and look at the bigger picture. He wrote, “The kingdom of God is not
eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).

As Christians, we can take comfort that the trials and difficult decisions of this life are only part
of a much, much bigger picture—a picture that involves a Kingdom that will stand forever.

God doesn’t forget the needs of the moment

Of course, eating and drinking are still important aspects of our day-to-day lives, especially when
we’re not sure where our next meal is coming from. “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall
we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ … For your heavenly Father knows
that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all
these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33).

When we make our primary focus seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness
(repenting of our sins and making a daily effort to live God’s way of life instead of following our
own human nature), God promises to provide for our needs. He doesn’t promise to make us
unimaginably wealthy. He doesn’t promise that we’ll eat only the finest and most delicious foods.
He promises that He knows our needs and that He will take care of them.

If we keep His Kingdom at the front of our mind (instead of third or fourth on our to-do list, or
just something we’ll get to when we have the time), He’ll bless our efforts to provide for our
families and provide us with our daily needs (Matthew 6:11).

God’s plan for us in the Kingdom

God created man in His image with lesser powers and abilities to prepare man to rule with Him in
a government that will last forever. God’s purpose for telling us “seek first the kingdom of God and
His righteousness” is to help us develop, through our experiences in this life, His holy and
righteous character and prepare us to rule under Christ as kings and priests on this earth (Revelation
5:10).

These are the beginning steps toward seeking the Kingdom of God, which will ultimately result in
eternal life in the family of God.

For further study of how to seek first the Kingdom of God, see our articles on “What Is
Repentance?” and “What Is Baptism?”
About the Author

Richard Pinelli
Richard Pinelli was a minister and a member of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association,
board of directors until his death in 2019. He served as an elder, pastor and administrator for 55
years, including serving as administrator of Ministerial Services and of Leadership and Pastoral
Development.
Read More

How can I seek first the kingdom of God?

In the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explains the
value of having "treasures in heaven," i.e. doing and
concerning oneself with spiritual and eternal things, and then
moves on to admonitions not to worry about earthly things. In
tying these two topics together, Jesus makes the oft -repeated
statement: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all these things will be added to you"
(Matthew 6:33).

What is the kingdom of God in the first place? It is an entity

with both spiritual and physical manifestations, depending o n
the period of history, which indicates God's special rule
through Jesus Christ. This kingdom was first established during
Jesus' earthly life and continues still at a spiritual level made
up of those who believe in Him for their salvation. After
the tribulation, Jesus will reign for 1,000 years, a period called
the Millenium, which fulfills promises made to Israel and Jesus
for an earthly reign of Messiah – the physical kingdom of God.

With the meaning of the kingdom established, how does one

"seek" it? When the context is taken into
consideration, Matthew 6:33 appears to act as an intersection
of the two previous topics, suggesting that if you concern
yourself with spiritual things (seek the kingdom of God), the
earthly concerns will "be added unto you" (essentially, provided
for). To seek the kingdom of God is to intentionally focus on
and fully experience relationship with God, usually through
avenues He has provided such as prayer and meditating on His
word. Seeking the kingdom of God does not stop there,
however; it also includes sharing the fruit of relationship with
God with others through things like evangelism, practical
giving, and expressing love to others through whatever means
God has specially gifted you or directed you.

Finally, does this passage indicate that if we seek the kingdom

of God all the things we worry about will be fixed? No, it does
not. The concept that seeking God's kingdom is a means by
which to promote earthly comfort is an erroneous preaching
present in certain evangelical circles, and is referred to as
the prosperity gospel. Again, the context of Matthew 6:33 is
important, for the next sentence Jesus speaks is, "Therefore do
not be anxious about tomorrow" (Matthew 6:34). Seeking God's
kingdom does not mean the rest of life will be "fixed," but it
does mean that we can have the surety necessary to keep in
perspective the power of God over our lives, reducing our need
to worry.
Psalm 90:12; Matthew 6:33

HOW TO MAKE THE REST OF YOUR LIFE THE BEST OF YOUR LIFE
Intro: There is an old saying that, "You are never too old to learn." Here is one lesson that
you're never too old to learn: "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts
unto wisdom.”(Psa. 90:12) Now, what that means is this: "Teach us to number our days and
recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should."

Someone has observed that life is like a dollar bill. You can spend it any way you want to, but
you can only spend it once.

Now when you spend money there are really only one of two ways you can spend it. You can
waste it, or you can invest it. The same thing is true with life.

Now whether you are young or old, six or sixty, healthy and wealthy, or puny and poor, you
can make the rest of your life the best of your life.

Suppose you were starting life all over. You are old enough to know right from wrong. You are
old enough to learn, old enough to love, old enough to really live. If you could ask the Lord Jesus
Christ how to make the rest of your life the best of your life, what do you think He would say? I
don't think we have to wonder, I think I know.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall
be added unto you." (Mt. 6:33) I think you can summarize what Jesus said here in three words:
"first things first." Now I know that sounds simple, but I want to tell you that if you, beginning
today, would consciously, continuously, constantly, and consistently put first things first, it would
absolutely transform your life. The formula for how to do just that is found in this tremendous
statement from the lips of our Lord.

I. SET PROPER PRIORITIES

1. Now everything rises and falls right here. If your priorities are not in order, your life will not
be in order. If your priorities are not right, you won't be right. You don't have to pray about
what your number one priority in life ought to be. You don't have to think about it. You
don't have to discuss it. You don't have to look for it.

You just have to do it. Because Jesus has already told us what our first priority ought to
be, "seek ye first the kingdom of God."

The word seek means to "actively pursue" or "to go after." It's in the present tense. It
means continuously. Every day of your life you ought to seek first the kingdom of God.

2. Now in order to seek the kingdom, you must first seek the King. Because you cannot have
a kingdom without a king. The first priority of your life ought to be to seek the King of the
kingdom.
 Did you know that the Christian life is more than just excepting the Lord, it is seeking the
Lord. The Lord is not just someone you passively accept. He is someone you actively
seek. I can tell you something about your relationship to God at this very moment without
even knowing you. I can tell you how much of God you have - you have all of God that
you want.

3. God does not have any favorites, but He does have intimates. James 4:8 says, "Draw nigh
to God and he will draw nigh to you" God has promised in his word, "And ye shall seek
me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jer. 29:13)

4. But it is not enough to seek the Lord. You must seek Him first. Jesus said, "seek first the
kingdom of God." First things first means putting the Father first. There are three words
I want you to circle in this passage. In v.30 circle the word faith. In v.32 circle the
word Father. In v.33 circle the word first. You know the Bible says in Heb.
11:6, "Without faith it is impossible to please him."

Do you know what faith is? Faith is putting the Father first. Let me tell you something.
Jesus does not want a place in your life. Jesus does not even want prominence in your
life. Jesus wants preeminence in your life.

5. Jesus wants the first moments of everyday. Jesus wants the first day of every week. Jesus
wants the first part of every paycheck. He wants to be first.

The Lord Jesus Christ is not interested in being the first runner-up in your beauty contest.
He is not interested in being vice-president in your corporation. He is not interested in
being second in command in your army. He wants to be the King on the throne of your
heart, not a co-partner in a duplex.

6. But not only are we to seek the King, we ought to seek the kingdom. The kingdom of God
ought to be the obsession of your life. The word kingdom there literally means rule or
reign. A kingdom is a place where a king rules. To seek the kingdom of God is to seek
the rule and the reign of God over your entire life.

Now when you truly seek a king, and you truly seek his kingdom, you are automatically
seeking for three things.

A. First of all, you are seeking for the glory of the king. Every part and parcel of your
life, every minute and moment of your time, every ounce and pound of your strength,
every muscle and fibre of your body ought to be given for the glory of God. "Whether
therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." (I Cor.
10:31)

B. But it means also to seek for the guidance of the king. A loyal subject always wants to
do whatever the king would have him to do. There is no higher calling in life than to
find out what your King wants done and then to do it. Every morning of your life you
ought to begin by asking the Lord Jesus what Paul asked the Lord Jesus on that
Damascus road, when he said, "Lord, what would you have me to do?"

C. But it also means to seek the government of the king. A loyal subject desires to be
controlled by the king, to be governed by the king, to be ruled by the king. Someone
 might say, "Why you are talking about slavery." May I tell you, that the greatest liberty
in the world is found in being controlled by the right master.

D. Has it ever occurred to you that if your will was that God's will would always be done in
your life, then your will would always be done.

(Ill. I heard about a woman who was deathly sick. A neighbor came to visit her and he
asked her whether she wanted to live or to die. She said, "I just want whatever pleases
God."

The neighbor said, "Well, what if God were to refer the matter to you, which would you
choose?"

She said, "If God were to refer the matter to me, I would just refer the matter back to Him."
That lady had her priorities in the right order.)

You can believe this or not, but it would be better to die in the will of God than to live
outside of the will of God.

II. SEEK PERSONAL PURITY

1. Not only are we to seek His kingdom, we are to seek "His righteousness." That is, not only
are we to be seeking God's control over us, but we are also to be seeking God's character
within us. The kingdom of God is not only to be inwardly experienced. It is to be outwardly
expressed.

2. You see, if God is ruling over you, then His righteousness will be within you. Because a
man's character is simply the outward expression of whatever is controlling him inwardly.
Faith is always seen by its fruit. Character is always seen by its conduct. Proverbs
20:12 tells us, "The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both
of them." You see, as we seek the kingdom of God, people ought to be able to see the
kingdom in us.

(Ill. We are never going to make a difference in this world until the world sees a difference
in us. Nietzsche, the German philosopher, was the philosophical founder of the Nazi
Movement in Germany. He was the first man in history to come to the conclusion that "God
is dead." He came to that conclusion by looking at Christianity. Do you know what he said
about Christians? He said, "If you want me to believe in your Redeemer, you are going to
have to look a little more redeemed.")
 The real mark of a Christian is that he makes it easier for others to believe in God. Now
what does it mean to seek the righteousness of God?

A. We Must Desire It - We do what we really want to do, and we are what we really want to
be. Jesus said in Matt. 5:6, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

You ought to desire to be right, to do right, to live right, just as much as a hungry man
desires food, and a thirsty man desires water.

B. We Must Derive It - We are to seek "His righteousness." God is not interested in your
righteousness. He is only interested in His righteousness. God is not interested in what
you can do for Him. He is interested in what He can do through you.

It will be a great day when you learn the difference between self righteousness and the
Savior's righteousness. Paul, after he was saved, made this one of the goals of his life.
He said in Phil. 3:9 that he wanted to "And be found in him, not having mine own
righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the
righteousness which is of God by faith:”

Now I want you to learn a lesson about righteousness. Righteousness must be imputed
before it can be imparted. Let me make it more simple. Before you can live it, God must
give it. That is exactly why Jesus came and Jesus died, that we might have the
righteousness of God. "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that
we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (II Cor. 5:21).

C. We Must Depict It - We ought to live like kingdom subjects. Will Rogers said, "We ought
to live in such a way that we would not be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the
town gossip."

III. SEE PROMISED PROSPERITY

1. Now the Lord says that if you will seek His kingdom and His righteousness, "all these
things shall be added unto you." Now what "things" was the Lord referring to? He was
talking about all the things that people worry about. In v.19 we are told that people worry
about finances. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and
rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal"

2. In v.25 we are told that people worry about food. "Therefore I say unto you, Take no
thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body,
what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?"

3. In v.27 we are told that people worry about fitness. "Which of you by taking thought can
add one cubit unto his stature?"
 4, In v.28 we are told that people worry about fashion. "And why take ye thought for raiment?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:”

5. Now all of these are things that we need. That's why the Lord said in v.32, "(For after all
these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have
need of all these things." Now the Lord has promised that if you will seek first His
kingdom and His righteousness, you will have all the things you need. Now I did not say
you would have necessarily the things that you want.

I am convinced there are four lessons parents ought to teach their children early, and that it
would be good for even some adults to re-learn.

A. First of all, you don't need everything you want. I wish I had all the money back that I
had spent in my life on things that I wanted that I didn't really need.

B. The second lesson is, you don't want everything you need. I never wanted one whipping
that I ever got, but I needed everyone of them.

C. The third lesson is, God doesn't give us everything we want. I, for one, am so glad that
He doesn't. You know, one of the greatest blessings of God is found in those things that
He doesn't give us. I read one time the confession of an unknown confederate soldier that
tremendously blessed me. Listen to it.

I asked God for strength that I might achieve.

I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked God for health that I might do greater things.

I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy.

I was given poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.

 I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.

I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for - But everything I had hoped for....

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered

I am among all men most richly blessed.

D. The last lesson is, God always give us what we need. I heard about two stores that were
across the street from each other, highly competitive, always trying to get ahead. The
manager of one store came out one day and nailed a great big sign over the front of his
store that said, "If you want it, we have it." Well the manager from the other store walked
out and saw that sign, thought about it for a few moments, went back into his store, and
awhile later came out with a sign he nailed over his store that said, "If we don't have it,
you don't need it." I can tell you something right now, no matter what you may think, if you
don't have it it's because God knows at this point in your life you don't need it.

You see, what the Lord was trying to teach us here was this. It is our job to serve God. It
is His job to supply us. Now most people have that backwards. Most people think that it is
our job to supply us and it is God's job to serve us. If they could, they would sing the old
hymn this way:

I'll have my own way, Lord,

I'll have my own way,

I'll be the potter, You be the clay;

I'll mold You and make You after my will,

While you are waiting, yielded and still.

It is exactly that attitude that cuts off the blessing of God. You see, in a real sense, we
have been called to live from hand to mouth. But that's alright if it's His hand and my
 mouth. (Ill. I heard about a missionary who was getting ready to embark and go away to
a foreign country. As he was getting on the ship, just going up the gangway, a friend of
his, who was a very wealthy person, came to him and slipped an envelope into his hand
that was sealed.

His friend said, "You take this envelope, and if at any time while you are overseas you
come to the place where you have exhausted every other possibility, and you don't where
else to turn, and you have a need that you cannot meet anywhere else, open the
envelope."

Well, the missionary took the envelope, thanked him, put it in his pocket, went up the
gangplank and he stayed on that mission field for twenty years. At the end of twenty years
he came back home, walked down that same gangplank, met by that same wealthy friend,
and he returned the envelope back to the man, still sealed, still unopened, and he said,
"Never did I come to a place where I did not know where to turn, nor what to do.")

Conc: Do you want to make the rest of your life the best of your life? You allow Jesus Christ to
be your Lord. Put Him first. Live every moment for Him, and He will take care of the rest.

First Things First

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

This verse has become the anthem of my heart. Growing up, I heard it
repeatedly. But at one point in my life I had to ask: What does it really mean to
seek God’s kingdom first?

One word: Prioritize.

His commandments, His desires, His love, should all be the center of what we
are and desire to be. All other entities find their position as a result.
It is always hard for our human minds to interpret this—but I soon realized it
wasn’t about fitting these words into my life onlywhen convenient because “times
have changed” or “God understands I’m so busy.”

Jesus was pretty clear when He said to forsake all and follow Him. What He said
then, He means now too. Even if that means doing things we’re not comfortable
with, pushing away anything that hinders our relationship with Him, or sacrificing
the dreams we want most.

Many of us try to ignore how deep and raw this commitment really is.

Sure, the Lord wants to give us blessing after blessing. He wants to open every
window of Heaven and rain down gifts, both spiritual and natural, into our souls.
He wants to fulfill the desires of our hearts. Sometimes we forget, however, that it
is humble obedience and faith which bring Him on the scene.

When I finally said, “It’s all about You, Lord” instead of constantly asking Him to
do great works for me, I found a peace beyond belief.

Giving up and giving in is the hardest part. And it needs to be daily.

The good news is ... He takes care of it from there.

So many nights I’ve been overwhelmed by an ominous stack of work, like many
of you. Then this Scripture would come to me. Before I did anything else, I
cleared my mind and gave God a bit of my time. I would pray, read the Word or
listen to a sermon.

Guess what? I felt refreshed. More than I ever would by watching YouTube or
simply staring at my computer, begging it to write my papers for me.

God honors us when He is honored as our top priority. He’s jealous of us

(Deuteronomy 4:24).
For so much of my life I was scared of letting go; I wanted control. But (better late
than never) I at last understood that I just need to trust Him. Plain and simple.

No, it’s not as if God doesn’t want us to try at anything in life. He just wants us to
do it His way the first time, all the time. Of course He wants us to succeed, but
He wants to prove that it is His strength in each of us, because we are nothing on
our own.

So I encourage you: Let Jesus Christ be at the forefront of your thoughts and the
guide of your heart. He’ll put everything else into place. He promises.

Copyright © Anissa Rowe. Used by permission.

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