VOTW: Seek ye first the kingdom of God (30 May 2021)

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33

When many people quote Matthew 6:33, they mean to drop all other things on your priority list, and focus your heart onto the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. To be very honest, as a young boy, this verse never struck much excitement into me. Not to say that I didn't love God or His kingdom, but as a young kid, there were just too many things which drew my attention. Football, academics, love. All these things were so attractive, that it just didn't draw my attention, even with the second part of the verse.

Just very recently, I managed to read the whole chapter and what I saw really excited me. I can't wait to share it! In short, this verse is from the famous Sermon on the mount, where Jesus Himself is preaching a message to a mass of people. It is one of the few full sermons preached by our Lord Himself!

Read vv25-32. The message was, "Do not worry", for even the birds and flowers of the field are taken care of by our Father in heaven, what more us? And get this: in v32,

"For after all these things the gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."

This is what sets up the context for "Seek first the Kingdom of God...": because your Father in heaven will take care of you (just like He does with animals and flowers), and He knows what you need. And leading up into this, Jesus' advice is: seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. And the promise? All our needs are added into the equation. That excites me!

I'm sorry if I sound kind of greedy, but it took me sometime to take apart my own pride, and realize that my Father in heaven knows exactly what "the gentiles are after", and He further knows what I need! And the advice the beloved Son of God gives? "Seek His kingdom and His righteousness".

Friends, God is not telling you to throw away your priorities, your desires, your needs to pursue Him. Jesus is saying, when you pursue Him, all these things will be added to you! Its a promise! So the next time you read this word, take heart, and be encouraged; the Lord cares deeply for the things that you care about too. And He will never leave you to fend for yourself!

This verse was never a difficult command, it is an invigorating promise!