When Jesus says to, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you,” He is in the middle of instructing us (Matt 6:25-34) about worry and anxiousness.  Jesus goes right to the root of what we worry about – life, food, clothing, shelter.  It is the daily struggle of survival and what we tend to put before our relationship with God and His Son. Often times those things drive me.

For me, Jesus’s statement (some would say it is a commandment) to “seek the kingdom first and His righteousness” tests the level of my faith. I am constantly asking myself, “Do I really believe this? More over, do I really believe that if I put seeking God’s kingdom first, that God Himself will take care of these things in my life?”

Can I (and you) change what we consider important to actually put seeking the kingdom of God before work, family and ourselves? Do we have that kind of faith?

What does that look like?

• Reading and memorizing God’s Word
• Taking what we have read and memorized and asking, “How does my life need to change based on what God’s Word says?”
• Being on our knees in prayer with God
• Seeking forgiveness from those we have hurt
• Actively sharing the gospel with those that are lost

Christ tells us that if we seek the kingdom of God first, and His righteousness, that He will provide these things. Christ tells us that God does this for the birds of the air and that we are more important than they (Matt 6:6). Christ tells us that being anxious cannot add a single hour to our life (Matt 6:27). Christ tells us that God clothes the lilies and grass of the field and that He will clothe us; He questions our faith in God (Matt 6:30).

And lastly, Christ tells us to not be anxious (Matt 6:31) and that God knows what we need (Matt 6:32). Christ says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you,” and ends with a wonderful memory verse – “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matt 6:34)

Where are you at with seeking the kingdom first? Do you struggle with the faith to believe that God knows what you need and will provide it?

Additional Scripture:

Luke 12:31 – Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

Matthew 19:28 – Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Proverbs 10:3 – The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked