Seek First the Kingdom

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM

Matthew 6:25-33

Man is created in God’s own image and it is in Him that we live, move and have our being (Genesis 1:26,27; Acts 17:28,29). To seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness should be the priority of the right thinking person just like a reasonable son will look after the interests of his father. Not to seek FIRST the kingdom of God is an indication that something is wrong; man is fallen, he is not like God anymore, he despises righteousness, he delights in sin.

In mapping and finding our way back to God, it is not just sufficient to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, we must seek it FIRST.

God will never come second, third or last in our lives. He either is FIRST or He is not there at all.

SIGNIFICANT EXHORTATION OF THE MASTER PREACHER

Psalm 127:2; 39:6; Luke 10:40-42; 12:11,12,25-29; 21:34; Philippians 4:6; 1 Peter 5:7; 1 Corinthians 7:32; Matthew 13:7,22.

The great teacher and prince of preachers (John 3:2; 7:46) gave a wise and timely warning to His hearers. It was a warning against worry and anxiety. His significant exhortation is all the more relevant in contemporary society where worry and anxiety is the number one killer. It is responsible for the bulk of the stress in modern society, high blood pressure, hypertension, a whole range of psychosomatic problems and many suicides.

Worry is like a rocking chair that gets us nowhere. It is the interest we pay on the money we never borrowed. It is an essential waste of time and an indication of lack of trust in a good God.

If God cares for the fowls of the air and the lilies of the field, He will care for you that He created in His own image. Take on board the Master’s significant exhortation and your life will be better.

SALIENT EMPTINESS OF MEN’S PURSUIT

Ecclesiastes 1:2,3,8; 2:1,11; 4:8,16; 5:10; 6:7; 11:10; Ephesians 4:17; 1 Peter 4:2-5; Isaiah 55:2; John 6:27.

Rather than spend your time worry and anxiety many times over situations beyond your control, spend it to seek the kingdom of God. Many are seeking but their pursuit is one of chasing fleeting, ephemeral, temporal shadows while neglecting the permanent, eternal realities.

Food, shelter, clothing etc. constitute the bulk of men’s pursuits. Many are looking and searching for fulfilment but think that the acquisition of materials will bring such. Power, fame, influence, wealth etc. do not provide lasting satisfaction. This is why the powerful, wealthy, famous, influential can still commit suicide because of life’s frustrations.

Life without Christ is a gaping crisis, an empty shadow, vanity of vanities in Solomon’s parlance.

SCRIPTURAL EXAMPLES OF MISPLACED PRIORITIES

John 12:3-11; 11:43-48,53; 19:4,6,12-16; 6:24-28; Matthew 26:15,16; 27:1-10; 2:1-3,7,8,16; 11:12; Luke 16:16; 17:20,21; Acts 12:1-3,20-24; Daniel 4:27-37.

Many people have misplaced their priorities. They have time for everything except God. God always comes last in their agenda if ever they can spare some time. They give God the falling crumbs of their time. However Christ exhorted us to turn around our priorities. Instead of doing your own thing first and putting God last, seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

The Bible has a record of those who also misplaced their priorities, instead of seeking FIRST the kingdom, they sought something else:

(1) Judas Iscariot’s priority was money (John 12:3-8; Matthew 26:15,16; 27:1-10)

(2) The chief priests’ priority was position (John 11:43-48,53; 12:9-11)

(3) Pontius Pilate’s priority was political power (John 19:4,6,12-16)

(4) The priority of the multitude was food (John 6:24-28)

(5) The priority of the Herods was popularity and hero worship (Matthew 2:1-3,7,8,16; Acts 12:1-3,20-24)

(6) Nebuchadnezzar’s priority was fame and world dominion (Daniel 4:27-37)

Have you misplaced your priorities? Are you seeking FIRST the kingdom? It takes violent determination to seek FIRST the kingdom (Matthew 11:12; Luke 16:16). Repentance is the way into the kingdom (Mark 1:15; 1 Corinthians 6:9,10; John 3:3-5; Luke 17:20,21; Romans 14:17).

SCRIPTURAL ENLARGEMENT OF MATERIAL PROSPERITY

3 John 2; Psalm 1:3; 35:27; 84:11; Job 36:11; Genesis 39:3; Deuteronomy 29:9; 1 Chronicles 22:13; 2 Chronicles 20:20; 26:5; 31:21; Nehemiah 2:20.

All the things that the unbelieving gentiles that have no time for God are seeking will be added as a bonus to the believing person who has determined to seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

God is never a taskmaster. He blesses those who serve Him. Our material prosperity will be in proportion to our spiritual prosperity (3 John 2). God does not withhold good things from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11). God has pleasure in the prosperity of His saints (Psalm 35:27).