MATTHEW 6:31-34: “So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat? ’ or ‘What will we drink? ’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” CSB
OBSERVATION: What does it mean to “…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…?”
Does it mean that I should start each day out in God’s Word and prayer? While this is a very important thing to do, I do not think this is the essence of the meaning. If it were, my seeking would end there and I would simply be on my way. I think Jesus had much more in mind.
I am nearsighted. I need my glasses for general navigation, reading, and driving. In fact, I can’t even shave well without them. Everything I do is out of focus when I don’t have my glasses. When I go to bed at night I lay them on the nightstand next to me. When I wake up, the first thing I do is reach for my glasses. I put them on so that everything I do from that moment on is in proper focus.
This is what I think seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness means. It is not a daily or weekly activity, it is how I live each moment of my life. It is how I view everything and everyone. I am to look at all of life through the lens of the kingdom of God. I am to live all of life with the goal of emulating and being transformed by His righteousness.
This principle applies to the spiritual and temporal things of life. As we are packing up our house it does not seem like we are doing anything that is kingdom minded, or that is truly righteous. Yet, as I remember that the reason we are packing is to answer God’s call in our lives, then I can see it. Even the mundane things in life take on a kingdom perspective as we realize that all of life is to be a pursuit of His will.
So many times we compartmentalize our life. There is the spiritual and there is the natural. Yet, God is calling us to live our entire life seeking first the kingdom, and living for His righteousness. All of life that is lived for Jesus Christ is sacred. It is set apart for His will. It is set apart for His glory. The mundane becomes holy as we pursue Him in everything we do. We don’t need to stay on the mountaintop, we know that His presence and provision follow us wherever we go!
- “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.” Psalms 23:5-6 CSB
Right now, right here, I am living in the presence (house) of the Lord. His goodness and faithful love are always pursuing me. He is with me in both the battles and the victories of life. He is with me on the mountaintops and in the valleys. When I live a life that is kingdom minded, I find myself pursuing Him and His righteousness in everything I do. It is not just in my times of worship and prayer. It is also in my times of daily work and routine.
Lord, help me to realize that I am always living in Your kingdom. Open up my spiritual eyes to seek You first in all that I do. Grant me the grace to consider Your will, Your way, and Your righteousness in everything. Let me live fully in Your presence and provision today.
In Jesus Name!
