MATTHEW 6:33-34: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “ So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” NLT

OBSERVATION: Priorities, priorities, priorities! I know that I need to keep my priorities in order, yet it seems that there are so many things vying for first place in my life. Each day, I face new challenges and opportunities. What will I spend my time on? What will I invest my money in? How will I begin each day?

It is easy for familiar Scriptures to become platitudes in our lives. One of these familiar Scriptures is Matthew 6:33. When I learned this verse, I memorized it from the King James Version.

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

Seek ye first the kingdom of God! I know this is supposed to be my priority. However, I, like many, have asked – “How do you do that?” Is Jesus calling us to an activity or an attitude? When I put this statement in the context of the entire chapter, I think Jesus is calling us to realign our attitudes rather than add some new activity to our lives.

I live through the prism of my priorities!

If my priorities are what to eat, wear, or do, this will be the prism of my life. My life will be filled with striving for the things of this life and will be marked by worry and fear. The rise and fall of the stock market will keep me awake at night, and I will worry about the future security of my job. Just one small movement in any one of these could throw me into a downward spiral.

I love what Jesus said to His disciples just before He called them to seek first the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 6:31-32: “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.” NLT

The daily concerns of life dominate the attitudes and thoughts of unbelievers. This is all they have. Their security rises and falls on what happens in this life. Yet, the believer has an eternal perspective on life. And the believer has a Heavenly Father who cares about the concerns of their heart and already knows everything that they need.

Paul reminds us of the love and care of the Father for our lives.

Romans 8:31-32: “What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” NLT

God does not expect us to live without care or concern in this life. He understands our needs. Yet, God is calling us to look at life through a different lens. It is the lens of His Kingdom and His Promises. The New Living Translation gives an added focus to this understanding.

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.“ (Matthew 6:33 NLT)

Above all else!

This is how we “Seek the Kingdom of God.” We put His Kingdom, His Commandments, His Promise, His Faithfulness, His Love, His Mercy, His Grace…

ABOVE ALL ELSE!

The tyranny of the urgent no longer dictates our lives. We are not discouraged by the changes in the stock market. We are not deflated by bad news. We are anchored in the promise that God is for us. If God gave His only begotten Son to die for our sins, He will also provide for all of our needs. He will direct our paths and provide all the things necessary to live and to fulfill His call in our lives.

Our Heavenly Father knows that we need to work, take care of our families, our homes, and prepare for our future. Yet, to seek the Kingdom of God as our priority is to remember the words – ABOVE ALL ELSE! We need to seek the Lord before we apply for a loan. We need to pray for healing before we run to the doctor. We need to ask for His wisdom before we consult a friend. We need to seek the Lord and His righteous way…

ABOVE ALL ELSE!

Heavenly Father, I thank You that You are for me! I thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, my Lord! I thank You for Your promise to provide all my needs according to Your riches and glory in Christ Jesus. Help me to begin each day by seeking Your will, by meditating upon Your Word, by listening to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit, by seeking the Kingdom of God…

ABOVE ALL ELSE!

In Jesus’ Name!