But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 WEB
Jesus’ instruction to seek first God’s Kingdom is one of the most often quoted and most often misused scriptures in the bible. Taken out of context, some misguided souls have used these words to teach endless material blessings for those who serve God’s purpose. Put into proper context this is another of Jesus’ reassurances to his disciples. He is teaching his followers to let go of worry and rely on the Lord.
Jesus teaches his disciples not to worry about what they will eat or drink or about the clothes they will wear. These are the basic necessities of life. These are the things that he promises his followers will have. It is not material abundance. When we worry about these essentials, we demonstrate a lack of faith in God’s willingness and ability to supply our needs. In addition, we fall into the trap of being more concerned for material things than the issues of God.
Seeking and Serving God
In this chapter of Matthew, Jesus teaches how to pray, how to give, how to let go of worry. He teaches us to put God first in our lives. Also, he teaches us to trust God to provide for our needs. He redirects the focus of the faithful from anxiety about material things to the seeking and service of the kingdom of heaven.
Saying, “Seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness,” Christ teaches his followers that we are to prioritize our service and devotion to God over worldly things. For service to God to be sincere, it must be motivated by a genuine desire to please God and live in his righteousness. In order to do this, we live in a perpetual state of repentance and submission to the will of God.
Prayer: “Father God, I seek daily to serve you. Thank you for providing for my needs. Give me wisdom and strength to serve your will. Help me to share your holy word with the world. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: If the World Hates You
