Week 27 - Putting First Things First

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

As you stepped into the new year, you might have been asking yourself: What’s in store for this year? What do I expect and hope for? What do I fear? Given the gloomy state of some economies, we would expect it to be a year of distress for many. Some might even find themselves without jobs.

Do Not Worry

In times like this, we need to look to God for help. A poster in my office has these words: “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2 , NASB). In times of uncertainty, we can put our trust in God.

There was a time when the disciples of Jesus appeared to be concerned about their daily needs. Jesus said to them, “Do not worry about what you shall eat, or what you shall drink or with what you shall wear” (see Matthew 6:31 ). Food, drink and clothing are the basic essentials for living. Jesus’ disciples had given up their livelihood to follow Him and were wondering where their next meal would come from. He assured them that God the Heavenly Father would provide for their daily needs.

The Lord Jesus wanted His disciples to be different from the world around them, different not so much in diet or clothes but different in deed (Matt 5) and different in priority (Matt 6). The secular world is concerned with economic questions and consumer concerns. Jesus does not say, “Your heavenly Father knows that you don’t really need these mundane earthly things.”

On the contrary, Jesus says that “your heavenly Father knows that you need them all” (Matthew 6:32 , ESV). In fact, He even says that “your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8 , ESV). The point to note is that God will supply all our needs when we put our trust in Him. The Apostle Paul reminds us that “God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 , NASB).

The pursuit of wealth becomes a problem when it consumes all our energy and effort — when we put material things before God. This is a very real danger in our materialistic society although it may be less so during an economic crisis. Christ explained that no one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24 ). Attempting to do so will involve us in a struggle with conflicting loyalties, so Christ told His followers that they could not be servants to both God and money. God must always come before everything else even during economic downturn.

Seek First His Kingdom

It is amazing how many of us need help in prioritising the important things in our lives. Amid our daily hectic lives, we run about frantically trying to accomplish this task and that. Sometimes at the end of the day, we find ourselves accomplishing many things but achieving nothing of significance and we resolve to do better the next time.

Let us resolve to make our lives count for God. We should ask ourselves, “What should be our priority in life?” On what should we invest our time and energy? It cannot be the things of this world, for we know that these things do not last forever.

Jesus urged his disciples to first seek the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33 ). While food and clothing, and other necessities of life are important, they are not the most important aspects of life. There is a spiritual aspect that is of far greater significance than the material things of life. The most important thing that should occupy our minds must be of a spiritual nature for it has eternal value.

In the midst of a consumerist society, the disciples of Jesus Christ must march to a different drum beat. Our first priority in life is the quiet, steady seeking of God’s kingdom and righteousness. Such a quest is of greater consequence than seeking the things of the world. Jesus has promised that when we put Him first, He will not disappoint us. Seek first His kingdom and He will do the rest.

Christ is saying to us today, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things [your needs] will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 , ESV). The word “seek” (in Greek) is in the present imperative which means it is not a “suggestion” but a command. It is to be made the habit of our life. So what Jesus is saying is that we are to make a daily choice to prioritise God’s kingdom and righteousness. Make it the habit of your life to prioritise seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness. Jesus is commanding all citizens of the kingdom of God to cease making material things the centre of their life. Instead, the believer’s lifelong pursuit is not for things but for the presence, pleasure and Person of Jesus Christ our Lord and our King.

God knows that we have physical needs — and He will certainly provide for them. After all, He is the One who designed us as physical creatures. Hence Christ says: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself” (Matthew 6:34 ). If we are truly walking with God in all our ways, worry and anxiety will be put away. We will rely upon God in all aspects of our lives. This will happen to us when we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; when we put first things first.