In one of the most popular of Jesus’ sermons found in Matthew 6, the Sermon on the Mount, He instructs the listeners to “seek first the Kingdom”.
Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV).
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon, in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Jesus left no doubt that the kingdom of God was worth seeking FIRST! His message/gospel, was the gospel of the Kingdom. Plainly stated, in the order of ALL things, seeking the Kingdom of God is the FIRST thing to be done. Before trying to be a good Christian, active in church, spreading the gospel, witnessing and saving souls, SEEK THE KINGDOM OF GOD!!!
Strong’s #4412: proton (pronounced pro’-ton).
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: neuter of 4413 as adverb; firstly (in time, place, order, or importance):–before, at the beginning, chiefly (at, at the) first (of all).
prōton:- first in time or place; in any succession of things or persons; first in rank; influence, honor; chief, principal; first, at the first.
In the order of things, God placed seeking the Kingdom, FIRST!
This point cannot be emphasized enough. Everything that Jesus spoke and did was intentional. If He stressed that the Kingdom needed to be sought first, then there is clearly an eternal principle to be understood in doing this.
As believers, we’re all well aware of this “command”, and religiously quote it. But, there’s sufficient evidence that we lack understanding as to what this truly means. Because we have no real grasp of the concept of the Kingdom of God, and think it is a futuristic occurrence, we fail to apply the importance of what this verse is actually saying.
We place no (real) emphasis on seeking or seeking to understand the Kingdom of God. We focused on living a good life before going to heaven when we die. That, and we expectantly await the rapture to take place. The problem is, not one of these accurately aligns with the eternal purpose for which God created us. He did not save us to die and go and occupy heaven, nor to sit around and wait for the rapture. We have the privilege of going to heaven when we die, and we expect the coming of the Lord, but there’s more to it than that.
Kingdom against Kingdom.
Colossians 1:13 (NIV).
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.”
God has removed us from the dominion and control of the Kingdom of darkness, the devil, and placed us securely in the Kingdom of the Son He loves. But this is simplifying the matter. We are not instantaneously placed in God’s Kingdom simply because we recited the ‘sinners prayer’. We need to come to a place of repentance; turn away from the way we thought and lived, turn from the pleasures of this world and that which once satisfied our souls. And turn towards God, His will, pleasure and purpose. {*Repent, For The Kingdom}.
There is a way things are done in the ‘Kingdom of darkness’/the world. In Matthew 6, Jesus is hinting to this manner of operating and functioning. Jesus is saying, people of the world worry about what they will eat, drink, or wear. They are concerned with the issue of supplying nourishment and protection for their bodies.
All of us are born into the Kingdom of darkness. We all worried and concerned ourselves with the provision of our daily necessities. Food on the table, clothes on our backs, a roof over our heads, are these not the basics needed to survive in life? The need to “provide” for ourselves, and make sure our lives and bodies are sustained and cared for, is a warranted concern. And now we told ‘not to’. We must know this is one of those things, “easier said than done”.
Nevertheless this is what God has called us to, and if He’s called us to it, He will give us the grace to do it. THIS IS FAITH! This is not only BELIEVING in God, but also BELIEVING God. This is the hard part of believing in God. We have to believe that what He says, He will do. That when God tells us to seek His Kingdom first, then all things will be added to us, we have to believe that(and not doubt).
The Lord Jesus said that when we make the Kingdom of God our first priority, all these other things which we pursue will turn around and pursue us! This is the fundamental principle of the Lord God’s Kingdom. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. This is one of the simplest statement in God’s constitution, yet it is one of the least to be obeyed. Keep in mind, we are possessed by our quest for things and what many call “the good life” and “happiness”.
While the Lord God is looking for Kingdom minded citizens, filled with and instructed by His Holy Spirit. All who seek the Kingdom of God and make it a priority, gain access to all the King’s riches and His resources. We own nothing, but He gives His people access. You are a child of the King and a citizen of His Kingdom! He is not only a King, but also our ‘Father’.
He is the Father of all those who live and are led by His Spirit. Romans 8:14; “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” John 1:12; “But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name“. And as a Father, righteous, just and holy, He delights in giving us all we need.
Matthew 7:9-11 (NIV).
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
We need to come to a place whereby we, through the Spirit of adoption, acknowledge God, creator of ALL things, as our Father. He knows how to give good gifts. Our Father’s Kingdom is a kingdom which lacks nothing. He’s made provision for all we will ever need.
When will we finally understand this clear, yet profound truth? It is vital to the functioning and success of our walk with God the Father that we swiftly lay hold of this fundamental principal.