Article: Seek the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness! | Jacob Varghese

Matthew 6:33&34. Here we see “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.”

What a profound advice from Jesus and what a profound instruction that God knows our every need. He knows everything that we have need in our lives. Whether it’s food, clothing or protection. But He says to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness knowing that He will take care of things that are needed for today and things that are needed for tomorrow or for our future. I want you to realize how important this is because we live in a world where there is so much stress over what we cannot know and over what we cannot control. There are so many things that cause stress in this world and it is amazing as we have actually seemed to be a more worrisome people than ever. We are worried about losing our jobs, we are worried about what is going to happen with our children, what is going to happen about out our marriage or our children’s marriage, we are worried about our country’s politics, the government, the economy and we are worried about what is going to happen if we don’t do this or that. All of these thoughts of our lives tear us down and so many of these things are not in our control. We spend an enormous amount of thought and energy on what we cannot control. So Jesus is saying look, let us get things straight in our lives. What do you need to be worried about? What do you need to have focus in your life? Here is what it is- “seek first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness.” That is it! Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the things that you are worrying about-God will add to you. He knows what you have in need of before you even ask.

Yes, you can ask God but when we ask let us ask with thanks giving. Let us ask with the appreciation of knowing who God is. But let us take all the cares and the worries, the things that we can fret about in life and have stress about and put it into His hands. May be you are going through a health issue right now. May be you are not sure how that surgery is going to work out or what is going to come up or maybe you are wondering if you are going to have the job because you are having an issue at work. May be you are wondering about your income or about constructing a house- a place to live. So many things that I can list which makes each of us worry. But God is saying put those in to my hands; let me worry about the things that are in your hearts. And why don’t you worry about things that are on God’s heart. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness because what God is interested first and foremost in your life and in my life is that we be His children because this life is but a whisper and a vapor. All the things that we worry about in this world are going to disappear and be gone but there are things that last forever like God our father, our relationship with Him, His kingdom and His righteousness and the relationships that we have with others. Let us focus on the big things, the things that have meaning and let us realize that these are things that worth our attention.
I am sure you all know the Parable of the Rich Fool described by Jesus in Luke 12:13-34. “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I will say to myself, you have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, 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, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
So what does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God? Jesus said seek first the kingdom of God in His sermon on the mount. The meaning of the verses directs us as it sounds that we are to seek first the things of God as a priority over the things of this world. Primarily we are to seek the salvation that is the inheritance in the kingdom of God because it is of greater value than all the world’s riches. This does not mean we should neglect the reasonable daily duties to help sustain our lives. Certainly not! For the Christian there shouldn’t be difference in the attitude towards them. If we are taking care of God’s business as a priority- seeking His salvation, living in obedience to Him and sharing the good news of the kingdom of God to others. Then He will take care of our business as He has promised. And if that is the arrangement then there is no need to worry. Then how do we know we are truly seeking God’s kingdom first? There are questions we can ask ourselves. Where do I primarily spend my energy? Is all my time and money spend on goods and activities that won’t last? Or is it in the service of God, that the results of which last eternity. Believers who have learnt to truly put God first may then rest in this which is fully dynamic- all these things will be given to you as well. God has promised to provide for His own, supplying every need. God says our focus should be away from this world, its status. Its false attractions and to place upon the things of God’s kingdom. Let us pray for God to help us do this. Let us be challenged today that we will seek God, His kingdom and His righteousness and ask that He will help us to make this first and foremost priority in our lives. May God bless you all!​

JACOB VARGHESE

-ADVERTISEMENT-