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All men are seeking something; this is what keeps us going. Various ones seek fame, riches, pleasure, peace, power, and other things. There is only one quest that towers over all others in importance and that should govern all other pursuits. Jesus Christ set it forth in the Sermon on the Mount: “But seek ye first his [God’s] kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mat. 6:33).
Note the facets of this challenging statement:
- The Obligation—Seek: God’s kingdom is His church, built and purchased by the blood of His Son (Mat. 16:18–19; Acts 20:28). In the modern religious Babel one must search diligently to find it. Jesus likely means, however, that we are to give it our full attention, pursuing its welfare and advancement. Our lives are to be centered in it. God’s purposes are wrapped up in His church, which is the “fulness” of Christ (Eph. 1:23). One cannot fully serve God outside of and apart from His church; those in it must give it their best.
- The Order—First: The Lord’s kingdom must take priority over everything and everyone else. If we place anything before or above it, we are idolaters. Even earning our daily food and clothing are to be secondary—mere means to a greater end. Our families are very important (Eph. 5:23–31; 6:1–4), but not more than Jesus’ claims. We are even to be willing to die rather than deny Him (Rev. 2:10). How much less then should convenience, recreation, or pleasure take precedence over God’s will and our service to Him? First means first!
- The Object—God’s Kingdom and Righteousness: God’s eternal plan for man’s redemption involves the church, His kingdom (Eph. 3:10–11). It has existed since the first Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension and can be identified by its distinctive traits, described in the New Testament. Finding it, Truth-lovers will “buy” it as the “pearl of great price,” regardless of cost (Mat. 13:45–46). Men who love it will not think of polluting it with their own doctrines and practices. God’s “righteousness” is His will for making men righteous as revealed in His Word (Psa. 119:172; 2 Pet. 2:21). We dare not seek first our own wills or the will of others. He says that everything—everything—must be secondary to our pursuit of His will.
- The Offer—Promise of Provisions: These things refers to life’s necessities (Mat. 6:32). This is no encouragement to laziness or foolish unconcern, but to trust the benevolent hand of our Creator and Sustainer. Besides the spiritual blessings of serving God, He will throw in our physical necessities “to boot.”
Jesus put us first in dying for us. Where have you put Him? God and His Son deserve to be on the heart-throne of every human being.
[Note: I wrote this article for and it appeared in the Denton Record-Chronicle, Denton, TX, June 4, 2010.]
Attribution: From TheScripturecache.com, owned and administered by Dub McClish.
