Seek First God’s Kingdom

Jesus said (Matthew 6:33): “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Scripture provides many examples of this truth. Here are three from the Gospels.

Example 1: Mark 8:1-10 (Matthew 15:32-39). I am impressed with the compassion of Jesus for the 4000+ people who followed him for three days. They were hungry for his teaching about the kingdom of God. They were seeking first God’s kingdom and righteousness. Jesus said, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” Jesus supplied the people’s need for food as they sought first His kingdom and righteousness. The compassionate Jesus supplied more than enough. The disciples had seven loaves and finished with seven baskets full of leftovers. Seek first and serve Christ’s kingdom and his righteousness and he will supply your needs. It is a test of trust.

Example 2: Jesus sent out the 12 (Luke 9:1-3): When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.” The mission of the 12 to proclaim God’s kingdom with authority was seeking first God’s kingdom and righteousness. They took no backpack, food, money, or extra clothes. The disciples did not return from their mission starving and naked. As their needs were supplied it confirmed for them Matthew 6:33. 

Example 3: Jesus gave the same instructions to the 72 (Luke 10): “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals. When you enter a house, stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” As the 72 proclaimed and demonstrated the kingdom of God they were seeking first God’s kingdom and righteousness. I assume not one of the 72 returned to Jesus starving and naked. As God supplied their physical needs it confirmed Matthew 6:33. 

These examples show us that when we seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness He will be faithful to provide for our physical needs in this world. If we put our physical needs first then we will miss God’s blessing and experience anxiety. It is a test of trust in the faithfulness of the Son who spoke the Father’s promise. I have done mission work for God’s kingdom from Belize to Burkina Faso, from French Polynesia to Taiwan, and the Father has always been faithful to this promise.