What Are You Seeking?

 “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.” Matthew 6:33-34NIV
 
Throughout our lives we seek many things, security, necessities, friendship, love, and the list goes on.  What are you seeking?  Jesus said "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". Matthew 6:33-34
Those two verses are our focus, but verses 25-32 need our attention as well. Read verses 25-32 and hear Jesus speak to your heart.
          This passage is from the “Sermon on the Mount” in which Jesus addresses many aspects of a godly life. Perhaps you would like to read chapters 5, 6, and 7 this week. Don’t rush, read it slowly and allow the words to sink in.
          Jesus tells us several times in verses 25-32 not to worry about our lives, what we will eat or what we will wear.  Wow, those seem to be two of the things that occupy my mind so often.  What will I wear and what will I feed my family? But Jesus reminds us of the birds and the lilies of the field.  God cares for the birds and aren’t we more valuable than they? The flowers of the field grow and are clothed in splendor even though they are here today and gone tomorrow.  Will He not clothe you as well?
  Jesus says to us, do not worry about these things but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and these necessities will be given to you.
          Jesus said our first priority should be to seek the kingdom of God. But what is the kingdom of God and how do we seek it?  The kingdom of God does not fit the human idea of a kingdom. It conflicts with worldly wisdom because unlike any other kingdom the world has ever seen, the kingdom of God has no physical boundaries and no visible king.  The foundation of God’s kingdom is grace, and it advances with compassion.  In His kingdom the throne is a cross and the King reigns with self-giving love.  The kingdom of God is God reigning through His people whose mission is to love others into the kingdom, in a world marred by sin. Seeking the kingdom of God is to seek a relationship with Him through Jesus, accepting His free gift of salvation.  To be saved into God’s kingdom is to embrace His sovereignty and submit every aspect of life to His rule. That is where the second part of the verse comes in; “seek his kingdom and his righteousness”. We seek God’s righteousness as we submit to His rule over our lives, in other words, as we obey Him.  We cannot be righteous on our own.  Isaiah 64:6 says our righteousness is like filthy rags, but when we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, His righteousness becomes our righteousness.  How thankful I am that when God looks at me, He doesn’t see my sin or my man-made righteousness that is like dirty rags, He sees the blood of Jesus that washes me white as snow.
          Jesus goes on in verse 33 to say, “and all these things will be given to you as well.”
When the Kingdom becomes your priority, the Lord will supply what you need. There is no need to worry, take one day at a time, deal with each difficulty or trouble as it comes relying on the Lord for guidance, strength, and provision. God is on the throne. He is faithful and trustworthy. You are safe in His hands.