Seek First The Kingdom

Matthew 6:31-34 (NLT), "So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today."  If our father already knows our needs, why do we worry about them?

Matthew 7:7-8 (NLT), "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."  Here we see the key. We need to ask and keep asking. Note it does not say, "Worry and keep worrying."  We are not to worry but to bring our needs to God.  Philippians 4:6 (NLT), "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."

Seeking first the Kingdom is not a suggestion in the Word, it is a command. We need to be seeking to know the Giver daily not just seeking the gifts. God longs for us to get to know Him so well that we can trust no matter what our eyes see. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV),"For we live by faith, not by sight."

How do we learn to trust God's character? How do we even know what His character is?  We can see God's character throughout the Word. We can hear His heart in the messages He sent through the writers of Scripture. We can see His love acted out in and through the lives of believers today.

First is the Word. We must daily dive into the Word for ourselves. You don't just eat on Sunday and then wait for the next Sunday to eat again. We cannot do that spiritually either.  The sermon you hear on Sunday cannot be the only spiritual food you partake of each week.

I know some people say, "I don't understand what I read."  Pray for wisdom. Ask God to illuminate His Word to you mind.  One good method of study is to take one chapter and read it every day for a week. Before each reading pray for wisdom and then rehearse what God showed you. Meditate on it. Think about it all day long. Share your thoughts with someone you trust.

A Bible commentary is helpful too. Look at what others have written about the passage. Don't believe everything you read or hear from others. Take it all back to the Source and ask for His guidance.   James 1:5 (NLT), "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking."

Second, look at the messages of the writers of scripture.  David writes in Psalms 23 (NIV), "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing (He provides all my needs!!). He makes me lie down in green pastures (places of peace and rest), he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul (refreshing). He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake (direction). Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me (protection, faith, encouragement, strength). You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies (provision, daily bread, needs met). You anoint my head with oil (honor, healing and restoration); my cup overflows (abundance ). Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (His presence).”  (Italics added for emphasis and clarification.)  These verses address every area of need in our lives.  God longs to meet all our needs.  With everything we know David went through, how awesome is it that he could write this beautiful testimony to the goodness of God!

The final thing we can look at is God moving in and through others today.  A word of warning: when we see God moving in the lives of those around us, we need to be encouraged and not become jealous or discouraged because we may not be seeing Him move in ours. We don't know how long they have been asking, seeking, knocking.

We must also understand that God is always at work in the lives of those who are yielded to Him. Philippians 2:13 (NIV), “ for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” He always answers our prayers too. His answers are "yes," "no," or "wait."  If we get no answer or have no definite feelings on the issue, He may be saying “wait.” When the answer is “yes” we usually feel a sense of peace even if we don't see the answer right away. If the answer is “no” we often feel uneasy about the request and should seek Him till we either gain the peace or hear the definite “no.” Once we yield to the “no” we usually feel peace even if it was something we really wanted.

One thing I've learned is that when I am asking for something that is not already promised in the Word, I must ask with open hands, meaning, I ask but understand that God may have other plans. If I get so caught up in wanting my own way, I will rob myself if peace and rest in Christ. I think sometimes we give the devil credit/blame for our own mistakes. He does try to steal our peace, but we can steal it ourselves by unyielded desires and expectations.

When we pray for needs that are already promised in the Word, we can quote the scriptures with confidence and remind the Lord of His promises.  They we need to rest in Him and allow Him to answer!

Let us Seek first the Kingdom…..