31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:31-33 NIV
I had the opportunity to pray with my brother-in-love (that’s how we address in-laws) about the issues we face. During the prayer, I quoted Matthew 6:33 about Seeking the Lord first. I asked for forgiveness as I realized that knowing the verse and agreeing with the verse is not the same as “doing” the verse.
What does it mean for us to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness”? Does it mean that we start our day with prayer and reading the Bible? Is that sufficient?
Possibly some clarity could come from Origen, one of the early church fathers, who added this to the verse, “the apocryphal saying of our Lord, repeated by Origen (Clem. Alex.), “Jesus said to his disciples, Ask great things, and the small shall be added to you; and ask heavenly things, and the earthly shall be added to you”. What are the heavenly things? When do I ask for these?
The context of the verse is specific to the details of living life. Where are we going to live, how do we clothe ourselves, what are we going to eat? These are not small matters, especially when you are looking through the lens of parenting.
I think verse 32 has more impact than we usually give it credence. The pagan or Gentiles seek after all these things. If you want to get an idea of what the “world” is pursuing – look at advertising and media. The world promotes what it desires for us to be pursuing. Look how people are offended when they don’t have the nicest things that others have. Successful advertising should make feel as if you can do life without the product being sold. You deserve or are entitled to this. It appears that “greed” is hidden in the spelling of “entitlement”.
Our faith should rest solely upon the later part of verse 32 – “your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” When we believe that we are seen and known by our Father in heaven who never sleeps nor slumbers, we feel hope arise.
Part of seeking means to pray or petition to God. Asking for His Kingdom to come means that we see His provision outweighs our difficulty. Asking for His Kingdom to come recognizes His leading and guiding through our storms and through our stuckness (I know that is not a word, but it expresses the emotions).
How does it make you feel that the Heavenly Father knows your needs? Do you feel that He is standing far away and watching? or do you picture Him holding you in His hand and looking attentively. May you have ears to hear and eyes to see the Spirit’s involvement.
Verse 33 stands in opposition to worry. Where do you find worry occupying your life? Maybe it is not food, clothing, or where you live, but worry about other things outside of you control still fits this verse. We are not created to carry the weight of worry. Physically it carries a toll on us.
Seek God first. As I end this blog…the radio song comes on -keep the first things first. May you re-engage with Seeking the kingdom of God first.
Blessings
Love y’all
Thank you.