“Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well.” Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬ ‭(NCV‬‬)

Last night at church during our discipleship study, our pastor talked about options. We are swamped with so many options in our day to day lives. Just think about when you go to the store to pick up shampoo, toothpaste, soap… there is shelf after shelf of different options. You can spend forever just trying to decide how you want to smell for the next week. That’s how it is with pretty much everything. Cars, clothes, television shows, restaurants. Everyday we make choices, decisions, some big while others are seemingly small and unimportant.

We face this same dilemma in our spiritual lives. There is so much out there competing for our time, our money, our devotion. And it’s not all bad stuff. Day after day we have to choose what’s important to us. What is our first priority? What are we seeking? Is it our family? Our job? A hobby, maybe? None of these things are wrong to seek after but the Bible is clear on what we should seek FIRST.

Jesus says to “First, seek God’s Kingdom and what God wants.” I think that’s pretty plain. So what does it mean? Well, we should be about our Father’s business. Our primary concern is to be sure that we are doing God’s will. Everything we say and do should be measured against the questions, “Does this glorify God?” “Is this what God wants me to do?” But that’s not all this verse says.

Jesus continues by saying if we do this, if we put God first, all of our other needs will be met as well. God promises to provide but there is something we are supposed to do too. But all too often, we don’t follow through on our end. We tend to “seek His kingdom” on Sunday but really don’t have time for that the rest of the week. We want to seek our kingdom but still expect God to provide all that we need. Doesn’t really sound fair, does it? God deserves better than that.

God knows what is best for us because He has written the detailed plan for our lives. He also gave His very best for us. He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins so that we could receive forgiveness and be saved. It seems to me we should want to seek His Kingdom and do what pleases Him. If you’re like me and sometimes get so caught up in the world, that God kinda gets shuffled around, take some time to pray. Ask God what is crowding Him out of your life. He will tell you. When He does, make the necessary adjustments and put God’s Kingdom in the right place…First.

“Everything in a human being’s life was meant to exist inside of a recognition of the presence, power, wisdom and authority of God. Decay always happens when God isn’t central.” – Paul David Tripp

“In the beginning, God” Genesis 1:1