Seek Ye First

Daily Reflection / Produced by The High Calling

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."

Matthew 6:33

What is the kingdom of God? Sometimes we equate the kingdom of God with heaven. This misses the precise meaning of the kingdom, though it is closely related to what we call heaven. The kingdom of God is, simply, God's reign. In particular, it is God's rule over this earth. That's why Jesus taught us to pray: "Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." In heaven, God's rule is complete and pervasive. On earth, God's rule is incomplete. It is coming fully in the future, even though it has begun to impact the world through Jesus and his disciples.

How do we seek first the kingdom of God? We do so by desiring God's will for our lives above all. We do so by offering everything we do to God as an act of worship. We do so by surrendering our will to him, wanting not what we will, but what God wills.

We seek first the kingdom of God by putting every other demand upon us in its proper place. Yes, we are called to be faithful in our family responsibilities. But God comes before our family. Yes, we are to be hard-working employees. But we seek first the kingdom of God, not the kingdom of the boss. Yes, we are to be active citizens of our nation. But our primary citizenship is in heaven. Thus we seek God's will above that of country or political party. Jesus promises that if we put God first in all things and seek to live according to his revealed righteousness, then every other part of life will be put in good order.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: When have you sought God's kingdom in your own life? In what situations do you find it hard to live with God as your king?

PRAYER: King of kings and Lord of lords, this sounds so simple. All I need to do is to seek first your kingdom, and you'll give me everything else I need. Yet the truth is that I find this very hard to do. You see, I want to be my own king. I want to seek my own kingdom. Giving up rule over my own life doesn't come easily to me.

So I ask you, Lord, to help me. May I learn to seek first your kingdom. May I seek first your kingdom at work, at home, when I'm socializing, and when I'm envisioning my future. Be my king each and every moment. May I be your faithful and devoted subject, glorifying and obeying you in all things and at all times. Amen.

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Contributors: Mark D. Roberts
Published by The High Calling, June 11, 2008. Image by Cindee Snider Re . Used with Permission.

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© 2008 by The High Calling and the Theology of Work Project, Inc.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.