Matthew 6:33 – The Kingdom of God

^“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33)

Every time I read this verse, the old worship song composed by Karen Lafferty, “Seek Ye First,” plays in my head. Join me in listening here to a recording by Maranatha! Music. We need an arsenal of Bible verses at our disposal for those times when worry creeps in to dampen our joy. This verse is one of those places we can escape.

Context (Matthew 6:24-34): This text comes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount when Jesus shared so much wisdom we can only stand amazed. Here, Jesus talks about worry, knowing that people tend to obsess when things are unknown. Our memory verse is the solution we can cling to when those worries crowd our heads and hearts.

What does seeking the kingdom look like to you? Do you know where to look? Is the kingdom of God a place or is it all around us? Seeking God should be our focus; his location is secondary.

Jesus does a great job of describing for us what the kingdom of God is like. He uses parables and teachings to help us know what we are searching for. In fact, it is one of the major themes Jesus thought important that we understand.

We see mentions of the Kingdom of God all over Scripture, not just the gospels. Here are a few examples.

Psalm 103:19 – “The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.”

Luke 17:21 – “You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.”

Matthew 6:10 – “May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”

In addition to seeking God’s kingdom, we’re reminded here to live righteously. That is, to be in a right relationship with God. We can easily do that when we spend time with him, reading his Word, praying, or worshipping. It’s hard to get off the track of righteousness when we know how to stay on the track in the first place.

And then there’s the promise. How does it make you feel to realize it’s God’s desire to give us exactly what we need? We often mistake needing for wanting and feel like God has forgotten us. Take a moment to do an inventory of your life. Do you have a roof over your head, clothes on your back, and food in your tummy? Those are some pretty basic needs, but I can’t think of a time when I didn’t have plenty. I know there are many starving people in the world, and that is not necessarily what God desires for them. Remember the first part of this promise.

Let’s pray. Lord, you taught us to pray that your kingdom come. I know it is all in your own perfect time. Help me to continually seek you until that day comes. Help me to stay firmly on the path of righteousness you have laid before me. May all distractions fall away so I don’t miss another minute of time with you. Use me as you wish to advance your kingdom here on earth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.