Seek First the Kingdom of God
Jesus tells us to “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33) and promises blessings if we do. Why should we seek first the Kingdom of God? How should we do it, and how will seeking God’s Kingdom change our lives in the process?
What should be the primary goal of every Christian?
Christians should primarily focus on the thing Jesus said to “seek first”—that is, “the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). But in order to put that first in your life, you need to understand what it is, why it is important and how to “seek” it.
As part of His famous Sermon on the Mount—one of the most extensive documentations of His preaching—Jesus addressed the common questions each of us faces in order to survive (Matthew 6:25-34). How am I going to meet my needs? Will I have food and drink? Will I have clothing?
Addressing these questions, Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (verse 33, King James Version). In essence, Jesus was cautioning us not to worry about these human concerns and to instead place our greatest priority on seeking God’s Kingdom. For more about the Kingdom, see the article “What Is the Kingdom of God?”
Why we must seek the Kingdom of God
The simple, yet profound, reason we must seek God’s Kingdom is that thousands of years of history show that we humans cannot effectively rule ourselves; and in the end, all human governments apart from God will fail.
Solomon wrote in Proverbs 14:12 that “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (emphasis added throughout). Jeremiah added: “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).
Humans have tried every form of government, yet all have eventually come to an end. In addressing events leading to the end of man’s age of self-rule and the beginning of God’s rule on this earth, Jesus said, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world
(See Part II in next week’s edition of the Clarion)
