“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”
Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
This verse changed my life last year, it is one of those verses that I heard and read so many times – but I caught the revelation last year. I was actually at a low point in my life and one day I heard this verse and at that specific moment, it hit me differently. So I started studying it in depth and asking God for His guidance. It is one of those verses that comes with a promise – where God asks us to do something and He also tells us what He will do for us.
In this chapter God talks about the flowers in the field, and how they are clothed without having to do a thing. He talks about birds of the air, and how they are fed without having to do anything. I like what He says towards the end of verse 30 “you of little faith”. Birds do what they are required to do, what they were created to do, fly, and they are fed. Flowers do what they are required to do, bloom, and they are clothed. We should do what we are required to do, seek God, and everything else that we need will be added unto us.
I learnt the following when I studied Matthew 6:33:
- Always Prioritize God
God wants us to prioritize Him in our lives. And this is something that we ought to day every minute of every day. Make God First! God prioritized our lives and continues to prioritize our lives – and that is why He sent His only begotten son to die for us (John 3:16). Simple definition of prioritizing God – is to put Him before anyone and anything.
- Be Intentional – it takes actual effort
You must be intentional! It doesn’t come automatically, no, we must be very deliberate when it comes to prioritizing God. This is the how, it is what we do in seeking God. This includes things such as prayer, studying the Bible, doing what God tells us to do, follow His instructions, meditate on the word of God. It takes sacrifice from us in doing all these things.
- The Focus is God
This year I learnt something from one of my favorite pastors, Pastor Mike Todd, he said that every word in the Bible means something, and so when we are studying the Bible to get revealed truth we must pay attention to words, punctuation etc.
In this verse, we are asked to seek God AND all other things will be added, not SO THAT all other things will be added. Our focus therefore is God! But since God searches and knows our heart, then we are still expected to let Him know what things we want Him to do for us, give us, save us from etc. Think about it, if you had a friend who was basically your friend because they knew that they were getting something from you. How would you take it? But imagine the same friend was your friend and they made known what they want to get from you, but still did their part as a genuine friend. Focused on the friendship, invested in the friendship – you might end up giving them what they wanted from you, but with no fear of losing their friendship, because their acts would have proved the intentions of their heart. I know such a long explanation – but I hope we get the point.
Have a genuine heart, be open to God, but do your part sincerely, then you will receive your promise!
I always re-read this verse when I feel like I am losing focus, or putting other things before God. As we enter a new month in two days, let us live out this verse!
Be blessed!
