ADRIAN – Do you want 2024 to be your best year ever? There is one thing you can do right now and the better you keep it the better year will be. Put Jesus first in your life.
That sounds simple, but it is not. Everything in life screams for first place. Many of those things are good, like family, ministry, and health. But there is a promise that is one of the greatest promises Jesus ever gave.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)
Jesus commands that our first priority be His kingdom and His righteousness. What does this mean?
Our Focus
Matthew 6 defines three key issues in life: shelter, clothing & food. We spend at least half of our waking hours with these things. We have probably more concern and focus on these things than anything else. But those who personally know God should not be anxious over them.
Our Choices
Jesus indicates that there are two priority choices: our kingdom or God’s kingdom. Generally, we give ourselves first priority. We give too little attention to God’s things. Maybe we expect He will take care of it. But He promised if we take care of His kingdom, He will take care of our kingdom.
Our Goals
When we go after “all these things” we place the priority of our energy and effort into providing for ourselves. But when we can go after God’s kingdom and righteousness, we seek God instead of things, spiritual as opposed to the material, and eternal instead of the earthly. “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God” (2 Pet. 3:11).
Our Priorities
Jesus does not teach that having or pursuing things is wrong. It is not wrong to go after “all these things”. Jesus said, “Seek first,” not let it be the one and only thing you seek or go after. God expects us to work and live. What Jesus is teaching is to let your first priority be following Christ.
Our Denials
Apparently there are two ways of getting things. You can make them the object of life and struggling for them. Or you can have them added unto you. God will always add what we need to our life. Seek first the kingdom and leave the secondary matters to God. If God’s priorities become our priorities, He will take care of our needs. First we seek the kingdom, and then everything else will fall into place.
Our Daily Life
We must not expect God’s specific blessings where He is not first in our life. If the first priority in your daily life is not God’s kingdom and righteousness it may explain some unproductive living. This concentration on doing God’s will is the positive answer to worry. Don’t expect God to bless you, if you are not going to put Him first. We must give God control over our daily lives. This is where the real issue lies. Will we live by faith in Christ, or will we walk by the sight?
Set your eyes on the things that advance God’s kingdom and contribute to the establishment of His righteousness. Allow God to keep His promises concerning the rest of life. Seek first the kingdom and everything else will fall into place. That is His promise.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Greg Burdine is the senior pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Adrian, Michigan. Faith Baptist Church is part of the Lendale Association of the Michigan Baptists.