Seek This First
There are a lot of things that reach for our attention. Our time is filled with people and responsibilities, with needs and desires, and these all take time.
In Jesus’ famous sermon in Matthew 6, He spends time talking about the various things in life that we give our attention to. Jesus tells us that instead of spending our time worrying about how to get what we need, we should seek His Kingdom and His righteousness. If we do that, then everything else will be taken care of.
So what does it mean to seek God’s Kingdom and God’s righteousness?
God’s Kingdom is about God’s rule and reign over all of creation. His Kingdom began in Jesus’ ministry on earth and is now expanding and continuing through the Church. The work of the Kingdom is to continue to tell others about the hope of Jesus, and to teach all the things Jesus has commanded us.
To seek God’s righteousness is to desire to live the way God intended. It is to live according to God’s commands, which requires that we make decisions that align with God’s Word.
Jesus says that if we do these two things—seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness—then every other area of our life will make sense. When we don’t prioritize God’s desires for our life first, then we’ll end up worrying about things that are temporary.
Living a life according to God’s Word ought to be our greatest concern because God’s Kingdom will last forever.
Think about how you spend your time. In what ways can you make seeking God's Kingdom your first priority? Rather than worrying about how to get what you need, seek God and watch Him meet your needs.
Timeless Wisdom
After being rescued from Egyptian slavery and wandering around in the wilderness for 40 years, the Hebrew people finally stood at the edge of the land God had promised.
Though their long-time leader, Moses, had just died, God appointed Joshua to take his place. During this transition of authority, God gave Joshua some wise advice:
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Joshua 1:8 NIV
The “Book of the Law” refers to the first five books of the Bible—also known as the Torah (in Hebrew) or the Pentateuch (in Greek). Today, we have that and more—66 books of the Bible, including the Old and New Testaments.
God gave the Law to Israel through Moses. These instructions reveal God’s intentions, character, and heart.
And even though God was speaking directly to Joshua at that time, His advice holds timeless ...