What will I eat? How will I pay the bills? How will I have a happy marriage? How will I have a successful career? Everyone seems to be preoccupied with these kinds of concerns. These anxieties are all around us. Unconsciously we all have these (or similar) questions running through our heads, even as we are actively involved with our ministries. Do these thoughts trouble us? Let’s read further and understand a higher purpose, a greater calling and maybe even discover a call within a call!When faced with these very concerns of the disciples, Jesus calmed them by giving them a higher purpose. He told them not to worry about their needs in this world, but to instead seek God’s kingdom, having the promise that their heavenly Father would then also meet all those needs: “…do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or‘What shall we drink’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well” (Matt 6:31-33, RSV)But what does it exactly mean to “seek first his kingdom”? For that, let’s try and understand what Jesus meant by “his kingdom”. I'd like to summarise my understanding of The Kingdom of God as the following:
-- God’s active rule over his creation which includes his victory over Satan. God does not complete his display of authority until Jesus returns in judgment, when he will start the new world order
-- Enjoyment of God’s rule. I.e. Enjoying life in all its fullness (Jn 10:10) and righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17). This salvation includes gifts enjoyed in this life, such as physical healing (Mk 5:34), temporary resurrection (Mt 11:4-5), deliverance from demonic possession (Lk 8:36), forgiveness of sins (Mk 1:4; 2:10; Lk 7:48), and righteousness (Mt 6:33)
-- Enjoying the free gift of salvation by that reign, not only in this present age but more importantly in the age to come. This means inheriting eternal life promised through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Now that we know what “his kingdom” refers to, let’s try and understand what it means to “seek” this kingdom. In order for us to seek something it is necessary for us to place value in that thing. In events like the Olympics there are young high school students, college students, and parents who take much time out of their schedules because they value the prize of being the best. They seek the gold medal. But what do you seek? What do you value enough in your life that you are willing to sacrifice other things in order to achieve that? There may be several things that fit into that category for all of us. But Jesus shows us that there is something that must rise far above all else in our hearts. He shows us what must be at the very top of our list. To seek first means to value something far above all else in this life.
-- Trusting in God who is both Father and King of his people, we must stop worrying about things we would need on earth – which our Father already knows we need them and instead focus our energies on seeking God’s kingdom
-- Being always preoccupied with matters of the kingdom. I.e. giving all it takes to let “his kingdom” take form and shape – in us and through us.
->‘In us’ would mean constantly trying to achieve the next level of spirituality in our journey to sainthood
->And ‘through us’ would mean being compelled by God’s love (2 Cor 5:14) and filled by this love striving to let God’s reign be established in our families, work, social networks etc
-- Like the parables of the treasure and the pearl in Mt 13:44-48, “…sells everything he has in order to buy that field”. This means, once we have known what Kingdom of God is and once we have experienced/tasted the goodness of the Lord and his kingdom, giving up all one possesses in order to make the Kingdom our own. Imagine this - YOU have found THAT hidden treasure, THAT rare pearl of exceptional quality. Go sell all that you have and buy it – it’s yours!
-- Being ready for the unexpected time of the Master’s return (Lk 12:38) I.e. be found seeking the kingdom when the Son of Man comes:
->By being available for the kingdom activities. It is those who are found seeking the kingdom who will inherit what God has prepared for his children
->By investing time in kingdom activities, making safe investments with God. For where your investments are, there will your heart be also (Lk 12:34).
Seeking the Kingdom” is not an isolated action, but a way of life for Jesus’ disciples.
*this is a compilation and content not entirely mine
-- God’s active rule over his creation which includes his victory over Satan. God does not complete his display of authority until Jesus returns in judgment, when he will start the new world order
-- Enjoyment of God’s rule. I.e. Enjoying life in all its fullness (Jn 10:10) and righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17). This salvation includes gifts enjoyed in this life, such as physical healing (Mk 5:34), temporary resurrection (Mt 11:4-5), deliverance from demonic possession (Lk 8:36), forgiveness of sins (Mk 1:4; 2:10; Lk 7:48), and righteousness (Mt 6:33)
-- Enjoying the free gift of salvation by that reign, not only in this present age but more importantly in the age to come. This means inheriting eternal life promised through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Now that we know what “his kingdom” refers to, let’s try and understand what it means to “seek” this kingdom. In order for us to seek something it is necessary for us to place value in that thing. In events like the Olympics there are young high school students, college students, and parents who take much time out of their schedules because they value the prize of being the best. They seek the gold medal. But what do you seek? What do you value enough in your life that you are willing to sacrifice other things in order to achieve that? There may be several things that fit into that category for all of us. But Jesus shows us that there is something that must rise far above all else in our hearts. He shows us what must be at the very top of our list. To seek first means to value something far above all else in this life.
-- Trusting in God who is both Father and King of his people, we must stop worrying about things we would need on earth – which our Father already knows we need them and instead focus our energies on seeking God’s kingdom
-- Being always preoccupied with matters of the kingdom. I.e. giving all it takes to let “his kingdom” take form and shape – in us and through us.
->‘In us’ would mean constantly trying to achieve the next level of spirituality in our journey to sainthood
->And ‘through us’ would mean being compelled by God’s love (2 Cor 5:14) and filled by this love striving to let God’s reign be established in our families, work, social networks etc
-- Like the parables of the treasure and the pearl in Mt 13:44-48, “…sells everything he has in order to buy that field”. This means, once we have known what Kingdom of God is and once we have experienced/tasted the goodness of the Lord and his kingdom, giving up all one possesses in order to make the Kingdom our own. Imagine this - YOU have found THAT hidden treasure, THAT rare pearl of exceptional quality. Go sell all that you have and buy it – it’s yours!
-- Being ready for the unexpected time of the Master’s return (Lk 12:38) I.e. be found seeking the kingdom when the Son of Man comes:
->By being available for the kingdom activities. It is those who are found seeking the kingdom who will inherit what God has prepared for his children
->By investing time in kingdom activities, making safe investments with God. For where your investments are, there will your heart be also (Lk 12:34).
Seeking the Kingdom” is not an isolated action, but a way of life for Jesus’ disciples.
*this is a compilation and content not entirely mine
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