Seeking God’s Kingdom

My response to a dear brother’s question about seeking the kingdom of God:

In the context Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus is teaching His disciples (and us) not to worry about anything:

1. Our very “life” (Greek means “soul”) is more important than our physical bodies. Why? Because it’s the first thing God gave us through Adam (Gen. 2:7), after all, we are made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26-27). I believe that’s what verse 25 means.

2. We are more important than birds (verse 26), even though they were created before man (Gen. 1:20). Since our heavenly Father feeds them, how much more will He feed us (spiritually by His word and physically by macaroni and cheese). 😊

3. Anxiety (or worry) doesn’t attribute or add anything to the progress of physical life (verse 27). This same word in the Greek language also appears in Phil. 4:6 (which forbids worry) and 1 Peter 5:7 (which tells us to cast our cares/worries on God!). 

4. Clothing was first designed by God (Gen. 3:21). They were the best physical clothes for man in the world! God also clothes plants (“lilies”) with better clothes than those worn by the wisest man in the ancient world (verses 28-29). It is certainly reasonable to believe that God also gives us physical clothes (verse 30). He doesn’t approve of public nakedness nor nudist camps! He also clothes believers in spiritual clothes (see Isaiah 61:10) which in the church age of grace is the righteousness of Christ (Rom.  5:21).

5. So, with all that said, we’re not to worry about anything, including food, water, and clothing (verse 31). The unsaved desperately seek only these things, but believers should always be aware that our “heavenly Father knoweth that (we) have need of all these things” (verse 32). 

6. So, what’s does it means to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness? It means to stop worrying and put all your trust in the Lord whose kingdom for us “is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom . 14:17). 

Whatever is our situation in life, no matter what, God has given and is giving us everything we need (Phil. 4:19), physically and spiritually. Therefore, seeking the kingdom of God means having a constant desire to continually experience it, praising God for His grace and mercy, and acknowledging Him in all your ways that He may direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5). 

Let’s not let our trying times cause us to lose sight of this. God will remain faithful no matter what.

Blessings!