Seek the Lord - not the things
Matthew 6:32-33 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
The Gentiles, the people of the world, seek after the "things of the world" - but we are to seek God. As we put God first and seek Him, He blesses us with the things that we need. If we seek the things first we do not have God. Even if we did not have the promise of His Word that He will add "the things" it would be better to have God.
Matthew 6:24-25 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other, Ye cannot serve God and mammon. [worldly things]
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought [don't be worried or overly concerned] for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
There is a necessary amount of thought that needs to be put into deciding what to eat, drink, and wear. But we are not to be so worried and concerned about having food and clothing and the things of the world that these thoughts become that which occupies all of our thinking and we end up serving worldly things rather than God. When we seek God first and center our thoughts on Him all the worldly things are taken care of by God.
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
The birds don't plant, harvest or store crops; yet God feeds them. Why should we spend all of our time worrying and toiling for food. Are ye not much better than a bird?
Matthew 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Can you get taller by worrying? These are rehtorical questions. They are not meant to be answered, but are given to emphasize the point: Seek God and all the things of the world will be added unto you.
Matthew 6:28-30 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? [believing]
The lilies of the field don't work or make clothing; yet God clothes them. Why should we spend all of our time worrying about what we are going to have to wear. Are ye not much better than a plant?
Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
The thoughts of most of the people in the world are centered in these things. They work to have the things of the world: a special house, fashionable clothing, fine foods, etc. The Word of God declares that as we seek God first and put our efforts into understanding Him that all the things of the world will be added unto us.
Psalm 34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
1 Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith [believing] it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
April, 1997
URL http://www.cortright.org/seekgod.htm
Michael Cortright