Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom teaches that life in God’s kingdom requires clear priorities. Jesus contrasts trusting God with trusting mammon, i.e., things. He warns against worry over food, clothing, and life itself. These concerns reflect little faith. The call is to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first. When obedience and trust come first, God faithfully adds what we need.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
Audio
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Scriptures used in this lesson:
Matthew 6 25-34, Matthew 6:24, Proverbs 30:25, Matthew 6:33, Matthew 6:21, Mark 4:40, Matthew 6:22, Matthew 6:24, (KJV) Matthew 6:25, Matthew 6:26, Proverbs 6:6, Matthew 6:27, Revelation 1:18, Matthew 6:28-29, Matthew 6:30, (KJV) Matthew 8:26, Matthew 14:31, Matthew 16:8, Luke 12:28, Matthew 8:10, Matthew 15:28, James 2:22, Matthew 6:32, Matthew 6:33, (KJV) Matthew 5:16, Matthew 6:25, Matthew 6:27, (KJV) Matthew 6:28,
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
Introduction to Matthew 6:25-34 Sermon on the Mount Study
We are continuing our study in Matthew, and working through the Sermon on the Mount has taken more time than expected. What would typically fit on one or two audios has required several, simply because of the depth and richness of these chapters. As we move toward chapter seven, I believe we will eventually return to a steadier pace. The depth of this material has been a joy to open up, and I have seen many truths that apply directly to my own life. Because of that, I don’t want to rush past them.
I want us to slow down and do these chapters right, because they are foundational teachings for life in the kingdom of God. This was the core of Jesus’ message. He preached repentance because the kingdom of God was at hand; this message runs throughout this section and recurs in this lesson.
Last time, we concluded our discussion of the truth that one cannot serve both God and mammon. To bring us back into the flow, I want to recap one main section and then focus on verses 19-34.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
The Necessity of Unlimited Trust in God
I titled this sixth section of the Sermon on the Mount “The Necessity of Unlimited Trust in God,” covering verses 19-34. It is a section built on contrast. Unlimited trust in God is not optional. We are saved by grace through faith; faith entails belief in and trust in God. That kind of trust is required, not optional.
Our trust, belief, and faith in Him must continue to grow until we reach a place of complete confidence in Him. Trusting God is unavoidable because if we are not trusting Him, we are trusting something else.
Matthew 6:24
24 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.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
This entire chapter presents that contrast clearly. People will trust something. They will either trust God or trust mammon. They will store up treasures on earth or treasures in heaven. Their vision will either be clear or clouded. They will either seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, or they will seek mammon. In Jesus’ mind, teaching, and emphasis, the issue is clear and decisive.
Treasures: Earthly or Heavenly
This section begins with Jesus addressing the subject of treasures (Matthew 6:19-21). He clearly teaches that we are not to lay up treasures on earth, where they are temporary and can be lost, but instead to lay up treasures in heaven. Treasures fall into only two categories. They are either earthly or heavenly.
When I say heavenly, I am not talking about some distant place. Another way to understand heavenly is to say spiritual. Reading Scripture with that understanding helps open it up. We either invest in earthly treasures or in spiritual treasures. There is no middle ground.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
Jesus goes on to list the kinds of earthly treasures the Gentiles or heathen pursue. He then tells us not to worry about those things. We are not to be anxious about food, clothing, or the length of our lives. Instead, we are told to seek first the kingdom of God. Everything in this section builds toward that truth and points directly to Matthew 6:33.
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
This becomes the cap and the seal of the teaching.
Treasures are either earthly or spiritual. Earthly treasures pass away, while spiritual treasures last forever. That establishes the foundation of the passage.
Where Your Treasure Is
Verse 21 gives a powerful and simple principle.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
Matthew 6:21
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Wherever a person’s treasure is, that is where their heart will be. You can see what someone truly worships by where their money goes. What a person invests in is what they love and pursue.
I speak from personal experience here. When I was deer hunting, that is where my money went. I bought bows, arrows, rifles, ammo, camouflage, stands, and every other piece of gear. My time went there as well. What I invested my money and time in revealed exactly what my heart was in.
Jesus already taught us that prayer reveals how we use our time, giving shows how we use our money, and fasting reveals where our energy goes. When I look back at my own life, all three were going to deer hunting. My money went there. My time and energy went there. That made it very clear what my god was at that time.
It becomes easy to see what someone truly worships by asking three simple questions. Where does their money go? Where does their time go? And, where does their energy go? You can apply that to anything. Clothes, hobbies, or even building a house can take over. I built a house and watched both my money and my time flow into it. In that season, it became my god.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
Consequently, it is easy to see where a person stands spiritually. Consider their money, their time, and their energy. Jesus summed it up perfectly. Where your treasure is, that is where your heart will be. The clarity of His teaching is remarkable.
The Eye and Spiritual Vision
I then point out that the heart and mind cannot be in two places at the same time. Jesus elaborates on this in verse 22, where he states that the light of the body is the eye.
Matthew 6:22
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
He is not referring to physical eyesight in a literal sense, but to spiritual perception. A single, healthy eye represents a clear and focused life.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
When a foreign substance enters the eye, vision becomes blurred, and darkness follows. Jesus compares that to treasures. When the wrong treasure comes before the kingdom, it clouds our vision. We lose clarity about spiritual things. Something else precedes the Kingdom of God.
When that happens, correction is required. Our lifestyle must be adjusted. Our spiritual priorities must be reordered. And, our relationship with the Lord must be realigned. Jesus makes it unmistakably clear. Nothing is more important than the Kingdom of God, and it must always come first.
The One Absolute Priority
Jesus made this clear. In His mind, there is one absolute priority. The most important thing is the Kingdom of God. He said it plainly when He told us to seek first the Kingdom of God, and that sets the foundation for everything that follows.
Jesus then explains what occurs when the eye is unhealthy. If a foreign substance enters the eye, whether as a pathogen or an obstruction, the eye is no longer single or clear. When that happens, darkness replaces light. The eye is meant to receive light, and when it cannot function properly, the entire body is affected.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
He uses the eye as a picture of the inner life. A clear, healthy eye produces light throughout a person’s life. A clouded or diseased eye produces darkness. The amount of darkness depends on the degree of visual obstruction. That is the simplicity of His teaching, and all of it fits together.
The Lord connects a healthy eye with healthy thinking about treasures. Diseased eyesight represents distorted thinking about what we value. Someone consumed by earthly treasures lives in spiritual darkness, and the depth of that darkness corresponds to how blurred their spiritual vision has become. It really is that simple.
Accordingly, you can see where a person stands spiritually. You can observe how they are doing in the Kingdom of God by watching their direction and movement in life. When something other than the Kingdom comes first, darkness and destruction eventually follow. It may take time, but it is certain.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
The Impossibility of Divided Loyalty
Jesus then states the principle without exception. No one can serve two masters. A person will love one and hate the other, or cling to one and despise the other. Serving both God and mammon is impossible. There is no middle ground.
Matthew 6:24
24 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.
Jesus Christ makes it unmistakably clear that it is impossible to serve both God and things. Our minds may convince us that we can do everything we want and still serve God, but Jesus says that cannot happen. A person will love one and hate the other. There is no way to serve God and mammon at the same time.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
The True Treasure: The Kingdom of God
He then points us to the true treasure. There is a priceless treasure and a fine pearl (Matthew 13:45-46), and when someone truly sees it, everything else loses its value. That person willingly lets go of all other pursuits to gain that one treasure. That treasure is the Kingdom of God.
The message of Jesus Christ is the message of the Kingdom of God. Nothing is greater than it. Nothing is more important. The Kingdom teaches us how to think, how to live, how to raise our children, how to manage our homes, how to function in the church, and how societies should operate. There is nothing better than the Kingdom of God, and that truth closes the section we covered last week.
Kingdom Priorities and Freedom from Worry
Accordingly, Jesus moves directly to the issue of priorities. Since nothing is greater than the Kingdom, we are told not to worry or be anxious about life. Food, drink, clothing, and even the length of our lives must never take first place. Life itself is more than these things (Matthew 6:25-34).
Jesus uses this teaching as a connecting point. He is telling us not to confuse our priorities. We owe it to ourselves, our families, our church, and our city to prioritize God. Nothing is to come before Him.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
The Danger of Confused Priorities
When priorities become confused, a downward spiral begins. It starts in the way we think and eventually leads to sin. Jesus addresses this by saying, “Take no thought.” Every translation points to the same meaning. Do not worry. Do not be anxious, and do not allow confusion to take over.
Matthew 6:25
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought 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?
We should not worry about matters that do not concern us. Our priorities must be kept in order. What we devote our time, money, and energy to should align with what we are truly meant to pursue.
The problem is that we often confuse what really matters. We say we serve God, see clearly, and store up heavenly treasure, yet much of our time, energy, and money is spent worrying about mammon. We do love the Lord, but when everything is added up, we have to ask who receives the most. Too often, mammon wins.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
Money, Provision, and Proper Order
I want to clarify something. There is nothing wrong with money. David was rich. Abraham was rich. Solomon was rich, and God made him that way. God wants people with resources because finances help advance the kingdom of God. Without giving, the ministry is limited. That is why specific needs go unmet. The issue is not money itself.
What matters is order. Everything we do, where we work, and how we live must be centered first on the kingdom of God. Buildings are not the kingdom. People are. Consequently, leadership must remain vigilant and avoid being drawn into misplaced priorities. I have needed correction in this area myself, and I know how easily mammon can take too much attention.
Jesus then points us to the birds of the air.
Matthew 6:26
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?
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
They do not sow, reap, or store in barns, yet the Father feeds them. He uses everyday illustrations to make a powerful point. Watching birds fly by helps us see what He means. The birds are neither anxious nor lazy. Jesus is not teaching against work or preparation. He is teaching against worry. The lesson is simple. Trust the Father, and do not let concern for provision replace confidence in God.
The Bible also uses the example of ants to show that preparing for the future is not wrong. Jesus is not teaching laziness, nor is He speaking against provision. That is important to understand. His issue is not preparation, but worry.
Proverbs 6:6
6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
The principle is simple. If we are seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, there is no need to worry about anything else. When we are in a faithful covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ, He takes care of our needs. That truth is the secret I have learned, and I realized it quickly. Living in His covenant and putting His kingdom first brings provision.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
Scripture even cites the ant as an example of prudent preparation. At the same time, Jesus warns us not to let concern over provision become anxiety.
Proverbs 30:25
25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
When we worry about these things, we are looking to mammon for security instead of God. Proper security is not found in provision itself, but in God alone.
Worry Cannot Add to Life
What I believe the Spirit is saying is that when we begin to focus on mammon, on how much money we have or want in the bank, and on things that interrupt our time with the kingdom of God, our priorities have shifted. At that point, we are trusting in mammon for provision rather than trusting God. When that happens, our priorities become confused.
Jesus addresses this directly in verse 27 when He asks who can add one cubit to his stature by worrying.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
Matthew 6:27
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
The word translated as “stature” does not only mean height. It also denotes maturity or longevity. A cubit is approximately eighteen inches, which makes it clear that He is not referring to small physical changes. The real issue is not height at all, but life itself.
Different translations clarify this by stating that worrying cannot add even a moment, an hour, or a few years to a person’s life. Worry does not extend life. It cannot increase our lifespan. Jesus teaches that anxiety about life is pointless.
God’s Sovereignty Over Life
What He is showing us is that worrying about our longevity is foolish. We can shorten our lives through unhealthy habits such as overeating, poor diet, lack of exercise, or misuse of the body. Those choices matter. Even so, no one can add a single day beyond what God allows.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
A person can worry themselves to death, but never worry themselves into life. God alone holds authority over life and death. Understanding His sovereignty, rather than trusting our own control, is what truly orders our days.
Revelation 1:18
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
We can choose to worry and even give our lives over to our bodies. By that, I mean becoming consumed with physical focus, where all time, energy, and money are devoted to the body. Some people run constantly, play sports nonstop, and center everything on physical condition. In that situation, the body itself becomes a god.
Giving your life to your body will not add a single day beyond what the Lord allows. Priorities must stay in order. There are health principles we should follow, and poor habits can shorten life. Even so, no one can add a day beyond what God permits. That is what Jesus is teaching. We are to do what we know is right and refuse to live in worry.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
Jesus then tells us to learn from the lilies of the field.
Matthew 6:28-29
30 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
God’s Care Reveals the Priority of Faith
They do not toil or spin, yet even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like them. The lesson is simple. Look at how God provides beauty and purpose without anxiety.
The flowers teach us that beauty is not found in appearance but in fulfilling purpose. We need not worry about material concerns to live out that purpose. When priorities stay aligned, mammon loses its power. Mammon always works against true purpose.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
The deception of the enemy and the carnal mind is the idea that we can serve both God and mammon. People try it every day, but it never works. One will eventually become god, and the other will be left behind. Judas is a clear example of that truth.
Jesus is driving this point home. He has already spoken about treasures, clothing, and food. Now He adds the illustration of grass.
Matthew 6:30
30 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?
If God clothes what is temporary, He will certainly care for us. His conclusion is clear. Worry reveals little faith, and trusting God reveals the right priority.
Little Faith and the Focus on Things
Jesus has been discussing matters throughout this passage. He has addressed treasures, mammon, food, clothing, and the length of life. These are the very things people often want to have faith for. We want faith for money, nice clothes, nice cars, and material needs. Those are the issues He has been addressing.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
Jesus responds to that focus by saying, “O ye of little faith.” That statement sets up a more profound truth. I used to be known as a faith person, and I still teach faith, but I now teach it on a higher level. Instead of seeking faith itself, I have learned to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. When that happens, God adds these things. That is the only way they are truly added.
There is a kind of faith that is shallow and performance-driven. I have walked in that myself. I am not pointing at anyone else. Yes, I have done the naming and claiming. However, I have learned something better. What I have learned is that covenant comes first. When I walk in the kingdom of God and seek His priorities first, He takes care of me. That is the dimension in which I now live.
Jesus repeatedly corrected His disciples for little faith. He said it when they were afraid in the storm. He said it when Peter walked on water, but doubted. These were not ordinary followers. They were the apostles, the very best among them.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
Their problem was fear and doubt. Fear is the opposite of faith. Even after seeing miracles, they failed to remember what they had learned. Jesus addressed this directly by calling it “little faith.”
Matthew 8:26
26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Matthew 14:31
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Matthew 16:8
8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
Luke 12:28
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
In Mark 4:40, it’s even “no faith.”
Mark 4:40
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
Great Faith and the Understanding of Authority
But in Matthew 18, I found great faith.
Matthew 8:10
10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
That was the centurion who understood authority, which has nothing to do with things. It was about understanding authority. He says, I have not seen such great faith, no, not in all of Israel, because he understood authority.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
Matthew 15:28 (KJV)
28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
This was the Canaanite woman demonstrated humility, persistence, and submission to divine order.
And then in James 2:22, I find perfect faith.
James 2:22
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Our faith made perfect, which was Abraham, and it was concerning his obedience.
Authority, Obedience, and the True Nature of Faith
Now, it’s remarkable to me that I find no faith, great faith, and perfect faith wrapped up in understanding authority and obedience. Now, consider that compared to contemporary philosophy and contemporary teachings about faith. I’m not putting down any message because I have been there. I just know there’s something better.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
Much of today’s teaching on faith places importance on things, while obedience and understanding authority are treated as secondary. Jesus taught the opposite. He identified faith focused on things as little faith, and He described faith rooted in authority and obedience as great and perfect. I have learned there is a better way, and that understanding has changed how I teach.
That better way is seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. When we do that, the things people worry about are added to our lives. In the teaching of the kingdom, the central issues are authority and obedience. Material things are simply part of the promise, not the focus.
Jesus treated food, drink, clothing, longevity, and all mammon as trivialities associated with little faith. To Him, these matters were of minor importance. What truly mattered was obedience and understanding authority. Today’s faith teaching often reverses that order, making things primary and obedience secondary.
Gentiles Seek Things, Not the Kingdom
Jesus makes this clearer in verse 32.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
Matthew 6:32
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
He explains that the Gentiles, meaning the heathen or the lost, seek after things. They are not seeking the kingdom of God. When believers also pursue things first, we lower ourselves to their level instead of lifting them higher.
By chasing after things, we give a misplaced witness of what the kingdom is about. We ultimately want the same things they want. Yet the Father already knows what we need. He knows we need food, clothing, and provisions. Our needs are not hidden from Him, but they are not meant to be our pursuit.
God Knows Our Needs Before We Ask
If I walk in the kingdom, the question is not whether I can have a nice car or a lovely house. Jesus gives us clear reasons not to live in anxiety over those things. Our Heavenly Father already knows what we need before we ever ask. Jesus speaks in terms of needs, not wants. Food, clothing, and the length of our lives are needs, and God is fully aware of them.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
I went back and reviewed this passage carefully to ensure we are thinking the same way. Jesus first tells us not to seek earthly treasures. Then He says not to seek mammon or things. He defines those things clearly. They include life itself, the duration of life, the body’s needs, food and drink for the belly, and clothing. All of that is laid out plainly.
Next, He tells us not to seek what the heathen seek. Heathens pursue things, and those things are tied to little faith and minor importance. When we pursue mammon or material things, we begin to think and live like the heathen.
Jesus guides us step by step away from what not to seek, so that He can finally show us what to seek. This is the mind of Christ. It is the thinking of Jesus Christ Himself. He then says it clearly in verse 33.
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
We are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and everything else will be added.
Seek First the Kingdom of God
Heathens seek things first. Christians are called to seek the kingdom first. In the mind of Jesus Christ, the most important pursuit for the believer is the kingdom of God. That is why I teach it so much. It is what Jesus preached. Everything He did was centered on doing the Father’s will, walking in obedience, and bringing forth the kingdom of God.
The word “seek” carries much more meaning than a casual search. It means to pursue with intention, even to the point of worship, desire, and demand. It involves thinking, striving, and earnestly longing for something. That definition matters because it shows the depth of what Jesus is calling us to do.
I am especially drawn to the definition that describes seeking as being absorbed in the search. It speaks of a persistent and strenuous effort to obtain. That is where I am personally, and where I believe we are headed as a fellowship. This pursuit has captivated me, and I am continually working to understand it more clearly and gain a firmer grasp.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
The Kingdom as the Source of All Teaching
Everything I teach flows from this pursuit of the kingdom of God. When I teach about covenant or related truths, it is because I have gained another glimpse of what the kingdom is. The kingdom is vast and all-encompassing, yet deeply personal and individual. It is large enough to fill the universe, yet personal enough to touch every life.
To seek first means first in time, place, order, and importance. The heathen pursue food, clothing, and long life, but God’s people are called to seek something far greater. That pursuit is the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
We do this by making the kingdom our primary focus. We pursue it with effort, desire, and intentional thought. Nothing holds greater importance. Not treasure, mammon, food, drink, clothing, or longevity of life. To the mind of Christ, the kingdom of God comes first.
In the thinking of Jesus Christ, nothing outranks the kingdom. That kingdom is inseparable from righteousness. Just as God’s will and His kingdom cannot be separated, righteousness and the kingdom are joined together as one.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
When God’s will is done, His kingdom is present. When His kingdom is present, His will is being done. The two cannot be separated. I explained it like a rainbow. You cannot remove the colors and still have a rainbow. In the same way, there is no kingdom without God’s will being done, and when His will is done, the kingdom is there.
The same truth applies to righteousness. When righteousness is practiced, the kingdom is present. These cannot be separated either. Righteousness means being right with God. It is not complicated. Being right with God is precisely what it sounds like.
Working From Salvation, Not For Salvation
Because I teach obedience and spiritual authority, I am often accused of teaching legalism. We need to be clear about this. I am not working for my salvation. I work out my salvation because I am saved by grace through faith. Salvation is already settled. Because I am saved, I now choose to work.
Once salvation is real, it produces action. I work because I want to see God’s kingdom come. When I devote time and effort to activities such as building or serving, I am not seeking to earn salvation. I am responding to it. That work flows out of salvation, not toward it.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
The same principle applies to helping others. We do not serve so that we can be saved. We serve because we are saved. That is an entirely different way of thinking.
I do not place people under legalism. Salvation comes by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. What I do teach is obedience. I believe there are basic covenant steps that believers should follow, not because they are forced to, but because they want to. Obedience flows naturally from a life that has been changed.
Letting Our Light Shine
I cited what Jesus said in Matthew 5:16. He told us to let our light shine before people so they can see our works. Those works are not about earning salvation. They flow out of salvation.
Matthew 5:16
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
The purpose of those good works is clear. They allow others to see God at work in us. When people see those works, they glorify the Father in heaven.
The difference between the Pharisees and authentic kingdom living is motivation. The Pharisees worked so people could see them. They lived under the law and worked to earn salvation. What we do is different. We work to bring glory to the Father.
I gave an example of serving someone and how it glorified God. That kind of response flows from a changed heart. It reflects a healthy church and brings honor to the Lord. That difference in response reveals a difference in mindset.
I want this fellowship to understand that I do not teach legalism clearly. I teach obedience. Righteousness means right standing with God. There is a clear difference between working for salvation and working from salvation.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
Salvation comes through the blood of Jesus. After that, we continue to seek a righteous life before God. This pursuit is not driven by law but by desire. When we are in the kingdom, our first concern is being right with God because we want to please Him.
God, as our Father, desires obedience from His children. He asks us to believe, to give, to submit to spiritual authority, and to follow His ways. These acts bring glory to Him. Obedience should never be mistaken for legalism.
Final Warnings About Worry and Priorities
When we first direct our attention to the kingdom of God and His righteousness, God promises to add what we need. Those added things include provisions, clothing, life, and resources. These are the very things the world pursues, yet God supplies them as a result, not a goal.
I may be told that I do not teach faith or prosperity enough. My response is simple. If people seek the kingdom first, faith and provision will already be present. The most important lesson in faith I can offer is to seek first the kingdom of God.
When priorities are right, things come naturally. I have learned that walking in covenant and obeying God out of love leads to provision without striving. Obedience produces results.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
Jesus gave commandments, and He promised that obedience would be followed by blessing. We need not live anxious lives.
Matthew 6:25
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought 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?
Matthew 6:27
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Matthew 6:28
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
The word “thought” Jesus used denotes “worry.” He repeatedly tells us not to be anxious about life. Each day has enough concerns of its own, and our focus must remain on the kingdom.
Verse 28 states, “Why take thought for your clothing?” Why worry about clothes? And why be concerned with clothes? Why allow such things as worrying about the longevity of your life? Or worrying about your clothes before the kingdom of God?
I enjoy exercise and activities like playing golf. Those things are fine, and I enjoy doing them. At the same time, I do not allow exercise or hobbies to take precedence over my service in the kingdom of God. I also like nice clothes, not because of vanity, but because I believe a kingdom person should represent the kingdom well. How I present myself can affect how I minister to others.
Even so, I do not allow clothes, food, or personal comfort to take priority over the kingdom. My body is not my god. I do not let physical desires interfere with what God has called me to do. That is the point I am trying to make. Priorities must stay clear, and the most crucial thing must remain first.
Matthew 6 25-34 How to Seek First the Kingdom
In the mind of Jesus Christ, the kingdom of God comes before everything else. He is the King, and we are servants in His kingdom. That truth must shape how we live.
Jesus reminds us not to worry about today or tomorrow. Each day carries enough responsibility in itself. When we get through today faithfully, that is enough.
The Closing Question of the Kingdom
This entire section warns us not to worry more about things than about the kingdom of God. It calls us to examine our priorities and ensure they are in the appropriate order.
As we close this chapter, we must ask ourselves honest questions. Do we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, or are our priorities confused? Is some mammon our god, and where is our treasure?
That question reveals the difference between kingdom thinking and worldly or religious thinking. The most important thing remains the same. Seeking first the kingdom of God. I enjoyed this time together, and I enjoyed speaking on what matters most to me.
Matthew 6 25-34
Matthew 6 25-34
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