Dec 3 - Matthew 6:31-33

Jesus said,

So do not worry, saying,

‘What shall we eat?’ or

‘What shall we drink?’ or

‘What shall we wear?’

For the pagans run after

all these things, and

your heavenly Father knows

that you need them.

But seek first his kingdom

and his righteousness,

and all these things will be

given to you as well.

Matthew 6:31-33

 

We sing the song, seek ye first the kingdom of God.

 

These are obviously Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount. And the context is worry. We worry about what we’ll eat … and how we’ll pay for it. We worry about what we’ll wear … and how we’ll pay for it. We worry about where we’ll live … and how we’ll pay for it.

 

No, we may not worry as much as poor folks throughout history (and still around the globe). But most of us are still anxious about many daily concerns.

 

In essence … we focus downward … on the things of this earth.

 

Jesus is saying that that, however, is just the recipe for more worry and stife.

 

“Look up!” he says. “Seek first God’s kingdom. Follow first his ways, along that path of righteousness.”

 

Why?

 

Is this a physical guarantee? I Jesus saying that if you and I focus on righteousness and heaven, God is duty bound to provide food and clothing and earthly riches? Of course not!

 

What Jesus is saying is that when focus heavenward and live righteously, we are placing our lives fully, trustingly, in the Father’s hands. And when we do, we will progressively see more and more of God’s generous provision – not as a guarantee of what God must provide, but in terms of a spirit of thankfulness as seen through the eyes of gratefulness.

 

By seeking God’s kingdom and God’s ways first …

 

·         we begin to prioritize what is truly important.   

·         we begin to be satisfied with what we have rather than always (and selfishly) wanting more.

·         we understand what “all these things shall be added unto to you” really means – that what is truly “added” is eyes to see as God sees and a heart that is thankful for little blessings.

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy with new glasses

… they have UV protection, but

I wonder if they have a KF correction

(KF = Kingdom First)