Seek First the Kingdom of God
Today, we turn our attention to one of the most profound and challenging commands of our Lord Jesus Christ, a command that should reorient our entire lives. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks directly to our priorities, our ambitions, and our ultimate purpose. Our topic is "Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God," based on Matthew 6:33: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
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The Greek word for "seek" in this verse is a rich one. It implies a sense of urgency, diligence, and focused effort. As Vine's Expository Dictionary notes, it means "to form with skill, to exercise, to work diligently, to seek with discipline." It’s not a casual, half-hearted search; it’s an active, disciplined, and passionate pursuit.
Many people in the world strive with great effort for the wrong things: for fleeting pleasure, for perishable riches, for temporary fame, or for the indulgence of sin. But as Christians, Jesus commands us to redirect that energy. We must seek what truly pleases God, what endures for eternity, and what matters most.
Today, we will see what things we should not seek, and more importantly, what we, as children of God who desire eternal life, should seek diligently, with all our hearts.
I. The Priority: Seek First the Kingdom of God
Jesus' command is clear: "seek first his kingdom." This sets the ultimate priority for every believer. The kingdom of God is His reign, His rule, and His will being done on earth as it is in heaven. To seek the kingdom is to pursue a life where God is the absolute King and His righteousness is the governing principle.
So, what does this diligent, disciplined pursuit of God's kingdom and righteousness look like in practice? The Bible gives us clear direction.
A. Seek God with All Our Heart: The ultimate object of our search is not just a concept, but a person: God Himself.
• Deuteronomy 4:29: Moses told Israel, "But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul."
• Matthew 22:37: Jesus affirmed this as the greatest commandment: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’" To seek God with all our being means to pursue a vibrant, intimate relationship with Him above all else.
B. Seek Peace: While the world often pursues conflict, the Christian is called to be a peacemaker.
• Psalm 34:14: The Psalmist instructs us, "Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."
• 1 Peter 3:11: Peter echoes this: "They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it." We are to pursue peace not just for ourselves, but with all people, becoming agents of reconciliation in a broken world.
C. Seek Wisdom: The diligent pursuit of God's wisdom is an essential part of seeking His kingdom.
• Proverbs 2:4: We are to "look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure."
• Proverbs 8:17: Wisdom promises, "I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me."
• Proverbs 15:14: "The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly." Godly wisdom is worth more than gold, for it guides us in the way of righteousness and life.
D. Seek Good: Our diligent work should be for the purpose of doing what is good in God's sight.
• Proverbs 11:27: "Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it." Seeking good means actively looking for opportunities to bless others, to act justly, and to build up God's kingdom, knowing that this diligent work brings favor and blessing.
E. Seek Justice: The pursuit of justice is a core reflection of God's own character.
• Isaiah 1:17: The prophet Isaiah commanded Israel, "Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow."
• Isaiah 16:5: He prophesied of the coming Messiah's kingdom: "In love a throne will be established in faithfulness, and on it will sit one from the house of David—one who in judging seeks justice and speeds righteousness." Doing what is right, fair, and just in all our interactions is an active demonstration of God's kingdom rule on earth.
F. Seek Truth: A Christian must be a lover of truth, for our God is truth.
• Jeremiah 5:1: God challenged Israel, "Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city." God seeks those who love and live in the truth, not in lies, deception, or self-justification.
G. Seek Things Above: Our ultimate pursuit is not for the things of this temporary world, but for our eternal home.
• Colossians 3:1: Paul exhorted the believers in Colossae, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God."
• Hebrews 11:14: The great heroes of faith, living as strangers on the earth, confessed "that they were looking for a country of their own."
• Hebrews 13:14: The author of Hebrews reminds us, "For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come." Our goal is not this earth, but our heavenly home, and our lives should reflect that eternal perspective.
- I. Priority in Seeking the Kingdom of God: Matthew 6:33a
- II. The Nature of the Kingdom of God: Matthew 6:33a
- III. The Call to Spiritual Priority: Matthew 6:33a
- IV. The Justice of God as a Reference: Matthew 6:33a
- V. Trust in Divine Provision: Matthew 6:33b
- VI. Freedom from Anxiety through Priority Pursuit: Matthew 6:25-26
- VII. The Warning Against Needless Worry: Matthew 6:27-30
- VIII. The Quest for the Kingdom as a Source of Inner Peace: Matthew 6:31-32
Application: Let us, with all the energy and passion God has given us, diligently pursue what pleases God and leads to eternal life!
- Sermon on Mission: The Missionary Call
- Sermon on Divine Intervention: When God Steps into Our Story
- Sermon on Divine Visitation: Encountering the God Who Comes Near
Conclusion
My beloved brothers and sisters, many in the world strive for things that do not please God, things that will fade away. But as children of God, we are called to a different, higher, and eternal pursuit.
Let us strive diligently, with disciplined effort, to present ourselves approved before God, not as lazy servants but as faithful ones (2 Timothy 2:15: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.").
May our daily decisions—in our families, in our workplaces, in our churches, and in our private thoughts—reflect a heart that seeks the will and glory of God, not the temporary praise or possessions of man. For when we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, we are assured that all other things will be added to us by our faithful, loving Father.
