Matthew 6:33 - God First And Last And Best In Everything!
Mat. 6:33; God First And Last And Best In Everything!
Mat 6:33 (KJV) Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:33 (NCV) The thing you should want most is God's kingdom
and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will
be given to you.
Mat 6:33 (EAV) But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all
His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being
right), and then all these things taken together will be given you
besides.
Jesus said: "Seek first the kingdom of God." That was to come
first; it was to come ahead of everything else... We say, we do not
want to seek the kingdom of God first. We have a good many things
that must be attended to before we seek the kingdom of God... The
whole living world is seeking for something.... Then why not seek for
the best things? If people will so seek for temporal things,
doesn't it serve to show that you do not believe that God is real; or
else you would first seek the kingdom of God, and find it before any
of these other things? [D. L. Moody; The Gospel Awakening; Spirit
Filled Life Daily Devotional Bible]
Immediately we look at these words of Jesus, we find them the
most revolutionary statement human ears ever listened to. "Seek ye
first the kingdom of God." We argue in exactly the opposite way, even
the most spiritually-minded of us-'But I must live; I must make so
much money; I must be clothed; I must be fed.' The great concern of
our lives is not the kingdom of God, but how we are to fit ourselves
to live. Jesus reverses the order: Get rightly related to God
first, maintain that as the great care of your life, and never put the
concern of your care on the other things.
Our Lord points out the utter unreasonableness from His
standpoint of being so anxious over the means of living. Jesus is not
saying that the man who takes thought for nothing is blessed-that man
is a fool. Jesus taught that a disciple has to make his
relationship to God the dominating concentration of his life, and to be
carefully careless about everything else in comparison to that. Jesus is
saying-Don't make the ruling factor of your life what you shall eat and what
you shall drink, but be concentrated absolutely on God. Some people
are careless over what they eat and drink, and they suffer for it;
they are careless about what they wear, and they look as they have no
business to look; they are careless about their earthly affairs, and God
holds them responsible. Jesus is saying that the great care of the
life is to put the relationship to God first, and everything else
second. [My Utmost for His Highest]
Look Again and Think; Jesus Christ knows our circumstances
better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to
the point where they become the primary concern of our life.
Whenever there are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always
put your relationship to God first. [In His Time; My Utmost For His
Highest]
Give God first place and let him have precedence. This is the
secret of safe guidance and peaceful progression. Simple dependence
upon him, committing our all to him, obeying him implicitly - this is
how to acknowledge him "in all thy ways. Al Bryant [Time With God
SB]
The Christian, who has a personal relationship with God as his
Father, relies on One who not only knows, but also controls tomorrow.
When we appreciate how much God loves us, we no longer feel pressure
to "run after" even the necessities of life. This frees us to set
right priorities, and "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness".
What a joy to worry about nothing except pleasing Jesus! [The 365-Day
Devotional Commentary]
Instead of worrying about what we cannot do, we need to focus on
what God can do. To "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness"
means to "give him first place in your life." It means to turn to God
first for help, to fill your thoughts with his desires, to take his
character for your pattern, and to serve and obey him in everything. What
is really important to you? People, objects, goals, and other
desires all compete for priority. Any of these can quickly bump God out
of first place if you don't actively choose to give him first place
in every area of your life. [Life Application SB]
How should believers today practice Matt. 6:33? We will start
with our time, and put God first in every day. This means time for
prayer and reading the Word. We will put God first in every week,
attending the house of God faithfully. We will put God first every payday,
paying the tithe to the Lord. We will put God first in our choices,
making no decision that would leave God out. [Wiersbe Expository
Outlines]
Are You Obsessed by Something?; The total being of our life
inside and out is to be absolutely obsessed by the presence of God. If
we are obsessed by God, nothing else can get into our lives-not
concerns, tribulation, nor worries. To be obsessed by God is to have an
effective barricade against all the assaults of the enemy. [In His Time;
My Utmost For His Highest re Psa.25:12]
Open your hearts to receive this kingdom, and make its service
your highest interest. Though it is a spiritual kingdom, fear not
that your needs for this life will be uncared-for. If you give
yourself to God's service, He who has all power in heaven and earth will
provide for your needs. Jesus does not release us from the necessity of
effort, but He teaches that we are to make Him first and last and best
in everything. We are to engage in no business, follow no pursuit,
seek no pleasure, that would hinder the outworking of His
righteousness in our character and life. Whatever we do is to be done
heartily, as unto the Lord. MB98,99
There are many whose hearts are aching under a load of care
because they seek to reach the world's standard. They have chosen its
service, accepted its perplexities, adopted its customs. Thus their
character is marred, and their life made a weariness. In order to gratify
ambition and worldly desires, they wound the conscience, and bring upon
themselves an additional burden of remorse. The continual worry is wearing
out the life forces. Our Lord desires them to lay aside this yoke of
bondage. He invites them to accept His yoke; He says, "My yoke is easy,
and My burden is light." He bids them seek first the kingdom of God
and His righteousness, and His promise is, that all things needful
to them for this life shall be added. Worry is blind, and cannot
discern the future; but Jesus sees the end from the beginning. In every
difficulty He has His way prepared to bring relief. Our Heavenly Father has
a thousand ways to provide for us, of which we know nothing.
Those who accept the one principle of making the service and honor of
God supreme, will find perplexities vanish, and a plain path before
their feet. DA330
One day Tauler met a beggar. "God give you a good day, my
friend," he said. The beggar answered, "I thank God I never had a bad
one." Then Tauler said, "God give you a happy life, my friend." "I
thank God," said the beggar, "I am never unhappy." Tauler in amazement
said, "What do you mean?" "Well," said the beggar, "when it is fine, I
thank God; when it rains, I thank God; when I have plenty, I thank
God; when I am hungry, I thank God; and since God's will is my will,
and whatever pleases him pleases me, why should I say I am unhappy
when I am not?" Tauler looked at the man in astonishment. "Who are
you?" he asked. "I am a king," said the beggar. "Where then is your
kingdom?" asked Tauler. And the beggar answered quietly: "In my heart."
[Barclay Commentary]
The Painting
Years ago, there was a very wealthy man, who, with his devoted
young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they
traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their
collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others
adorned the walls of the family estate.
The widowed elder man looked on with satisfaction as his only
child became an experienced art collector. The son's trained eye and
sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt
with art collectors round the world.
As winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man
left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father
received a telegram. His beloved son was missing in action. The art
collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see his son
again. Within days, his fears were confirmed. The young man had died
while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic.
Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas
holidays with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season --- a season
that he and his son had so looked forward to --- would visit his
house no longer.
On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed
old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the
walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home. As he opened
the door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his
hand. He introduced himself to the man by saying, "I was a friend of
your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in
for a few moments? I have something to show you."
As the two began to talk, the soldier told of how the man's son
had told everyone of his love not to mention his father's love of
fine art. "I'm an artist," said the soldier, "and I want to give you
this." As the old man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to
reveal a portrait of the man's son.
Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius,
the painting featured the young man's face in striking detail.
Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the soldier, promising to hang the
picture above the fireplace.
A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man
set about his task. True to his word, the painting went above the
fireplace, pushing aside thousands of dollars of paintings. And then the
man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had
been given.
During the days and weeks that followed, the man realized that
even though his son was no longer with him, the boy's life would live
on because of those he had touched. He would soon learn that his
son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled
his caring heart. As the stories of his son's gallantry continued to
reach him, fatherly pride and satisfaction began to ease the grief.
The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far
eclipsing any interest in the pieces for which museums around the world
clamored. He told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever
received.
The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away.
The art world was in anticipation. With the collector's passing, and
his only son dead, those paintings would be sold at an auction.
According to the will of the old man, all of the art works would
be auctioned on Christmas day, the day he had received his greatest
gift. The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world
gathered to bid on some of the world's most spectacular paintings. Dreams
would be fulfilled this day; greatness would be achieved as many would
claim "I have the greatest collection."
The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum's
list. It was the painting of the man's son. The auctioneer asked for
an opening bid. The room was silent. "Who will open the bidding
with $100?" he asked. Minutes passed. No one spoke. From the back of
the room came, "Who cares about that painting? It's just a picture
of his son. Let's forget it and go on to the good stuff."
More voices echoed in agreement. "No, we have to sell this one
first," replied the auctioneer.
"Now, who will take the son?" Finally, a friend of the old man
spoke. "Will you take ten dollars for the painting? That's all I have.
I knew the boy, so I'd like to have it." "I have ten dollars. Will
anyone go higher?" called the auctioneer. After more silence, the
auctioneer said, "Going once, going twice. Gone." The gavel fell. Cheers
filled the room and someone exclaimed, "Now we can get on with it and
we can bid on these treasures!"
The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced the auction
was over. Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Someone spoke up and
asked, "What do you mean it's over? We didn't come here for a picture
of some old guy's son What about all of these paintings? There are
millions of dollars of art here! I demand that you explain what's going
on here!."
The auctioneer replied, "It's very simple. According to the will
of the father, whoever takes the son gets it all."
Puts things into perspective, doesn't it? Just as those art
collectors discovered on that Christmas day, the message is still the same
- the love of a Father - a Father whose greatest joy came from his
son who went away and gave his life rescuing others. And because of
that Father's love ... whoever takes the Son gets it all. [author
unknown]
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