Seeking first the kingdom of God by Khabo Dlamini
Posted in Times of Swaziland
People seek many things within a lifetime. Some seek careers, attractive homes, fame, luxurious living, some seek to be tied in holy matrimony, and yet some seek peace and happiness. This is not a weird standard of life because we all seek after one or more of these things in life.the Word
Daniel 3:13-23 and Matthew 10:37-39 is a story where Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego willingly gave up their very lives because they sought the righteousness of God. These men sought first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and they showed it in their devotion. As Christians we should seek to increase our contact with God. We should seek to know God through the word. With God’s word, we can know God’s will. Joshua 1:8 Do not let this book of law depart from your mouth, you should meditate on it day and night so that your ways will be prosperous.
Seek First the Kingdom
God is aware that everybody is seeking and is in need of some of these. Matthew 6:32 contends that ‘for after all these things the Gentiles seek and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them’. When you pose for a while and think about what Jesus meant when he said ‘seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness’. You can find out that Jesus did not mean that we should not work in order to provide our family with the basic necessities of life. I believe that what he meant was that, after obedience to the gospel we are called upon by God to learn to prioritize. Put first the kingdom matters then all these other things which we desire will be added unto us. That is, put the most important things first in our lives. That is the things that concern the kingdom of God.
Put God first
To seek first means to value something far above all else in this life. To seek the Kingdom of God above all else, to pursue or go after, it also means to put God first in our lives and to fill our thoughts with his thoughts and desires. Moreover, it means to take his character for our pattern and to serve and obey him in everything.
Know God through
This Word directs YOU
Without the word of God, we are spiritually blind. We need the word of God to enlighten our spiritual understanding so that we can be able to comprehend the will of God, the depth and the width of the love of God. We must assimilate the word into our hearts. The word of God in Isaiah 55:8-9 says ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord, for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’. Through the word we get to know the heart and the thoughts of God concerning our lives. Paul repeats the fact that we cannot discern the mind of God outside the word of God. The word will rescue us from darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of Christ through obedience to the word of God, Colossians 1:13 -14. The word of God gives us direction and insight. The word directs, strengthens, equips and deepens our spiritual roots. If we hear and do the word we become mature Christians. The word changes our perception about God.
Priorities
There are so many things people need or seek after. But the word of God requires that we seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. People who really want to seek the kingdom of God must set their priorities in order: Seek first the kingdom of God. They must also know that if their priorities are not in order, their lives would be disorderly. Seeking the kingdom of God calls for seeking the King because there can not be a kingdom without a king. Therefore we need to seek the king who is in charge /control of this kingdom. We need to actively seek him because he is the one who holds our future. The more we seek to know God. Our relationship with him increases in other words it is being established. What the king has in his kingdom will be accessible to us because we have a relationship with the king.
Be governed by the King
James 4:8 mentions that those who draw near to God, God will draw near to them. Furthermore, the Bible in the book of Jeremiah 29:13 states that the people who seek God will find him when they search (seek) him with all their hearts. A king rules a kingdom. So we should daily strive to seek the rule or control of God upon our lives. We need to seek to obey the rules and regulations of this kingdom over our lives for us to be able to please the king. Any king can be pleased with a loyal subject who is obedient to him.
We should desire whatever that pleases the King (God). If we enquire of the Lord on what he wants us to do then do it we become loyal subjects. Therefore, if whatever we desire is that which God wants done then our desires would be given to us.
For example, if your desire is seeing people saved, that is one of God’s desires it will be done for you. Make God’s desires your desires which will be met by God. As we seek the king and his kingdom we get to know him and what he wants us to be or do. We should desire to be governed by the king. Now when you truly seek a king, and you truly seek his kingdom, you are automatically seeking for his guidance and his leadership.
Hunger and Thirst
Matthew 5:6 states that ‘Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.’ We have to desire to be right with God, to do the right things, to live right before God. We should be like a hungry man who desires food to fill the pangs of hunger; and be like a thirsty man desires water to quench his thirst. Therefore, we need to hunger and thirst after God’s righteousness. Then all these other things which we need will be added unto us. Make God your first priority. People must see the kingdom in us as ambassadors of the kingdom of God. Whatever we are, say or do should make people to vividly see the kingdom as it is in us. In other words God’s principles should guide us. We must live like kingdom subjects. That is, we have to depict the kingdom in everything that we are or do.
‘These’ things will be added
Now the Lord says that if you will seek His kingdom and His righteousness, ‘all these things will be added unto you. What are the ‘things’ the Lord is referring to here? I believe that he was referring to all the things that we people need or want. These are the things that concern us.
These are the things we desire to have or get hold of. The word of God states that we should ‘Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal’ but you must lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where no moth or rust will temper with it. Now all of these are things that we need. That’s why the Lord said ‘For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.
Now the Lord has promised that if you will seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, you will have all these things you need. But this does not necessarily mean that you would have your wants.
Conclusion
Put God first in all your designs. Acknowledge him as King over your life. Live every moment for God who will take care of your needs. Be directed by his word you will not go astray. Hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness all these things will be added to you.
For Comments: Email:Khaboed@gmail.com or SMS/Call 6174345, SIMA 6081756.
