Seeking Everything BUT the Kingdom First…
I recall many a youth rally and church event growing up in which we sang “Seek Ye First.” This song was a staple of my younger years… The tune and vibrancy of the arrangement that is. The message of the song (a direct pull from the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus’ temptation in the desert) took a little longer to sink in (still working on it).
For many, many, many Christians the question we ask of God is not “Why Me?” but rather, “Why not me?” The idea that there will be difficulty in serving Christ is not a foreign concept and is generally embraced (as long as you’re not into that “Prosperity Gospel” nonsense). What I think we struggle with more is the concept that God hasn’t turned his eyes and ears to us with the attentiveness we think we deserve and not answering our every prayer and utterance sent in His direction.
When we apply Matthew 6:33 to our lives (Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.) there will be a revolution to our prayers and our attitude towards prayer. Instead of us asking God to pay attention to everything around US, we start paying attention to everything about God. Circumstances no longer become about me and the inconveniences of a fallen world, but rather as opportunities to see God doing awesome things despite a fallen world.
When we seek His Kingdom we are seeking God’s justice and God’s level of righteousness in and around us. So often, my level of righteousness and justice are determined on how fast I want to drive, how much I want to stop at that STOP sign, and how much I really want to give up of my time and money to someone else. My level of righteousness and justice vary and are determined by circumstance. God’s righteousness and justice is unwavering and consistent through all time.
Imagine the growth to God’s Kingdom when His Church fully seeks to make God’s name great and not its own. Talk about a Re-Brand! It’s time for the Church to be what the Church was meant to be: the Body of Christ.
Post Script: Do you wonder what happens to Matthew 7: 7 – 11 (Effective prayer) when we remove the pause after verse 6?! Read the first 11 verses of Matthew 7 all together, no pauses or separations. I wonder…..if we’re the pigs asking for pearls from God – but our holiness is lacking and we will only trample His good gifts. Maybe the unanswered prayers are the pearls meant for those truly seeking God’s Kingdom above their own instead of living in the squalor of this broken, messy world.
Matthew 7: 1 – 111“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.2For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. 3“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?4How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?5Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.6“Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.7“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.8For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.9“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead?10Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not!11So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly jFather give good gifts to those who ask him. (NLT)