Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”
Soren Kierkegaard once considered what sort of effort should be considered when seeking the Kingdom of God.
Should a person get a suitable job in order to exert godly influence?
The answer was “no!” We must first seek the Kingdom of God.
Should we give away all our money to feed the poor?
Again the answer was “no”, we must seek the Kingdom of God.
Perhaps we should go out and preach the truth of Gods love to the world?
Once again, the answer was “no”, we must seek the Kingdom of God.
“The person who does not seek the Kingdom of God first, does not seek it at all”
Richard Foster
Without the source of our effort first originating with the pursuit of God, everything we do will be a practice in either legalism or asceticism (religious self-discipline).
What does it really mean to seek the Kingdom of God?
The idea Jesus was relating in Matthew 6 was in regards to where our treasures lay. What is our priority in life? Whatever people seek after has to have a starting point, regardless of where their hope will end. The Kingdom of God is the starting point.
John 3:5 “Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
Seeking after the Kingdom of God is first knowing who is King over the Kingdom and that King is Jesus.
Entering into God’s Kingdom is not as simple as traveling over land and sea to find some hidden kingdom, this Kingdom is not of this world. Knowing and understanding God’s laws is important in knowing what is required for entry.
Godly Perfection
Yes, you have to be perfect to be a citizen of God’s Kingdom so a quick survey will give us a clue as to who can get in:
*People can’t buy their way into God’s Kingdom.
Matthew 19:24 “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
*It’s citizens can’t be sinners.
Ephesians 5:5 “For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
*People can’t choose to go on their own.
John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
*A person must accept God’s method for entry.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Why is seeking God’s Kingdom so important?
If a person doesn’t understand their position before God, they won’t understand the ways God works, what His expectations are for His people, or how to follow.
Coming to Jesus is first understanding the need for His grace. The moral law makes that need evident by revealing sin. By accepting Jesus’ grace, the sinner accepts Jesus’ perfection and gains access into God’s Kingdom through repentance.
The one who has been shown grace and accepted it has had righteousness imparted to them and God’s righteousness is His perfection.
The sinner is made perfect in Christ alone.
First things First
Soren Kierkegaard was reminding those who wanted to walk in righteousness that without first having the righteousness of God, they will not be able to achieve righteousness on their own.
True spiritual power is endowed by the Creator. The people of God who dwell in His Kingdom understand the necessity of doing God’s will, not their own.
Righteousness is defined as walking in accordance with God’s divine or moral law. When a believer walks in righteousness, they understand the necessity of obedience and walk in it by God’s strength. Hearing God lead is given to the one who seeks discernment. The Lord will reveal His perfect will to the one who desires to know it. The Word of God is the standard by which God’s people will follow.
The Kingdom of God is comprised of those who have been made righteous in Christ. As the spirit filled believer continually seeks after God, they will find that He is leading them in the way they should go. Every decision is filtered through the lens of God’s perfection, the law of the Lord is perfect and becomes that lens.
Psalm 19:7-8 “The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes”
Are you a citizen of God’s Kingdom?
God’s citizens show forth the works of God by demonstrating the work of the Spirit active in their lives. Other believers will see the elements of God at work and the joy of the Lord resonates in their hearts.
Believers know God is at work in another believer, because they know how God works. The love of God is demonstrated in the heart of the believer and it shows forth in love toward others.
When believers walk in accordance with God’s Kingdom, God promises to supply their every need. The preacher who teaches prosperity gospel teaching, leads people to seek after the blessing without first placing their priority upon being faithful to God in love. Good works come from a good God and when believers walk the narrow path, they find their journey leads them to the feet of Jesus.
At the feet of Jesus lies grace, mercy, and great reward.
U.T. 