Seeking God’s kingdom first.

Seeking God’s kingdom first 

Matthew  6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33

[33]Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things.

God wants you to live with eternity in view.

Everything you will ever get involved in, your primary concern should be, how will this thing I want to do, impact in my readiness for eternity with God.

If it will affect you negatively, then you should stop right there.

Any friend you want to have, marriage you want to get into, business you want to do, if it will make you gain the world and loose your soul. You stop it right there.

It means you must never gain anything, no matter what is involved at the expense of your precious undying soul.

Matthew  16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Listen to what happened to king Solomon, when he applied that wisdom.

1 Kings  3:5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.  3:6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.  3:7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.  3:8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.  3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?  3:10 And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.  3:11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;  3:12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.  3:13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

Mathew was a very wonderful person.

I love to see him in heaven. He was very wise.  When our Lord called him. He left all to follow Jesus.

He gave priority to eternal things more than earthly things.

Mark  2:14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

Luke  5:27 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.  5:28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

When he took this decision, he was already bargaining for a blessed earthly and eternal blessings.

The first thing that happened to him, he became one of the privileged twelve apostles.

Matthew  10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.  10:2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;  10:3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

2. Jesus said, he will sit and judge the twelve tribes in heaven.

Luke  22:28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.  22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;  22:30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

3. He has mansion and crown waiting for him in heaven.

John  14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

1 Peter  1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

1 Peter  5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:  5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

4. His name is written in the foundation of heaven,among the twelve 

Revelation  21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

5. He wrote the first gospel. Gospel according to st Matthew.

King Solomon and apostle Matthew applied this wisdom of seeking God’s kingdom first.

If you follow their example you too will experience same.

Matthew  6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

May God help you to be wise.

Let us pray.