The Word: We need to seek Him first

Published 11:54 am Friday, January 12, 2024

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“So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:31-34, CSB).” 

Do you ever find yourself wanting more? Even daydreaming of what you would do if you won the lottery? Got plans set up for paying off the house, car, truck, student loans, credit card bills, etc. and what you can do with all that extra cash? Yeah, most folks do. We long to “be free”. The funny thing is…when we pay something off we typically just add on a new payment of something different. How about this: When you make your daily plans or yearly desires to accomplish…where’s God? No, not literally “where’s God”… but in your plans, in your thoughts, in your dreams and desires…Where.Is.God.? 

Read that passage we opened up with again real quick. Go on…pause here for a moment and re-read Matthew 6:31-34. Check it out in other versions if you aren’t a fan of the Christian Standard Bibles phrasing. Do you, like me, catch the needed phrases for life? “Don’t Worry”…“your Heavenly Father knows”….“Tomorrow will worry about itself”…“Each day has enough trouble of its own”. There’s one more vital phrase we either overlook or ignore. “Seek first”. We don’t do that, do we? “Seek first” the things God desires. “Seek first” HIS will and way for your life. “Seek first…HIS righteousness”. 

First. Not second. Not third. Not when it’s convenient. Not: as long as we don’t have a ball game, shopping trip, vacation plans, long weekend, etc. No, no, no…seek FIRST. How quickly we desire the blessings of God without, ourselves, being a blessing. We seek everything else before we seek HIM. We treat God like a part time lover instead of being HIS Bride. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33).” 

Can you imagine what would happen with our stresses, anxieties, worries, anger, plans, schedules, spiritual growth, our families and friends if we all decided to put God first?! What the what?!?!?! “Seek first”. 

“Seek First”. Did you catch what happens when we actually start to seek HIM first? “All these things will be provided for you.” Holy Cow, Batman. God truly provides what’s best and what’s needed…WHEN… WE…SEEK…HIM…First. Let’s get to it! 

Rev. J. Cameron Bailey is pastor of Kenbridge Christian Church. He can be reached at jamescameronbailey@gmail.com.