The One Thing We Must All Do
Last week, I wrote about the idea that we are all out of control (you can go back and read here if you missed it). There are many aspects of life that we can’t control, but the situations where we lack influence are often tremendous opportunities for our faith to grow and flourish.
This shouldn’t just provide a passing sense of comfort, though. Instead, this perspective represents an invitation and a calling to a different way of life entirely. Immediately after cautioning us about the self-inflicted danger of worry, Jesus offers a captivating glimpse into what life in the Kingdom looks like: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33, NLT)
To me, this passage is similar to the Greatest Command in Matthew 22, when Jesus tells the Pharisees that “all the law and prophets” depend upon the command to love God and love others. When the creator of the universe does us a favor by simplifying a highly complex matter into one or two simple principles, we should be quick to pay attention.
However, we can’t leave the conversation there. Seeking the kingdom of God is a great mantra, but it doesn’t make much of a difference unless we critically consider what this practically looks like in our everyday lives:
- When you wake up in the morning, what does it mean to seek the kingdom of God above all else?
- When you’re making breakfast and helping your children get ready for school, what does it mean to seek the kingdom of God above all else?
- When you arrive at work, interact with your coworkers, and begin your daily tasks, what does it mean to seek the kingdom of God above all else?
- When you’re making weekend plans, what does it mean to seek the kingdom of God above all else?
- When you have free time in the evenings, what does it mean to seek the kingdom of God above all else?
I don’t have the answer to all these questions, but I think they are important for us all to wrestle with. If Jesus meant what he said when he called us to seek first the kingdom of God above all else, I think these questions should remain in our minds often and force us to stretch our thinking and adjust our expectations.
A final thought as we close: remember that Jesus isn’t commanding us into blind submission or giving us “busy work” to keep us occupied. This particular command is immediately followed by a promise: “And He (God) will give you everything you need.”
The word “everything” should jump off the page and scream at us as readers. What if the answer to every problem, challenge, obstacle, insecurity, and adversity is a never-ending drive and dedication to pursue the kingdom of God? What if Jesus, in calling us to pursue the kingdom that he perfectly embodied in his life, death, and resurrection is the ultimate source of provision, meaning, and fulfillment in life?