“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33, NIV)
Matthew 6:33 is one of the most frequently quoted scriptures. It is often quoted in a way that suggests that seeking God’s Kingdom first is:
- Simply about accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.
- A way to get what we want from God.
- Simply about performing religious activities.
- Mainly about making heaven.
But are these what it means to seek God’s Kingdom first?
First, What Is God’s Kingdom?
Based on Scripture, God’s Kingdom can be defined as His reign and rule over all creation. His authority extends over everything, and we are called to acknowledge His authority, obey His commands, and live according to His purposes.
Psalm 103:19 tells us, “The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.” (NIV) Also, in Luke 17:20–21, Jesus explained that God’s Kingdom was not something people could simply point to as a physical location. The Kingdom was already in their midst because Jesus was among them.
Now that we have a definition of God’s Kingdom, let’s consider what it means to seek it first.
What Does It Really Mean to Seek God’s Kingdom First?
To understand this, we need to look beyond verse 33 and consider the whole of Matthew 6. In this chapter, Jesus was teaching about several important aspects of our relationship with God and how we should live:
- Giving to those in need without seeking recognition or praise from people (verses 1-4).
- Praying sincerely, rather than praying to impress others (verses 5-8).
- How to pray, including honouring God, seeking His will, asking for our daily needs, and seeking forgiveness and deliverance from evil (verses 9-15).
- Fasting without seeking attention or approval from others (verses 16-18).
- Storing up treasures in heaven rather than making earthly possessions our greatest priority (verses 19-21).
- The importance of our spiritual sight, illustrated by Jesus’ teaching about the eye as the lamp of the body (verses 22-23).
- The danger of serving money rather than God (verse 24).
- Trusting God for our needs rather than being consumed by worry about food, drink, and clothing (verses 25-32).
- Seeking God’s Kingdom and righteousness first (verse 33).
- Living one day at a time, rather than being overwhelmed by worries about tomorrow (verse 34).
Looking at these teachings together, we can see that Jesus was addressing our relationship with God, our motives, our priorities, our attitude towards material possessions, and how we live our everyday lives. He was not teaching us how to use God’s Kingdom to get everything we want. Rather, He was teaching us to live in a way that honours God, makes His will and righteousness our priority, and demonstrates our trust in Him.
Other parts of Scripture also highlight God’s authority and the importance of living according to His purposes.
Therefore:
1. Seeking God’s Kingdom is not simply about accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
Accepting Jesus Christ is foundational, but seeking His Kingdom is not merely a one-time decision. Acknowledging Jesus as Lord also means recognising His authority over our lives.
Jesus asked in Luke 6:46, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Seeking God’s kingdom involves a continuing relationship with Him, learning His ways, obeying His Word, and allowing His will to shape our decisions and actions.
2. Seeking God’s Kingdom is not just a way to get what we want from God.
Some people approach their relationship with God as a transaction. They pray, give, serve, and obey primarily because they expect material blessings, success, or other rewards.
But in Matthew 6:19 – 34, Jesus was teaching about our priorities and trusting God for our needs. He was not giving us a formula for obtaining everything we desire. James 4:3 also warns about asking God for things with wrong motives.
So, while there is nothing wrong with praying for our needs, our relationship with God should not be transactional. It should be built on love, faith, and trust, not merely on what we hope to receive from Him.
3. Seeking God’s Kingdom is not simply about performing religious activities.
Some people separate their spiritual lives from their everyday lives. They see praying, fasting, worshipping, attending church, and participating in other religious activities as serving God, while their work, business, finances, relationships, and other responsibilities are considered separate. However, Scripture teaches us to do whatever we do wholeheartedly and to the glory of God (Colossians 3:17, 23; 1 Corinthians 10:31). Seeking God’s Kingdom is not limited to religious activities. God’s authority over our lives should influence how we think, work, lead, manage resources, treat people, and make decisions.
4. Seeking God’s Kingdom is not mainly about making heaven.
Some people focus so much on getting to heaven that they overlook their responsibilities and opportunities here on earth. However, from creation, God gave humanity the responsibility to be fruitful, fill the earth, and exercise dominion (Genesis 1:26–28). Jesus also calls us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13–16).
Our hope of heaven should not make us passive on earth. We are called to use our God-given abilities, resources, opportunities, and authority responsibly, doing good and contributing positively to the world around us.
Seek God’s Kingdom First Means
- Making God’s rule, will, and righteousness the foundation of how we live.
- Loving God, trusting Him for our needs, aligning our ambitions with His purposes, and faithfully using what He has placed in our hands.
Note:
Jesus did not say we should seek only His Kingdom. He said we should seek it first. We can pray to God for our needs and ask Him to support our ambitions, but our desires and pursuits must be subject to His will and not driven by selfish motives.
So ask yourself today:
When I say I am seeking God’s Kingdom, am I truly seeking to live under His rule, or have I reduced it to receiving blessings, performing religious activities, or simply making heaven?