What Kingdom Are You Chasing After?

Jesus tells us to “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33 NLT). Yet, I watch people declaring great sums of money or an over-abundance of blessings upon themselves or others simply by “Sharing” or “Liking” a picture of a pile of money.

I think about the words of Jesus and the heart of the true follower of Christ in relation to this odd, should I say “worldly,” means of receiving great blessings and I see absolutely no relationship whatsoever.

What I do see is the influence of a “give-me, give-me, I deserve it all” cultural mindset that has been tricked into viewing God as a genie-in-a-bottle-at-your-service just waiting in anticipation for the next moment when someone will rub that little bottle and conjure Him into action.

This mindset and misunderstanding of God is so contradictory to the biblical God. The idea that has perpetrated our society giving us the notion of God as the big-man-upstairs has belittled the superiority of God over all things.

Rather than looking up in awe as the great and powerful Creator of the universe and loving Father who has redeemed us from our sin, we miniaturize God and place Him into our little mold where we can control Him simply by making our demands based upon false teachings and understandings.

Certainly the name-it-claim-it people have done a great disservice to Christians by influencing our thinking from a worldly mindset—utilizing our innate hunger for possessions and things leading us down false paths—corrupting our thinking by lies and deceit which are against all biblical teachings.

Notice the context of the passage within which Matthew 6:33 lies. Give careful consideration to exactly what Jesus is addressing in order to gain a biblical understanding for the passage at hand. Also, keep in mind, you and me as God’s creation and His servants through our surrender to Jesus Christ as our personal Savior have no right to ever make demands of the Creator God.

Now notice what is under consideration in this passage. Jesus says: “I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?” (v. 25). The address is over basic necessities of living. It has nothing to do with the very finest or the very best, Jesus simply tells us to not worry about the basic essentials.

He further emphasizes His point as He points out God’s great care for all of His creation as He says: “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” (vv. 26-30).

The animals, the plants—they don’t worry about the basics because God in His greatness clothes them and takes care of them without any demand from them upon Him. Then He tells us: “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs” (vv. 31-32).

Unbelievers are constantly worried by these things but God already has it all worked out for those who surrender to Jesus Christ. Attached to this is the principle by which God desires for us to live our lives under and it is really quite simple: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (v. 33).

Simply seek after God’s kingdom, look to higher things, look above what the world is seeking after and realize that “we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” to the kingdom (Romans 8:17). Our desires should be upon the kingdom of God rather than pursuing after what this world has to offer.

Attached is the demand to “live righteously” which we do by constantly abiding in Christ and understanding the need to be clean before God as 1 John 1:9 tells us: “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” The cleansing our souls need comes from our confession before God of our sins Who willingly forgives and cleanses us.

Freedom comes through Christ. Seeking after Christ and His ways sets you free to enjoy the Father and all the many blessings He has stored up for you. People are running after all different kingdoms in today’s world. What kingdom are you chasing after? Jesus tells us to seek after the kingdom of God.