I had one of those “still small voice” moments the other day. I was thinking about my future and as I prayed and wondered about what’s in store God reminded me of Matthew 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
When I was growing up this made for a lovely feel good youth group song. Sitting around a campfire while someone strums an acoustic guitar and everyone sings: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…and all these things shall be added unto you…allelu-alleluia…
Actually I don’t think I did the campfire thing much in my youth group days but you get the idea. I’m not sure when I started to realize this was more than just a pretty song – that there is something powerful and important behind the nice Christian sentiment.
Sometimes I like to paraphrase it, “Seek him first and everything else will fall into place.” A bit simplified I grant you but I think there’s some truth in it. Seek first to know God, to be made more Christlike. Make this – make him – your priority, and everything else will be worked out…in you, through you, around you. God will supply all your needs (Matthew 6:25-34, Philippians 4:19) and will work within you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:13).
I suppose it’s not surprising God brought this verse to my attention as Matthew 6:34 has also been kicking around in my head recently: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
This was one of my favorite verses in college. Every time things got a little too chaotic I would remind myself to take things one step at a time – don’t worry about tomorrow…each day has enough trouble of its own.
All this thought for the future and concern for tomorrow finds me with five weeks left to prepare for an overseas move. How on earth am I going to get everything done on time? What does God have in store for me there? What about all the things I want to do – things I long ago gave up to God, but in the past couple of years he’s been bringing back to me with greater clarity (if not complete understanding)?
I don’t have the answers to these questions yet but two things I know: 1) If I seek him first then everything else will be worked out, and 2) I just need to take things one day at a time.
Dear Rebekah,
“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God” was a favourite verse of mine as a teenager. It was carved in wood around the walls at the church I attended. I like your version very much.
Just 5 weeks, gosh it isn’t long but I know you will get everything done that truly needs to be done.
I wonder too what God has in store for you there, I am praying for you to find a group of christians where you will be loved and supported and where you can offer your gifts of ministry.
Love you
Thanks Mum for the encouragement and prayers!
Kyle was just reminding me of this same verse and concept last week. I have a lot of struggle with the idea sometimes. I seek God and then expect that because I’m seeking Him and trying to do His will, that I will be rewarded with “all these things added unto me” in the way that I want and in the timing that I want. If not, I feel abandoned by God. Probably all this is because I am human (surprise!), and am often frustrated due to difficult circumstances. It is definitely more than a pretty song, and much easier to sing than to do. I think God led us very much to seek Him first in our adult lives before trying to focus on “all these things” that we wanted to add on. I am assuming this will be critical in the end!