Seek First the Kingdom of God
Jesus concludes the portion of His Sermon on the Mount on anxiety with the following from Matthew 6:33-34, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” These words are among the most comforting, yet most challenging words that Jesus spoke. He was speaking to people that were concerned about the base necessities of life and directed them to a higher purpose, to seek first the kingdom of God. These words remain just as relevant to us today.
To seek the kingdom of God, means to make His will the highest priority in our lives. He did not say to seek God occasionally or place Him among several other competing interests but seek Him first. God desires to take root in the central place in our hearts, to influence all parts of our lives. When God is first, everything else will find its proper place. Many people spend their lives in pursuit of wealth, success, security, etc. And while these things are not wrong in and of themselves, they do become dangerous to the Christian if they replace God as the object of our devotion. Jesus reminds his followers here that these earthly worries should never compete with their spiritual priorities. The kingdom of God is not built upon material matters, but upon the spiritual.
Jesus goes on to attach a promise to the command to seek first the kingdom of God, “and all these things will be added to you.” These things He referred to were those basic needs of life. Jesus assures His listeners that their heavenly Father knows their needs and is able to provide them. This is not a promise of luxury or freedom from tough times, but it does show God’s loving care and faithfulness. When Christians seek God first, they can trust Him to supply their needs in His time. Throughout Scripture, God displays his extraordinary ability to provide for the needs of His people. He fed the Israelites with manna from heaven, He sustained Elijah in the wilderness during a famine, and most importantly, He gave His only Son, Jesus, to provide for humanity’s need of salvation. If God provided such a priceless gift, can’t we trust Him to provide for our lesser needs?
Jesus continues in verse 34 to address another common struggle, anxiety or worry about the future, “do not be anxious about tomorrow.” Jesus is clearly not advocating for irresponsibility or carelessness, but warning against the kind of worry that disrupts peace and takes away from our trust in God. Worry cannot change tomorrow, but it can take away our joy and strength needed for the troubles of today. Don’t we often carry burdens or worry ourselves with questions about what might happen down the road? How often do those worries actually come to be? Jesus teaches here that we ought to live one day at a time, sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Each day has its own set of problems and challenges, and we can trust in God to provide for our needs in each moment. Trusting God with the future requires a strong faith. Faith believes that God is in control even when the circumstances of our lives seem out of control. We need to realize that our lives are ultimately in His hands, and we can trust that nothing will escape the notice of God. His plans are perfect and His timing is always right, whether we understand it or not.
Seeking first the kingdom of God should also transform our perspective. Rather than being consumed by fear or worry, we become motivated by faith and trust. Instead of living for temporal treasures, we are investing in eternal matters. Our priorities shift from self-centeredness to serving God and His people. As we surrender our cares to Him, we find peace that surpasses our own understanding (Phil 4:7).
Our world is filled with uncertainty, distraction, and constant worries. Jesus’s words at the end of Matthew 6 remind us to refocus our hearts and minds. The answer to our anxiousness is not found in the accumulation of temporary things or being in control of each moment, but in placing God first in our lives and investing our trust entirely in Him.
This passage is both a command and a promise. God calls us to seek His kingdom above all and promises to care for those who do. As believers, we can face each day and each challenge with confidence knowing that our God is faithful to provide. As we seek him first we learn that His presence, peace, and provision are more than enough for our every need.
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https://www.southsideonline.org/articles/2026/07/05/seek-first-the-kingdom-of-god
