30 September MATTHEW 6

First, seek the Kingdom of God

Matthew 6:25-33(NKJV) “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.“This passage centers on worldly concerns like worry or anxiety, temptations most of us face. Jesus warned His disciples about worldly concerns often, and we counter them by seeking God and His righteousness.” – Mathew Henry CommentarySo, the question arises: How do we first seek the Kingdom of God?1. Pray - 1 Thessalonians 5:17(NKJV) pray without ceasing,2. Read the Word of God, the Bible - Psalm 119:9(NLT) How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.3. Give your worries to God - Matthew 11:28-30(NLT) Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”4. Worship God above all other things; place God first in your life - Proverbs 16:3(AMP) Commit your works to the Lord , And your plans will succeed . James 4:8(AMP) Come close to God and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded .I conclude with the words of John Piper: “Instead of being anxious, ‘Seek first God’s Kingdom.’ In other words, when you think about your life or your food or your clothes or your spouse or your job or your mission, don’t fret about them. Instead, make God the king in that affair and in that moment, and hand over the situation to his kingly power and do his righteous will with the confidence that he will work for you and meet all your needs.”But with God all things are possible.