“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
What blessings are included in “these things” that will be added when we seek first God’s rule and His righteousness? When He made this statement, Jesus was talking about worldly needs like food and clothing. But does not the principle of putting things first also apply to “these things” that are spiritual in nature? Even if the blessings we seek are spiritual, we should not ask for them for selfish reasons or personal gain. God should not be sought for what we can get from Him; He has to search for what we want to give him. We are created to enjoy a relationship that revolves around Him, not around us. Only when we establish this priority in our mind and seek God first will other things fall into their right place.
Although spiritual blessings are greater than temporal blessings, they are similar because they come to us indirectly as we seek God, not directly as we seek our own desires. Khushi’s example is good. It is a much-desired temporary blessing, but ironically it eludes us when we pursue it. Instead, it comes to us indirectly, as a by-product of contributing to the happiness of others. And spiritual blessings, at least in this regard, are no different. The power we desire does not come from focusing on our own needs, no matter how spiritual those needs may be. These things are by-products of focusing on God. If we are attached to ourselves (Are we getting the help we need for our problems?), it is unlikely that we will find what we are looking for.
AW Tozer once wrote, “Selfishness is never so selfish as when it is on its knees. Self can turn a pure and powerful prayer into a weak and ineffective prayer.” Our prayers should not be self-centered, but God-centered. Only when we are weak are we strong. We find ourselves when we forget ourselves. Having been created for the purpose of showcasing His goodness and His glory, we find our lives when we lose them in Him. When we seek Him first – not His blessings, but God Himself – all these “things” will be added to us.
“Live your life to its fullest; it is God’s life” (Josiah Royce).
Gary Henry – WordPoints.com AreYouaChristian.com
