Matthew 6:31-34
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Philippians 3:20
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Devotion
Jesus closes out this chapter with, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow.” We are not to worry or be anxious about tomorrow. Instead we are to focus on God today and know that He will take care of us in the present. In verse thirty-three, instead of emphasizing the negative (do not be anxious), Jesus now sets out the positive attitude required of disciples. He instructs us to direct our attention consistently toward His kingdom and His righteousness. The primary emphasis is on submission to God’s sovereignty here-and-now and obedience to His will, with the idea of looking forward to and working for the ultimate establishment of His kingdom here on earth. Of course, this demands a commitment to find and do the will of God and ally oneself totally with His purpose. This commitment must come first. It is not to be crowded out with material concerns.
It is also important to note that this commitment to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” comes with a wonderful promise. Basically, if we put God first, He promises to provide for our material needs. Material concern is, therefore, not only distracting but unnecessary. This positive climax makes it clear that Jesus is not prescribing an irresponsible, happy-go-lucky optimism or a fatalistic acceptance of the status quo. Jesus calls His disciples to an undistracted pursuit of His true goal, to which lesser (though legitimate) concerns must give way, and He assures them that if they will put God first, He will take care of the rest.
So, while we are on this earth, we must always remember that we are actually citizens of God’s eternal kingdom. Our citizenship is in heaven. Therefore, we must live as kingdom citizens as we travel through this life. This is the Upside-Down life!
Questions to Ponder:
What are you seeking or pursuing in life? Do you worry about the future? What does it mean to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness? How do you know what God’s will is? How has God revealed Himself to you through this week’s devotions?
Prayer Points
- Praise the Lord for being steady, loving, and kind.
- Pray for others to know Jesus. Pray for your top 3.
- Ask the Lord to strengthen His people in their inner man.
Suggested Prayer
Holy Father, Righteous Father, You are Good and Right. I praise You that every name in heaven and on earth derives its name from You. I pray that I will love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help me and Your church to seek You and Your kingdom first, yield to Your Holy Spirit, and be about Your business each day. In the name of Jesus Christ, I ask. Amen.