Priorities

Matthew 6:33 NIV But seek first the Kingdom of God.

Priorities...everyone you meet is trying to influence your priorities. They will not willingly admit it, but they want to influence how you spend your time, your money, and what captures your attention. But for those who are fully surrendered to Christ, Jesus has forever established what is to be our number one priority. Seek first the Kingdom of God.

What does it really mean to seek first? The word ‘first’ (Greek: proton) carries both the meaning of sequence and priority. Before anything else, at the beginning of each day, taking time to seek the Lord. Before we turn our attention to the day’s schedule, the news, or an inbox full of new emails, we are to take time to renew our minds with scripture, to pray, and to prioritize seeking Him above all else. Proverbs 3:9–10 calls us to honor God with the first of all we have (time and wealth), seeking him above all else, and the promised results are “a life overflowing with blessings from an uncontainable source of inner joy!” Seeking first means looking to God and His Kingdom for everything you need, including life’s purpose and direction.

But what exactly is this ‘Kingdom of God’ we are instructed to seek? It is where God rules and reigns, where His word, His will, and His ways take priority over everything else, including our own desires and plans. A kingdom-minded person desires what the Spirit of God desires. A carnal person may believe in God and pray, but God is only a means to reach their own desires. This doesn’t mean that we don’t pray for our desires; it means we are not consumed with them. When we seek God’s purpose above all else, we are seeking first the Kingdom of God.

Just a few verses earlier, Jesus was teaching the disciples how to pray when he made maybe the most well-known statement in scripture: “May your Kingdom come; may your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9–10). There is a letting go, a surrender of control, that must occur to seek first the Kingdom of God. Those who seek first the Kingdom of God discover a peace that comes from entrusting every detail of life to Him.

To dwell in God’s Kingdom, we must choose between letting what we feel determine what we believe or letting what we believe (God's Word and promises) determine how we feel. It is trusting that God has a plan that is good even when we don’t see it or understand it. It is why Paul tells us, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). Being Kingdom minded means allowing our thoughts to focus on Him, His goodness, His faithfulness.

The Kingdom of God is not only an inward reality but is to be lived outwardly. It is where His heavenly authority dwells in our inner man and breaks into every portion of our daily lives. Where what is important to God becomes a priority to me; seeing people and things the way God sees them and seeking to join God in His work instead of asking him to join me in mine. It is where we embrace our identity as citizens of His kingdom and embrace his unique purpose for our life. Seek first the kingdom of God, and you will see that all other things fall into place.

John 18:36 AMP Jesus replied, My kingdom is not of this world nor does it have its origin in this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting to keep Me from being handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this world.

Luke 17:20-21 NIV Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.

Mark 1:14-15 GNT After John had been put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee and preached the Good News from God. The right time has come, he said, and the Kingdom of God is near! Turn away from your sins and believe the Good News!

1 Corinthians 4:20 NIV For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

Luke 13:18-19 GNT Jesus asked, What is the Kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it with? It is like this. A man takes a mustard seed and plants it in his field. The plant grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make their nests in its branches.

Luke 13:20-21 GNT Again Jesus asked, What shall I compare the Kingdom of God with? It is like this. A woman takes some yeast and mixes it with a bushel of flour until the whole batch of dough rises.

Mark 4:26-29 GNT Jesus went on to say, The Kingdom of God is like this. A man scatters seed in his field. He sleeps at night, is up and about during the day, and all the while the seeds are sprouting and growing. Yet he does not know how it happens. The soil itself makes the plants grow and bear fruit; first the tender stalk appears, then the head, and finally the head full of grain. When the grain is ripe, the man starts cutting it with his sickle, because harvest time has come.

Matthew 5:3 NIV Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Romans 14:17 GNT For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy which comes from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 4:17 NLT From then on Jesus began to preach, Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.

Luke 18:24-25 GNT Jesus saw that he was sad and said, How hard it is for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God! It is much harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.

Luke 18:29-30 GNT Jesus said to them, I assure you that anyone who leaves home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the Kingdom of God will receive much more in this present age and eternal life in the age to come.

Luke 9:62 GNT Jesus said to him, Anyone who starts to plow and then keeps looking back is of no use for the Kingdom of God.

1 Peter 1:13-15 TPT So then, prepare your hearts and minds for action! Stay alert and fix your hope firmly on the marvelous grace that is coming to you. For when Jesus Christ is unveiled, a greater measure of grace will be released to you. As God’s obedient children, never again shape your lives by the desires that you followed when you didn’t know better. Instead, shape your lives to become like the Holy One who called you.