First Things First … continued
Last week we talked about how Jesus turned Abraham Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Human Needs” pyramid upside-down and flattened it with a single statement: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
This week we’ll discuss just what “seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness” means and how we might go about. I’m glad we’re focusing on this passage this week. For me, Matthew 6:33 is a kind of theme for how I should live my life; some folks would call it my life verse.
In ancient days, merchants and government officials used a black stone to determine the value of precious metals. They would rub gold or silver along the stone’s surface and by the color of the streak it left they would be able to determine whether the metal was pure or if it had been alloyed with something cheaper like lead or tin. This black stone came to be known as a touchstone. The term is used metaphorically these days. A touchstone is a standard by which one judges the value of an object or idea.
Matthew 6:33 is my touchstone. When I prioritize the tasks for the day, I put them up against Matthew 6:33 to see how they measure up. When I consider a new project, I let Matthew 6:33 tell me whether it’s worth my time or not. When I start to fret over making ends meet, Matthew 6:33 puts my priorities back in order and assures me that if I do my job, He’ll do His. It’s my touchstone.
We’ll try to accomplish a couple of things in this letter. First we’ll take apart Matthew 6:33, word by word, so we can try to understand the whole meaning of the passage; what Bible scholars call exegesis. Then we’ll try to apply what we understand about the scripture to real life. As an example, I’ll tell you how I apply it in my life.
Let’s exegete this verse. Matthew wrote his original gospel in Greek. Nobody knows where that one is now, but the earliest copies are also written in Greek. So, we’ll look at the Greek words Matthew used and their definitions. Then we’ll look at the context in which the words were used. Lastly we’ll put the verse back together, with our definitions and we’ll wind up with our own “Amplified” version of the verse.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
The first word “But” refers back to what Jesus was just saying before this passage. He was talking about people spending their time and energy worrying about things that didn’t matter much in the long run. Their lives were consumed with “what shall we eat” and “what shall we drink.” He said that pagans worry about stuff like that. God knows we need food and clothing and He’ll take care of it. We shouldn’t waste our lives worrying about stuff like that.
The next word “seek” is the Greek word zeteo. Zeteo is a verb that means “to seek in order to find … by thinking, meditating, reasoning, to enquire into”; to “strive after”; to “require, demand.” Bible scholars also define verbs in terms of tense (when), voice (active or passive) and mood (imperative, indicative or subjunctive). Zeteo is in the present tense, active voice and imperative mood. Basically that means, “Hey you, I mean you (active voice); do this, do it now and don’t stop doing it (present tense); and that’s not a suggestion, it’s an order (imperative mood).
“First” is the Greek word proton. Proton is an adverb; it refers to the verb we just mentioned, “seek.” It’s telling us when and how to “seek.” Proton means first in time, first in place, first in priority; it’s the number one item in rank and schedule, the chief and principal thing. There’s nothing more important than the verb to which it refers.
“Kingdom” is the Greek word basileia. It’s a noun. Basileia means “royal power, kingship, dominion, rule.” It also refers to “the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah.”
“Righteousness” is the Greek word dikaiosune. Dikaiosune is a noun that means “the state of one who is as he ought to be, the condition acceptable to God.” Or, “concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God”; “integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting.”
“All” is the Greek word pas. Pas is an adjective; it refers to a noun, in this case everything Jesus was talking about earlier - the people’s worry over food and clothing. Pas means “each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything”; “some of all types.”
The English phrase “will be given” translates the Greek word prostithemi. Prostithemi is a verb that means “to put to,” or “to add.” It’s in the future tense - an event that is yet to occur. The voice is passive - the subject is now the one receiving. The mood is indicative – it is a simple statement of fact, it’s going to happen, no maybes.
Okay, now that I’ve dragged you through Exegetics 101, what does it all mean? Let’s assemble everything together into the Steve/ [insert your name here] Amplified Modern English Version:
“But (referring to all that stuff you’ve been worrying so much about) seek (and I mean seek like you mean it, start right now and don’t quit seeking, and that’s an order, not a suggestion) first (first on your schedule, first in your day, first in importance, the highest priority in your life) his (God’s) kingdom (power, authority, dominion and rule) and his righteousness (the condition God approves of and considers acceptable; integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting), and all (all that stuff you’ve been worried about, everything, every bit of it, some of every variety, the whole shebang) these things will be given (it’s going to happen, I’m not kidding around, it’s a done deal, you can count on it) to you as well (that’s in addition to your attaining the kingdom of God, which is far more important all that stuff you were worried about that you received anyway)” (Matthew 6:33).
In seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness first, not only does He take care of all the earthly stuff we’re worried about not having enough of, we actually receive the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We enlist on His side, in His plan, in His purpose; we begin to be and do what we were born to be and do. We’re fulfilling our (His) purpose and living up to our true potential.
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So how does one go about seeking first God’s kingdom and His righteousness? I mean practically, step by step. What do you do first? I’ll tell you what I do (I’m not batting a thousand but my average is going up) and why I do it. It might help you, it might not. But it makes sense to me.
Since Jesus says “seek first,” I seek God first thing in the morning; before watching the news, before checking my e-mail, before touching any of those “urgent” tasks that have been nagging me. If I fill my mind with news and e-mails and “urgent” tasks before spending time with God, my mind is on them, not on Him. The earlier I the morning I “seek first” the better. If I meet with God before the rest of the world gets up, they won’t bother us. The later the morning gets, the greater the gravitational pull this world and its priorities have on me.
The first thing I do is pray the Lords Prayer, following the example Jesus gave in Matthew 6:9-13. I don’t speed through it like Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers either. Because I know it so well and have prayed it so many times, I stop and hold each phrase in my mind for a moment, letting it sink into my spirit. This prayer is like a reboot for my spiritual systems. It lines up my priorities according to God’s priorities. It’s kind of like a spiritual chiropractic adjustment. If anything got out of line in the last twenty-four hours, I pray according to how Jesus instructed and “crack,” I’m lined up, right as rain and ready to move forward.
I spend time in God’s Word. He reveals Himself to us in His Word. The Bible is not just a book. Hebrews says, “… the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).The Holy Spirit can open my eyes to something mind blowing in a passage I have read a hundred times before. You can’t know God without knowing His Word.
I read the Bible from front to back, then start at the front again. If God leads me to some specific passage I go there. If I’m studying a particular subject I may be all over the book and in several different translations. But just for devotional habit’s sake, I go from front to back.
I know a guy who God talks to by giving him scripture verses. Whatever his problem, whatever his issue, God gives him a scripture reference and bang, it applies directly to what he’s going through and gives him direction on which way to move.
I’ve heard of people who close their eyes and stick their finger in a page; whatever verse their finger is on is the one they believe God means for them to read; kind of like Bible roulette. If it works, more power to these folks. Bible roulette doesn’t work for me; I always end up in “Between the Testaments.” It’s easier for me just to go from front to back.
You want to know something really miraculous? God speaks to me from His word, gives me exactly the appropriate scripture for what I’m going through; and I’m just going from front to back. Yesterday was Exodus 8 and it hit me right between the eyes for what was happening in my life yesterday. Today, a different set of concerns, a different set of circumstances, other things on my mind and bang, Exodus 9 is all about today’s issues. How cool is that?
I don’t have a tremendous amount of natural faith. God has to regularly send spiritual Post-it notes to assure me that He’s got my back. The longer I walk with Him and the more Post-it notes I collect, the stronger my faith gets, but I don’t come by it naturally. He’s very graceful to me in that way and I appreciate it. When He sends me a personal message from Exodus 8 on Tuesday and one from Exodus 9 on Wednesday, I remember that He’s running things and relax a little.
After I read, I spend quiet time with Him. Sometimes I pray for people He’s put on my heart, sometimes for me, sometimes just a list of people and things on my mind. A lot of times I just listen.
And you know what? Every time I listen, He speaks. I don’t have to get into some kind of hyped-up spiritual state, I just have to listen. He speaks into my mind, not my ear. I used to doubt it. I figured that it could just be me. Saying to myself what I think God would say and attributing it to Him. But now I know better. I’m not smart enough to tell me what He tells me.
Anyway, my “seek first” time each morning takes less than an hour. It sets me up for the whole day. My heart and my mind get steeped in His kingdom and His righteousness before the world can get its hands on me. Throughout the day, it’s easier to keep a “seek first” mindset when I make it my first priority of the day.
I’m not big on recipes or “seven step strategies” for spiritual success. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” is a universal imperative. It applies to all of us. But each of us is a little different; how each of us apply it to our lives may vary. I just told you how I apply it to mine. Your job is to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness”; how exactly you go about it is between you and Him.
