SEEK RIGHT
Text : Matthew 6:24; 31-34 (KJV)
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. '
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Definition : To seek is to attempt or desire to obtain or achieve (something). To attempt to find (something).
You want something, you do not have it, you set your heart to acquiring it, you move towards attaining it. Perhaps, even go to great lengths to get it.
In Matthew 7:7 the bible says seek, and you shall find.
Prayer : In JESUS name for you seeking those things that will make your joy full, you will find them.
In our text, our LORD JESUS listed some things humans would seek for. He listed the basic things, such as food, drink, clothing and so on. We can safely talk of the derivatives of those things; shelter, possessions, like cars, jewelries, e.t.c; Power, position, status, the list goes on. He also talked about “the kingdom of GOD, and his righteousness”.
JESUS in that scripture identified two categories of people, The gentiles, and His children. The gentiles in that context are unbelievers. Naturally, they would chase after the things listed above, and more. JESUS summed it up as mammon. These “ gentiles need these things ( mammon ), or perhaps want them. Do not blame them, they mostly see themselves as their own provider.
In 1 John 3:1a, The bible says Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:
When GOD adopted us as sons, and daughters, He did it out of great love. This love that made Him to give His only begotten son for us, will certainly release every other thing that we need from Him. And so when our LORD was speaking there, He was addressing His children nin this wise. If you face you perceived needs and wants on one side, then you back is to me. As you cannot serve GOD and mammon, you are likely going to be on your own. But if you face the “kingdom of GOD, and his righteousness”, you face me, and I will be the one to supply those things you need. Phillipians 4:19, Psalm 23:1.
When you seek mammon, you may likely get hurt. For example, in 1 Timothy 6:10 , the bible says, For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
When you seek mammon, you are not likely to be satisfied. Ecclesiastes 5:10 says, He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
But when you seek first, the kingdom of GOD, and his righteousness, you show you trust GOD to not only have the capacity to take care of you, but also to be true to His word. Proverbs 10:22 says, The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
Now compare the likely results for the “gentile”, or even child of GOD who goes after mammon with that of a child of GOD who sets his heart on seeking the kingdom of GOD.
What exactly is this “kingdom of GOD and his righteousness “ we are to seek after.
Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
• Righteousness: Righteousness stands on its own in our text scripture, and is also found in the definition of the kingdom of GOD given above. Making it of utmost importance
Righteousness is the quality of being morally right or justifiable; to be able to stand before GOD.
There has never been any man, other than JESUS, whose moral standing has been good enough to stand before The GOD of the whole earth. In Isaiah 64:6a, The bible says, But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;
Romans 3:22, and Phillipians 3:9, both talk about the righteousness of GOD in CHRIST, or by faith in CHRIST. When you get born again, you put aside your self-righteousness, and put on this righteousness of CHRIST, so that when GOD looks at you, He does not see the filthy rag, but the finished work of His son.
But GOD always leaves room for human responsibility, you always have a role to play. The righteousness of GOD in CHRIST has been abused by Christians over the years. Once I have got this cover of righteousness, I can go on and live anyhow I want, even in committing all manner of sin. In 1 John 3:7, the bible says, Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. The New living translation explains thatit is one who does the right thing that is righteous. This implies that righteousness is also what we do. ACTIONS
To seek first the kingdom of GOD, and His righteousness is to go after the salvation of JESUS, to put on His own righteousness, and be determined to do the right things at all times.
• Peace: Hebrews 12:14 says, Follow peace with all men , and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: If we must see GOD, in our affairs here on earth, or ultimately in heaven, alongside holiness, we must actively seek peace. We must go for the path of peace. Even though it may make you look weak, or even stupid. Go for peace!! Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Seek peace by also praying for the peace of others.
To seek first the kingdom of GOD, and His righteousness is to actively seek peace, and pray for the peace of your neighbor.
• Joy in The HOLY GHOST: Joy, in contrast with happiness is not dependent on immediate circumstances, and it is not temporal. Joy comes from The HOLY GHOST dwelling in us. It comes from salvation.
Galatians 5:22 says, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. We must seek the indwelling of the HOLY SPIRIT. For The HOLY SPIRIT to dwell in you, you must be determined to keep your body, His temple free from impurity.
When David sinned, one of the first things he pleaded for in Psalm 51:11, was, take not Thine HOLY SPIRIT from me. He recognized that in sin, The HOLY SPIRIT would depart. He further said in Psalm 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with thy free spirit.
To seek first the kingdom of GOD, and His righteousness is to seek the indwelling of The HOLY SPIRIT, and be determined to keep His temple free from impurity.
• To seek first the kingdom of GOD and his righteousness is put first the kingdom business on earth, before anything else.
The bible in Exodus 20: 3 says. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
By definition, gods there is anything that comes first, or come before GOD in your life, knowingly, or unknowingly. For some of us , our jobs, children, e.t.c, unfortunately have become gods.
JESUS CHRIST in Luke 2:49 talked about His FATHER’s business, the kingdom business. According to 1 Corinthians 5:18-19, this business is the ministry of reconciliation. To seek first the kingdom of GOD, and His righteousness, is to make the ministry of reconciliation your priority.
It must be your priority in prayer. In Matthew 6:9-13, when JESUS taught us to pray, before asking anything for ourselves, He taught us “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven”.
It must be your priority in spending, and being spent. 2 Corinthians 12:15.
Beloved, if we seek the kingdom of GOD, first, if our focus is on things above, JESUS has promised that all the other thing we need will be provided for, by Him. I join the host of saints, who have gone before, and those living, to declare that I have found Him to be faithful.
• Conclusion: To seek the kingdom of GOD, ultimately, is to seek to make it to heaven. We are only pilgrims on earth. Our sojourn here is temporal, we are only preparing for our more permanent abode, heaven, or hell.
To get to heaven, as we have said, is to follow peace, holiness, righteousness; but it starts with being born again. JESUS told Nicodemus in John 3:3, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of GOD. Your original nature is a sinful one, it will not let you get to heaven, let JESUS give you a new personality today.
Want to get born again and become a new creature, a child of GOD, pray with me. LORD JESUS, I am a sinner, I come to you today for mercy and forgiveness. Please forgive my sins and wash me clean in your blood. I believe you are the son of GOD, and accept you as my LORD. Thank you JESUS.
*Prayer
FATHER, in all the ways I have put other things before you, please have mercy and forgive me in JESUS name.
Help me FATHER from today, to seek first Your kingdom, and His righteousness in JESUS name.
Matthew 7:7. As I seek you LORD, please provide all I need in JESUS name.
Pastor Ikenna Uleanya
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