WE MUST TAKE MATTHEW 6:33 LITERALLY...

We must take Matthew 6: 33 literally?       

The Scripture  for discussion plainly states:  "Seek Ye First the 
Kingdom of  God and His righteousness and all these things will
 be added unto you."   Matthew 6: 33.  

This follows a list of world  necessities and earthly wealth  men 
seem to be seeking with all their energy, knowledge and wisdom.  

These things are important to those who will  be successful in the 
sense of material prosperity.  The status symbols for western and 
ancient cultures,  no doubt,  are very similar,  but does one make
the best use of talents, time or energy seeking temporary or finite,  
status and wealth or would our God-given talent, time and energy 
be better served pursuing goals of eternal  significance?  

It is plain from Scripture;  We must use our talents, time, and ener-
gies wisely,  if we are to be truly successful  in pleasing our creator.   
The best use of our gifts is to seek the prosperity of the Kingdom 

of God and the righteousness of God, rather than  pursuit of earthly 

wealth or  trying to establish righteousness (self-righteousness)  on 
our own.  The invisible is eternal, and visible, concrete things pass.

Secondly, the question remains; what does "Seek ye first..." actually 
mean in our lives?  Obviously it means our interst should  be eternal.

Does it not mean as well;  we should rise every morning and be about 
focusing on eternal  matters while we are fresh and  as we complete, 

for  that day  responsibilities  our Lord has for us,  we turn mundane,

temporal pursuits.  There may be two benefits  in this approach:  
          (1) We will  have the satisfaction  of  fulfilling our God
                given responsibilities first, while we are fresh. 
          (2) If we happen to use the whole day in activity directed  
                by our Lord,  nothing  is  lost  since God  promises to 
                supply our needs if we seek Him first.  
Another consideration is the fact; if we put Him first, He will make 
the rest of the day go really well, in every respect.

The question is a matter of priorities and faith.  (1) Where do King-
dom endeavors rank on our "to do" list.  (2) Do we have the faith 
required in the taking of the Lord God at His Word, hanging our very 
existence on His Words?  No doubt,  this change in lifestyle may  be 
traumatic early on,  but look at it  from the  perspective of  the  Deity. 
 It is the best,  possibly  our only wise course of action.  If we are to 
please our Lord we have no option.  Each day, we will seek the King-
dom of God and His righteousness first.  He is then free to add all the 
necessities to us "according to His riches in  glory." (our best source)

I am convinced we will be blessed beyond measure in Spiritual terms,
and be free of temporal needs.  God being my help,  I will begin today,  
to live life in this manner, trusting Him with the results.  The Apostle 
Paul said it best under inspiration;
                               "I can do all things through Christ
                               which strengtheneth me"  Philippians 4-13 
How could I do less?  Would it not be disobedience to do less, and fail 
to apply it in my life every day?  There is yet one other consideration: 

I Corinthians 10: 31 reads, "Whether, therefore ye eat, or drink, or 
whatsoever ye do,  do all to the glory of God."  In context, the pas-
sage is speaking to our witness in  things we allow, but truth is truth 
no matter the context and this just might be a more excellent way to 
consider the matter.  

No one would suggest our Lord would have us neglect our families, or 
fail to provide necessary provision, but we must establish priorities on 
eternal matters.  He is not forbidding us to eat, drink, wear clothes or 
plan for the future.  He is stating; if we obey the directive to put Him 
first, it becomes His  responsibility to see  to our  physical  necessities.  
We go  wrong when we  fail to follow Him and  are driven by  the flesh 
rather than the Spirit of God.  ("As many as are led by the Spirit of 
God, these are the Children of God." Romans 8: 14)  ...

 As you and I seek to implement this  new "attitude" in our walk with 
our lord, we will be opposed.  I have seen it already.  Along with pro-
phets of old, our Lord or any who would walk with the Lord will have 
resistance, even persecution.  If we permit obstacles of any sort to
thwart our determination to walk in a Godly manner, we are no better 
off than the one who “put his hand to the plow” then looked back,  as 
recorded in Matthew.  (To clarify one phrase, "no better off;"  We 
might have said,  we  are no better. 

To have said that would have taken the act of following  Christ rightly

to be works.   It's all of  grace.  We cannot say we are  better since we 

are obeying this one principle of the Kingdom of God.  We  recognize,

although we are  in obedience in one area;  we still miss the mark  so

many ways, we  dare not  point the finger or consider ourselves to be

better than any one of God's children.  There are no "Super Saints."   
Every day we find ourselves, for the most part, unprofitable servants.  
By God's grace, mercy and power within, of His Holy Spirit,  we will 
eventually attain the victory in Christ,  but never in this flesh or  self.  

May God bless  your efforts and mine  in His Kingdom as  we look to
Him, giving  Him the glory by acknowledging His grace,  mercy and 
care  on our behalf.  That can only be accomplished "in Christ."                                            

  donporter      9.07.12   edited 2.10.17