But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and al these things shall be added unto you (Matt. 6:33).
Every day our lives should open just as the Bible opens--"In the beginning God." What we seek first will be first to us.
D. L. Moody tells of a man who came to him one day weeping and told a strange story. This man had left his hometown and gone to another town to seek success, but had found none. He went to church, and the sermon was from the text: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God." He felt that it was preached just to him, but he did not want to be a Christian yet; he wanted to get rich first.
He moved to another village, and still another, with always the same experience--the first sermon he heard in each place was "Seek ye first the kingdom of God." The last time he heard this sermon it was an arrow to his heart, but he wanted to own a farm at least before becoming a Christian, so he delayed.
"Now," he said the Mr. Moody, "I am rich. I go to church every week, but no sermon ever touches my heart. It is as hard as stone."
It's the biggest mistake possible not to make first things first. Solomon sought God's glory first, and God gave him earthly glory. The widow of Zarephath made the first cake for the prophet; after that her meal barrel was never empty. "I have been young, and now am old," said David, "yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Ps. 37:25). The promise of Jesus is that those who give up house, siblings, parents, and children for the sake of the gospel shall receive an hundredfold in this life, and in the world to come, eternal life (Mark 10:29, 30). The kingdom of God and His righteousness are the goal of life. Then God adds the clothing, food, drink, homes, and friends. If we seek Him, He will look after the "things" we need.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek" (Ps. 27:8).
Every day our lives should open just as the Bible opens--"In the beginning God." What we seek first will be first to us.
D. L. Moody tells of a man who came to him one day weeping and told a strange story. This man had left his hometown and gone to another town to seek success, but had found none. He went to church, and the sermon was from the text: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God." He felt that it was preached just to him, but he did not want to be a Christian yet; he wanted to get rich first.
He moved to another village, and still another, with always the same experience--the first sermon he heard in each place was "Seek ye first the kingdom of God." The last time he heard this sermon it was an arrow to his heart, but he wanted to own a farm at least before becoming a Christian, so he delayed.
"Now," he said the Mr. Moody, "I am rich. I go to church every week, but no sermon ever touches my heart. It is as hard as stone."
It's the biggest mistake possible not to make first things first. Solomon sought God's glory first, and God gave him earthly glory. The widow of Zarephath made the first cake for the prophet; after that her meal barrel was never empty. "I have been young, and now am old," said David, "yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Ps. 37:25). The promise of Jesus is that those who give up house, siblings, parents, and children for the sake of the gospel shall receive an hundredfold in this life, and in the world to come, eternal life (Mark 10:29, 30). The kingdom of God and His righteousness are the goal of life. Then God adds the clothing, food, drink, homes, and friends. If we seek Him, He will look after the "things" we need.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek" (Ps. 27:8).
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