Seeking God’s Kingdom
Matthew 6:25-34 (NLT)
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Reflection
“The shortcut to contentment is gratitude.” I once ripped these words from an overly beautiful Bible study and framed them to remind me of this truth whenever I need it (which is often). I now pack it away with my fall decorations, as the white words pop on a background of wheat gently blowing in the breeze. Contentment is a choice, and it begins with a grateful heart.
Part of me (the discontented part) fights the examples of birds and flowers; of course, they don’t feel ungrateful because God didn’t create us the same. But the basic premise is still true: God also knows exactly what they need; there are no exceptions to His provision.
So often, we read these verses as encouraging us to be content with our physical possessions. To know that God will always provide enough food, drink, and clothing…and all of this is true. But this scripture also tells us that these things “dominate the thoughts of unbelievers” and rightfully so! They are real needs in a real world full of real problems.
But Jesus also tells us to seek His Kingdom “above all else,” so it isn’t much of a jump to understand that our worries are covered by God’s provision FOR EVERYTHING. God knows all about you and STILL says not to be anxious about anything. And He doesn’t just say it, He means it.
The true measure of whether we are moving toward holiness is whether we are content, not just with all we have, but also with who we are in Christ. Living with God shows us that His provision is ongoing…every day, in every way, for every one of our needs.
So, how do we begin down the path of contentment? We start with the last verse first: seeking His Kingdom above all else. We recognize our limits and give them to God. Our time. Our resources. Our energy. Real contentment is truly being okay with the limits God places on us. To fully understand those limits, we must SEEK Him and TRUST Him, knowing He will give us everything He already knows we need.
So, we can believe Him at His word…or not. But Jesus is clear: God knows what I need, so why wouldn’t I trust His will for my life, one day at a time? And this all begins with being grateful for that one day.
Action Steps
Today, choose to replace the thoughts of physical needs and wants with affirmations, that if it is Your will, Father, let it be done! Then don’t just say it, pray it! Ask the Holy Spirit to show you all the plans He has for you, and trust that they are good.
Prayer
Father God, how hard it is to seek Your Kingdom first in this world, which instead urges me to figure everything out for myself. Yet the words of Your Son tell me just the opposite. Help me to be grateful that You are ever mindful of me, always promising to anticipate and cover every one of my needs. Guide me toward contentment Your way, Lord, and never let me forget that You alone are my source of life. Amen.
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Reflection
“The shortcut to contentment is gratitude.” I once ripped these words from an overly beautiful Bible study and framed them to remind me of this truth whenever I need it (which is often). I now pack it away with my fall decorations, as the white words pop on a background of wheat gently blowing in the breeze. Contentment is a choice, and it begins with a grateful heart.
Part of me (the discontented part) fights the examples of birds and flowers; of course, they don’t feel ungrateful because God didn’t create us the same. But the basic premise is still true: God also knows exactly what they need; there are no exceptions to His provision.
So often, we read these verses as encouraging us to be content with our physical possessions. To know that God will always provide enough food, drink, and clothing…and all of this is true. But this scripture also tells us that these things “dominate the thoughts of unbelievers” and rightfully so! They are real needs in a real world full of real problems.
But Jesus also tells us to seek His Kingdom “above all else,” so it isn’t much of a jump to understand that our worries are covered by God’s provision FOR EVERYTHING. God knows all about you and STILL says not to be anxious about anything. And He doesn’t just say it, He means it.
The true measure of whether we are moving toward holiness is whether we are content, not just with all we have, but also with who we are in Christ. Living with God shows us that His provision is ongoing…every day, in every way, for every one of our needs.
So, how do we begin down the path of contentment? We start with the last verse first: seeking His Kingdom above all else. We recognize our limits and give them to God. Our time. Our resources. Our energy. Real contentment is truly being okay with the limits God places on us. To fully understand those limits, we must SEEK Him and TRUST Him, knowing He will give us everything He already knows we need.
So, we can believe Him at His word…or not. But Jesus is clear: God knows what I need, so why wouldn’t I trust His will for my life, one day at a time? And this all begins with being grateful for that one day.
Action Steps
Today, choose to replace the thoughts of physical needs and wants with affirmations, that if it is Your will, Father, let it be done! Then don’t just say it, pray it! Ask the Holy Spirit to show you all the plans He has for you, and trust that they are good.
Prayer
Father God, how hard it is to seek Your Kingdom first in this world, which instead urges me to figure everything out for myself. Yet the words of Your Son tell me just the opposite. Help me to be grateful that You are ever mindful of me, always promising to anticipate and cover every one of my needs. Guide me toward contentment Your way, Lord, and never let me forget that You alone are my source of life. Amen.
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