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Matthew 6:33 - God First And Last And Best In Everything!

Mat. 6:33; God First And Last And Best In Everything!

Mat 6:33 (KJV)  Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his 
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  

Mat 6:33 (NCV)  The thing you should want most is God's kingdom 
and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will 
be given to you. 

Mat 6:33 (EAV)  But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all 
His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being 
right), and then all these things taken together will be given you 
besides. 

Jesus said: "Seek first the kingdom of God."  That was to come 
first; it was to come ahead of everything else...  We say, we do not 
want to seek the kingdom of God first.  We have a good many things 
that must be attended to before we seek the kingdom of God...  The 
whole living world is seeking for something....  Then why not seek for 
the best things?  If people will so seek for temporal things, 
doesn't it serve to show that you do not believe that God is real; or 
else you would first seek the kingdom of God, and find it before any 
of these other things?  [D. L. Moody; The Gospel Awakening; Spirit 
Filled Life Daily Devotional Bible] 

Immediately we look at these words of Jesus, we find them the 
most revolutionary statement human ears ever listened to. "Seek ye 
first the kingdom of God." We argue in exactly the opposite way, even 
the most spiritually-minded of us-'But I must live; I must make so 
much money; I must be clothed; I must be fed.' The great concern of 
our lives is not the kingdom of God, but how we are to fit ourselves 
to live. Jesus reverses the order: Get rightly related to God 
first, maintain that as the great care of your life, and never put the 
concern of your care on the other things. 
Our Lord points out the utter unreasonableness from His 
standpoint of being so anxious over the means of living. Jesus is not 
saying that the man who takes thought for nothing is blessed-that man 
is a fool. Jesus taught that a disciple has to make his 
relationship to God the dominating concentration of his life, and to be 
carefully careless about everything else in comparison to that. Jesus is 
saying-Don't make the ruling factor of your life what you shall eat and what 
you shall drink, but be concentrated absolutely on God. Some people 
are careless over what they eat and drink, and they suffer for it; 
they are careless about what they wear, and they look as they have no 
business to look; they are careless about their earthly affairs, and God 
holds them responsible. Jesus is saying that the great care of the 
life is to put the relationship to God first, and everything else 
second. [My Utmost for His Highest] 

Look Again and Think; Jesus Christ knows our circumstances 
better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to 
the point where they become the primary concern of our life. 
Whenever there are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always 
put your relationship to God first. [In His Time; My Utmost For His 
Highest] 

Give God first place and let him have precedence. This is the 
secret of safe guidance and peaceful progression. Simple dependence 
upon him, committing our all to him, obeying him implicitly - this is 
how to acknowledge him "in all thy ways. Al Bryant [Time With God 
SB] 

The Christian, who has a personal relationship with God as his 
Father, relies on One who not only knows, but also controls tomorrow. 
When we appreciate how much God loves us, we no longer feel pressure 
to "run after" even the necessities of life. This frees us to set 
right priorities, and "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness". 
What a joy to worry about nothing except pleasing Jesus! [The 365-Day 
Devotional Commentary] 

Instead of worrying about what we cannot do, we need to focus on 
what God can do. To "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness" 
means to "give him first place in your life." It means to turn to God 
first for help, to fill your thoughts with his desires, to take his 
character for your pattern, and to serve and obey him in everything. What 
is really important to you? People, objects, goals, and other 
desires all compete for priority. Any of these can quickly bump God out 
of first place if you don't actively choose to give him first place 
in every area of your life. [Life Application SB] 

How should believers today practice Matt. 6:33? We will start 
with our time, and put God first in every day. This means time for 
prayer and reading the Word. We will put God first in every week, 
attending the house of God faithfully. We will put God first every payday, 
paying the tithe to the Lord. We will put God first in our choices, 
making no decision that would leave God out. [Wiersbe Expository 
Outlines] 

Are You Obsessed by Something?; The total being of our life 
inside and out is to be absolutely obsessed by the presence of God. If 
we are obsessed by God, nothing else can get into our lives-not 
concerns, tribulation, nor worries. To be obsessed by God is to have an 
effective barricade against all the assaults of the enemy. [In His Time; 
My Utmost For His Highest re Psa.25:12] 

Open your hearts to receive this kingdom, and make its service 
your highest interest. Though it is a spiritual kingdom, fear not 
that your needs for this life will be uncared-for. If you give 
yourself to God's service, He who has all power in heaven and earth will 
provide for your needs. Jesus does not release us from the necessity of 
effort, but He teaches that we are to make Him first and last and best 
in everything. We are to engage in no business, follow no pursuit, 
seek no pleasure, that would hinder the outworking of His 
righteousness in our character and life. Whatever we do is to be done 
heartily, as unto the Lord.  MB98,99 

There are many whose hearts are aching under a load of care 
because they seek to reach the world's standard. They have chosen its 
service, accepted its perplexities, adopted its customs. Thus their 
character is marred, and their life made a weariness. In order to gratify 
ambition and worldly desires, they wound the conscience, and bring upon 
themselves an additional burden of remorse. The continual worry is wearing 
out the life forces. Our Lord desires them to lay aside this yoke of 
bondage.  He invites them to accept His yoke; He says, "My yoke is easy, 
and My burden is light." He bids them seek first the kingdom of God 
and His righteousness, and His promise is, that all things needful 
to them for this life shall be added. Worry is blind, and cannot 
discern the future; but Jesus sees the end from the beginning.  In every 
difficulty He has His way prepared to bring relief. Our Heavenly Father has 
a thousand ways to provide for us, of which we know nothing.  
Those who accept the one principle of making the service and honor of 
God supreme, will find perplexities vanish, and a plain path before 
their feet. DA330 

One day Tauler met a beggar. "God give you a good day, my 
friend," he said. The beggar answered, "I thank God I never had a bad 
one." Then Tauler said, "God give you a happy life, my friend." "I 
thank God," said the beggar, "I am never unhappy." Tauler in amazement 
said, "What do you mean?" "Well," said the beggar, "when it is fine, I 
thank God; when it rains, I thank God; when I have plenty, I thank 
God; when I am hungry, I thank God; and since God's will is my will, 
and whatever pleases him pleases me, why should I say I am unhappy 
when I am not?" Tauler looked at the man in astonishment. "Who are 
you?" he asked. "I am a king," said the beggar. "Where then is your 
kingdom?" asked Tauler.  And the beggar answered quietly: "In my heart." 
[Barclay Commentary] 

The Painting
Years ago, there was a very wealthy man, who, with his devoted 
young son, shared a passion for art collecting.  Together they 
traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their 
collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others 
adorned the walls of the family estate. 
The widowed elder man looked on with satisfaction as his only 
child became an experienced art collector. The son's trained eye and 
sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt 
with art collectors round the world. 
As winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man 
left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father 
received a telegram. His beloved son was missing in action. The art 
collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see his son 
again. Within days, his fears were confirmed. The young man had died 
while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic. 
Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas 
holidays with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season --- a season 
that he and his son had so looked forward to --- would visit his 
house no longer. 
On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed 
old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the 
walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home. As he opened 
the door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his 
hand. He introduced himself to the man by saying, "I was a friend of 
your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in 
for a few moments? I have something to show you." 
As the two began to talk, the soldier told of how the man's son 
had told everyone of his love not to mention his father's love of 
fine art. "I'm an artist," said the soldier, "and I want to give you 
this." As the old man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to 
reveal a portrait of the man's son. 
Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius, 
the painting featured the young man's face in striking detail. 
Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the soldier, promising to hang the 
picture above the fireplace. 
A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man 
set about his task. True to his word, the painting went above the 
fireplace, pushing aside thousands of dollars of paintings. And then the 
man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had 
been given. 
During the days and weeks that followed, the man realized that 
even though his son was no longer with him, the boy's life would live 
on because of those he had touched. He would soon learn that his 
son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled 
his caring heart. As the stories of his son's gallantry continued to 
reach him, fatherly pride and satisfaction began to ease the grief. 
The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far 
eclipsing any interest in the pieces for which museums around the world 
clamored. He told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever 
received. 
The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. 
The art world was in anticipation. With the collector's passing, and 
his only son dead, those paintings would be sold at an auction. 
According to the will of the old man, all of the art works would 
be auctioned on Christmas day, the day he had received his greatest 
gift. The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world 
gathered to bid on some of the world's most spectacular paintings. Dreams 
would be fulfilled this day; greatness would be achieved as many would 
claim "I have the greatest collection." 
The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum's 
list. It was the painting of the man's son. The auctioneer asked for 
an opening bid. The room was silent. "Who will open the bidding 
with $100?" he asked. Minutes passed. No one spoke. From the back of 
the room came, "Who cares about that painting? It's just a picture 
of his son. Let's forget it and go on to the good stuff." 
More voices echoed in agreement. "No, we have to sell this one 
first," replied the auctioneer. 
"Now, who will take the son?" Finally, a friend of the old man 
spoke. "Will you take ten dollars for the painting? That's all I have. 
I knew the boy, so I'd like to have it." "I have ten dollars. Will 
anyone go higher?" called the auctioneer. After more silence, the 
auctioneer said, "Going once, going twice. Gone." The gavel fell. Cheers 
filled the room and someone exclaimed, "Now we can get on with it and 
we can bid on these treasures!" 
The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced the auction 
was over. Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Someone spoke up and 
asked, "What do you mean it's over? We didn't come here for a picture 
of some old guy's son What about all of these paintings? There are 
millions of dollars of art here! I demand that you explain what's going 
on here!." 
The auctioneer replied, "It's very simple. According to the will 
of the father, whoever takes the son gets it all." 
Puts things into perspective, doesn't it? Just as those art 
collectors discovered on that Christmas day, the message is still the same 
- the love of a Father - a Father whose greatest joy came from his 
son who went away and gave his life rescuing others. And because of 
that Father's love ... whoever takes the Son gets it all. [author 
unknown]