A Quick Lesson on Matthew 6:33

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. [Mat 6:31-34 NIV]

Jesus begins the Lord’s Prayer (Mat 6:9-13) with “. . . Your kingdom come, Your will be done.” It is common in our flawed, human existence to be preoccupied with what we can see and touch. Instead of praying for God’s will, we are often praying “my will be done . . .” Like Peter on the water, we lose focus of the One who is in control and our eyes are on the problem.

While it is commendable to be industrious and productive, we must resist the urge to trust on our assets to provide for our needs. Often when our assets are in the black, it is easy to “trust” God because we think we are financially safe. But when our assets are in the red, we tend to panic and beg God to deliver us. On both occasions, we are trusting in our assets. We are not seeking the kingdom.

Note here: In both passages above, Christ is not referencing the Kingdom of Heaven. Nor is He talking about His return, or reigning kingdom. Both times, He is talking about His Father’s kingdom, or the Kingdom of God, which He came to reveal. Therefore, we are instructed to pray for God’s kingdom and to seek God’s kingdom. In Luke 17:20-37, Christ describes what the kingdom of God is.

The Pharisees want a location for this Kingdom of God. Jesus’ response is that the kingdom is within us – or those who believe. “The Kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation . . . because the Kingdom of God is within you.” [v21]

Then Jesus turns to His disciples and instructs them on the coming of the Son, in His reigning kingdom – and what will be the test to prove those who had been seeking after the Kingdom of God. His warning is to pay no attention to people who claim He has come, because when He comes, we will need no notice. Christ will come riding in the clouds with lightning and thunder to announce His presence. (See also the companion chapter in Mat 24).

When He comes, it will be just like it was when Noah walked into the ark and when Lot fled Sodom: everyone will be doing what they always did before. Eating, and drinking and accumulating wealth.

The warning is the test: If you are on the roof and you see the Son of Man coming, don’t go into your house to retrieve your stuff. The same goes if you are in the field. Forget your stuff. Remember Lot’s wife. She disobeyed the command not to look back. She paused and mourned her loss – she wanted her stuff, instead of running toward God’s promise of rescue. So, she was turned to a pillar of salt. If you try to keep your life – or your stuff – you will lose your life. This is the night one will be taken and the other left (Luk 17:30-35).

If we are seeking the Kingdom of God, we will not be worried about our stuff. And when we see Christ return in redemption and great destruction, we won’t be looking for our stuff.

Now the disciples wanted a location for His return, or reigning kingdom. Jesus just rebuked the Pharisees for looking for a location. And He just described His coming with lightning, thunder, destruction, power, and such. Can we miss it? This is His response: “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.” [17:37] That our minds are even on our stuff after Christ’s description of His return is a demonstration of the death that easily grips us. And in this graphic way – relating to circling vultures, Jesus says again, if you look to the sky, it will be obvious when I return.

Where is our mind? I speak to myself as to anyone else in this matter. It is so easy to worry about our stuff, our finances, our life here on earth. When we do this, we are not seeking the Kingdom of God. In fact, Christ says we are following the ways of the pagans. (Mat 6:32) To seek first the Kingdom of God is to “worry” about God’s stuff.

• Have I been a witness with my life and my words today?
• Have I helped those God put in my path?
• Am I looking forward to Christ’s return – do I want Him to return right now?
• Am I praying for God’s Kingdom, or my kingdom?
• Am I praying “Thy will be done” or “my will be done”?

Peter warns us that everything in this world, including all our hopes and dreams – and our stuff, will be destroyed. Then he asks us, “What kind of people ought you to be?” [2Pe 3:11] We ought to live holy, godly lives – seeking first the Kingdom of God. That is how we speed His coming. We look forward to a new heaven and a new earth – the home of righteousness, not stuff.