Continuing in our series, "Order In The House", we look again at Matthew 6:33 which says, "But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (NRSV). This verse is the heart of order, for it speaks of placing God as first in our lives.
In our journey through Matthew 6:33, we looked at the words "strive", "first", and "kingdom of God (and his righteousness)." About "strive (seek)", we said that (according to the BDAG Greek Lexicon) this is to "devote serious effort to realize one's desire or objective." About "first", we said that in our "first" is also our "last", or in other words, in our "first" is our all or everything. And about "kingdom of God (and his righteousness)", we said that it speaks of the rule, reign, and will of the king. So, in putting these things together, we can say that, "In striving (seeking) first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, we are totally consumed with wanting to see God's will done in our lives." There remains no more room for the self-agenda, but it is all about the God-agenda.
Now, this is not to say that we are perfect in all of this, but as the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 3:12, "Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." And in vs. 14 of the same chapter he says, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus." (NRSV). So we see that in the "press", is the total consumption with wanting to see God's will done in our lives.
Striving first (seeking) for the kingdom of God (and his righteousness), puts us in a place called "blessing"; for Jesus said as a result of doing this, "all these things will be given to you as well." "Order In The House."
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