Words To Remember - "The Kingdom Factor"

Continuing in the spirit of the last five titles shared, and in the overall word for this year and season, "Order In The House", we now look more closely at the kingdom of God, and how it acts as a factor in the quality of our lives.  In this, we look again at Matthew 6:33, wherein the Lord Jesus says, "But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (NRSV).

In speaking of "The Kingdom Factor", it behooves us to first define the word "factor."  Whereas "factor" can be defined several ways, however, for our subject matter, we will utilize the definition that says the following: "Something that contributes to or has an influence on the outcome of something."  Therefore, in light of the aforesaid definition of "factor", and uniting it with the term "the kingdom" (of God), we see that what we do or do not do with the kingdom of God contributes to and has an influence on the outcome of the quality of our lives.

So, if we strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, then the outcome is, "and all these things will be given to you as well."  However, if we choose not to strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, then the outcome may not necessarily mean that we will not obtain "things" (for remember that Jesus says in Matthew 6:32, "For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things..."), it's just that with the obtaining of those "things", we may end up losing our soul.  For Jesus says in Matthew 16:26, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (KJV).

So, let us allow the "The Kingdom Factor" to be a benefit in our lives, and not an adverse one.  For it is what we do or do not do with the kingdom of God that will have an influence on the outcome of the quality of our lives.