“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Mt 6:33)
Matthew chapter six truly is one of the most powerful chapters in the Bible. It is right in the middle of the greatest sermon ever preached, the Sermon on the Mount.
We learn here what must come first in our lives: seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness. This must always be our number one priority.
Yeshua came to preach the good news about the kingdom. As we explained earlier the kingdom of heaven is where God’s will rules. There is a personal aspect to this when we obey God’s commandments. The fruit of this obedience is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Ro 14:17). But there is also a future aspect of the kingdom, where it will be manifest physically and openly. One day God’s righteousness, peace and joy will fill the whole earth from Jerusalem when the Messiah comes rule the nations from His throne as described in Isaiah:
“…and many peoples shall come, and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples.” (Isa 2:3-4)
As we learn to submit to God and walk in His will and His paths now, seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, we store up treasures in heaven for that day when the kingdom comes in its fullness. Then we will be rewarded openly.
“And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. … Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mt 6:4,20-21)
Paul expressed it this way:
“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” (1 Ti 6:18-19 NIV)
There is an old saying that you cannot take anything with you when you depart from this life. That is not true. The Bible says that your good deeds will follow you into the coming age. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Blessed indeed, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” (Rev 14:13) “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.” (Rev 22:12 NIV)
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” (Mt 25:21)
Yeshua said: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Mt 6:24) May we learn now to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness! The reward will be great.
