Seek First

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Matthew 6:33

THIS VERSE IS Jesus’ principle for overcoming worry. In the verses that precede this one, the Lord talks about the problem of anxiety and worry. Will I have enough food? Do I have a safe place to sleep tonight? Are there clothes in the closet?

For today’s Christians, there are more things to worry about—finances, relationships, work problems, children, parents, other relatives, the world situation, nukes, terrorism, and the list goes on. It’s very easy to become so paralyzed with worry that we might even refuse to venture out of our homes at all.

But Jesus gives us the antidote to worry. First, seek God’s Kingdom. Do all you can to advance, build, spread, and nurture God’s work on earth. Make that your priority. Second, live a godly life. Follow God’s laws and principles. Treat your neighbors with dignity, love, and friendship. Give to the poor. Help people in need. Third, remember that God promises to give you all you need. What are you in need of? Food? Clothing? A place to live? A decent job? A drivable car? You can trust God to provide for your needs.

The principle is to go after God with all your heart, and in the end, you won’t have anything to worry about.