Seek First the Kingdom — sacred illustration
✶ Our Bible Moments No. 217 / 253

Guidance & Decisions

Seek First the Kingdom

Matthew 6:33

Matthew 6:33 says: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” Jesus said it in the Sermon on the Mount, right after telling His listeners not to worry about food or clothing.

Father, You know what I need before I ask. My list is long today: bills, work, the people who depend on me. I bring it all to You, and I choose to seek You first. Make Your kingdom and Your righteousness the first thing I look for in every decision. Take my worry about tomorrow, and teach me to trust You for what I need today. Amen.

Matthew 6:33 says: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” Jesus said it in the Sermon on the Mount, right after telling His listeners not to worry about food or clothing.

The Scripture

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”

— Matthew 6:33

Prayer points from Matthew 6:33

  1. Thank your heavenly Father that He knows what you need.
  2. Name the things you have been worrying about.
  3. Ask Him to show you what seeking His kingdom first looks like today.
  4. Ask Him for His righteousness in your work and your choices.
  5. Trust Him with tomorrow, and ask for what you need today.
  6. Pray for someone who is anxious about money or work.

About this verse

Matthew 6:33 comes in the Sermon on the Mount, in the part where Jesus talks about worry. He tells His listeners not to worry about what they will eat or drink or wear. Look at the birds of the air, He says: they do not sow or reap, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Consider the lilies of the field: not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. The Gentiles strive after all these things, but your heavenly Father knows that you need them. So seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Jesus does not say food and clothes do not matter. He says the Father knows we need them, and He puts them in their place. The next verse finishes the thought: do not worry about tomorrow, for today has enough trouble of its own. It is a prayer for anyone torn between worry and trust, especially about work and money.

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