“Seek First The Kingdom Of God”

The Lord knows us “inside and out”. It’s amazing how all his words spoken during the three years of his public ministry are right on the money. He diagnoses our problems and then presents the solution. Let’s look at  “anxiety”, which is prevalent in our life and in the life of our society. What’s the source of this on-going dilemma? 

Like a skilled physician, Jesus asks some important questions, probing into the depths our soul, asking  Where is your treasure ? Where do you spend your time and thoughts and money …. there you will find your heart…what you value.  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”(Mt. 6:23-34)

Here’s another clue from the Lord.  “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 mammon. (Mt. 6:24) Trying to serve two masters will bring  a divided heart, unrest, uncertainty, and our old friend — anxiety.

In case we’re still not sure, the Lord continues to probe.  “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing….. and which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life….. O men of little faith?  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?…… your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. Then the Lord gives the final direction. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” (Mt. 6:25-34)

So if we find our self anxious, let’s go thru this examination of conscience and answer these key questions. And let’s reorient our lives on the Lord and his kingdom and righteousness and we will find that our peace returns. And that is very good news. 

Oh and one final tip from the Lord, let’s not live in the past or try to live in the future, there’s no grace for that; let’s live in the present moment where the Lord will meet us with his care and concern and joy and grace to walk with us thru today. 

 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.