“GOD PROVIDES”

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

Matthew 6:33

Theology is not just about collecting information about God. Rather, it shapes our understanding of God's nature and character. As such, the more we know about the Lord, the more our faith in Him strengthens. But how do we let go of our fears when our needs outweigh our means?

However, people often misquote Matthew 6:33 as a word of assurance that God will give an unlimited supply of material blessings if they try their best to make Him happy.

But the verse speaks for itself; the language is so direct that one can easily interpret what it means. We are to prioritize God over all things, and He will make it a point to supply us with “all these things.” But the question is, what does the term “all these things” mean?

This verse is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), perhaps the most famous sermon in history. In this discourse, Jesus teaches how to live a life that is pleasing to God, how to be free from hypocrisy, and how to be full of love, wisdom, and discernment.

Reading the preceding verses will help us understand Jesus’ message. In verses 25-32, He speaks about trusting the Lord for our needs. Just as the Lord, being the Creator of all, cares for the birds of the sky and the lilies of the field, He also provides for the needs of His most precious creation: people.

Jesus wants us to seek the salvation that He offers, above all else. It is the most important matter in life that needs to be our prime concern. While seeking God’s salvation does not mean neglecting our daily tasks that help sustain our lives, putting God first means trusting Him to take care of everything we need.

One commentator explains, “To give priority to God’s kingdom means to give our allegiance to Him as our King. On the other hand, righteousness is the lifestyle that results from this decision.” (Carson)

Multiple times in this passage, Jesus tells His listeners to avoid worrying, which is essentially the antithesis of trusting. Being anxious about tomorrow does not do us any good, as each day presents its own set of problems. Worry does not extend life; it shortens it.

Serving God starts not in the church but in oneself. We are to have a firm resolve to seek the things of God and strive to live by His Word through the help of the Holy Spirit. If we truly believe that God is good, we must follow Him and count on Him to provide for our needs. Once we have found sufficiency in God, we can bring efficiency in serving Him and His people.

God is not pleased when you’re anxious because it shows a lack of faith in His power to provide for your needs. He made you; He has the resources to sustain you (Hebrews 1:3). But will you trust Him enough, let go of your worries, and find sufficiency in Him?

Pursue the Savior today!

Photo by Bailey Zindel on Unsplash