Seek ye first the kingdom of God

While the first part of this chapter focused attention upon the practices of the disciple, almsgiving, prayer, and fasting, the remaining verses consider what the priorities in the life of the disciple should be: to lay up treasure in heaven, and to seek first the kingdom of God.

‘Treasures in heaven’ are contrasted with ‘treasures upon earth’, the Lord sounding a note of warning lest the acquisition and possession of material things should become the goal and ground of confidence in the believer’s life. That the Lord gives the warning indicates there is a real possibility of such a thing happening, and perhaps especially so today when success is often measured by a man’s wealth and riches. What we esteem to be treasure is an index to where our desires and affections lie, where our ‘heart is’, and that in turn determines the path we will pursue in life, vv. 21-23. Moses esteemed ‘the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward’, Heb. 11. 26. Could such words be written of us?

If the desire to acquire riches can become a distraction to a believer, having too little can equally become detrimental to him, a hindrance to ‘seeking first the kingdom of God’. The concern for food, clothing, and the maintenance of life can dominate his mind, filling him with anxious thoughts and so deflect him from giving attention to the interests and will of God. Since God has given us life can we not trust Him to give us food to maintain it? Since God has given us a body can we not trust Him to provide clothing to cover it? Matt. 6. 25. Birds do not work, have no harvest to gather, and no storehouse to draw upon, yet they are fed by the provision of the Father in heaven. Solomon was the most affluent of all Israel’s kings, but his glory is not to be compared to the glory with which God clothes the wild lilies. If our Father does that for birds and lilies what will He not do for us? He knows our needs and if we put God’s kingdom first, we can count upon Him ministering to them. He adds His benefits to our day, whereas all anxious care will give only an additional burden to our day, vv. 33, 34.