People are natural seekers. We just have something in us that drives us to go after something. The problem starts when we begin seeking a way to get through life on our own. We come up with our own solutions. Our own plans. Our own ideas. And if you have ever done that, you know what it feels like. You end up out of order. Out of sync. Something is not right.
Honestly, a lot of the things weighing on you are proof that you are seeking something else. When we worry, when we fret, when we fear, when we are chasing achievement over here or success over there, trying to overcome on our own and find the solution on our own, we are seeking.
But it is easy to get the order wrong.
A few years ago I went through the Wendy’s drive thru. Your boy loves Wendy’s. It was one of those double lane setups, and I love a good double lane drive thru. It feels efficient. I feel like I am getting there faster. So I place my order, pull up to the window, grab the bag, and head out.
I get where I am going, open the bag, and there is a chicken sandwich in there. I did not order a chicken sandwich. And Baconator fries. I did not order Baconator fries. I will eat them. I just did not order them.
Somewhere in that double lane drive thru, I got the wrong order.
I think that happens to us spiritually. We think we have it all together. We think we have the right thing and it should be ours and it should work this time. Then we open it up and there is not even Baconator fries in there. We are just headed the wrong direction.
Jesus knew this would happen to us, so He gave us this.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
Seeking First Is Not a Priority List
How many of you like lists? Some of you love lists so much that if you listed your favorite things, lists would be at the top of your list.
I am a list guy too. Our Dream Team has checklists for everything we do on a Sunday, making sure the lyrics land where they should and the background slide looks the way it is supposed to.
But seeking first is not putting God at the top of your priority list and then everything else you want to do comes second. That is not how it works.
When Jesus gives this command, He is saying let God’s way into every single thing that is on your list. Yes, put Him first. But if your family is second, put God’s way into your family. Your job, your ministry, your friends, whatever your priorities are, make sure God’s way is in each one of them.
So what does it actually mean to seek first the kingdom of God?
What Kind of Kingdom
We are kind of fascinated with kingdoms. When the queen passed away and there was that coronation, I watched the whole process. I know we are in America and we broke free of all that tyranny, but the pomp and the formalities are interesting to me.
Although we do have our own kingdom here, and it is called the Magic Kingdom, under the tyranny of Walt Disney. I know it is tyranny, because about twelve years ago when our kids were around six, four, and two, we spent seven hundred dollars for an entire week at Clearwater Beach. You cannot do that anymore, but back in those sweet days you sure could. Then we went to Disney for one day, and for the five of us to step from this side of the gate to that side of the gate cost seven hundred dollars. That is not what I call magical. I am on the wrong end of whatever magic that kingdom has.
The kingdom of God is not magic and it is not a monarchy. It is not even just a divine destination. In the Greek, the word is basileia, and it means the rule, the reign, the authority of a king. A kingdom is simply where a king’s way runs the show.
If you are taking notes, jot that down. The kingdom of God is the divine rule of God.
And here is the best part. He is inviting you to live under that rule right now.
There is no person on earth who could offer you what God offers you. He is the creator of all things. He is the king of the universe. He is the father of all life. And He loves you so much that if you want to be in His kingdom, you are in. It is that simple. There is no fast pass needed. There is no lunch strategy. There is no coronation.
That is exactly what the thief on the cross experienced. He said, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He chose to believe. And Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” That thief just chose to participate.
The word kingdom shows up over a hundred and twenty times in the gospels. Jesus talked about it more than almost anything else.
1. His Kingdom Is Already Here
The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the kingdom of God is in your midst. Luke 17:20-21 (NIV)
Jesus said it is here, right now, in your midst. The rule and reign and authority of God is already present. People who are not part of God cannot see His kingdom. They just cannot recognize it.
His kingdom is not only a future destination. It arrived when Jesus did, and it is still breaking through today. Every time somebody is healed. Every time somebody is set free, saved, restored. Every time the old way is gone and a new way comes. That is kingdom. That is God moving in a way that only God can move.
The Pharisees could not understand this. They watched Jesus cast out a demon and heal a man who had been born deaf and blind, and their explanation was that He was doing it by the prince of demons.
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and He answered them. “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined. Every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself, so how can his kingdom stand? But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
The Pharisees were not completely wrong. They understood there was a kingdom of darkness. They just could not see the kingdom of light standing right in front of them.
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV)
We may have been born into the kingdom of darkness, but we were never meant to stay there. You have a choice between two kingdoms. Submit to the reign of the one true King.
There may be a lot of things you have made king of your life. A lot of things you have submitted to, things that control you and reign over you and that you cannot seem to get out from under. The way out is submitting to a much higher authority.
2. We Accept His Kingdom First, and in Every Area
Here is a leadership axiom I teach our teams all the time. If you build it, you must maintain it.
Anything you build now has maintenance attached to it. You buy a car and it is not over. You buy a house and you are in maintenance mode for a long time.
Missy is out today, so I can safely tell you about our house. We currently have two holes in the ceiling of our living room. The plumbing that caused them got fixed six months ago. Therein lies the problem. Six months is too long for there to be a hole in your ceiling.
In my defense, other maintenance keeps happening. This is the year for trees. I do not know if you have trees on your property, but they are just done, and they are falling on everything. I did enjoy having to buy a chainsaw to solve that one.
Here is the spiritual principle. God will let you build your own kingdom if you want to. He will just let it rip. You have the free will to try to do it on your own, and He will allow it.
And if you are not seeking God’s kingdom first, I guarantee you are building your own.
That is going to be exhausting to maintain, because now you are the provider. You are the protector. You are the repairer. You are the one with all the responsibility. Eventually you run out of energy. You run out of answers. You will not know where to go. And worst of all, you run out of peace.
When you let God’s reign replace yours, He carries the things you were never meant to carry in the first place.
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. Matthew 6:24 (NIV)
Jesus is saying you cannot have two kingdoms at one time.
Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)
If you need rest today, it might be because you have been building your own kingdom. And when I say weary, I do not mean you did not sleep well last night. I mean you are just toast. Life has gotten to you.
It is not enough to agree with the will of the King. You have to walk in it. It is not saying, “Okay, I like what God is up to, that is cool.” It is saying, “I actually have a part to play.” I am designed in such a way that God wants to use me to help His will get done. That is the most incredible thing of all.
3. We Operate in the Authority of His Kingdom
This is what I really wanted to get to, because I think some of you do not realize what you are missing when you insist on doing it your own way.
If you want to be the authority, God will let you be as much of an authority over your own life as you want. But you are leaving something on the table.
When you place yourself under the King’s authority, you get a share in that King’s authority. No, you are not the king. But you have authority as part of the kingdom, as a son or a daughter of the Most High God. It equips you. You have gifts God wants to use, and He will bless you with the authority to use them.
Maybe that is leading a small group. Maybe it is the person you sip coffee with at work every day, the one who is miserable, and you have the answer. Maybe tomorrow is the day you have the authority to say, “Can I share my story with you? I was miserable too.”
Wouldn’t that cup of coffee change? Wouldn’t their whole destiny change?
I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:18-20 (NIV)
There is spiritual darkness in this world, and Jesus is saying that if you are in Him, you already have the power to overcome it. You do not have to deal with that sin. You do not have to deal with that addiction. You do not have to deal with that thing. You have authority to trample over it.
But look at what He says about celebrating. Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you. Do not say, “I conquered that enemy. I broke free of that addiction.” Remember who helped you. Rejoice instead that your name is written in heaven.
Because the biggest news is not that we break free of something here on earth. It is that we break free of earth.
Invite the Reign of God Into Every Area
Around here, we pray first. There is an order to that, and it is how we honor God by acknowledging Him before anything else.
But seeking His kingdom is more than an order. It is not a top of the list thing. It is how we position every single thing in our lives to follow the way of the King.
So here is the most practical thing I can give you. I always want you to have something to wake up on Monday and do. Make this a commitment as you walk out the door.
Invite the reign of God into every area of your life.
When was the last time you invited the reign of God into your marriage? Into your finances, when things look bleak? Into that family situation, or that child who has walked away? What about the coworkers and the people in your life who do not know God at all, the ones you have been praying for?
Every single one of those is an opportunity. God wants to be King in them. He will be faithful to you if you submit to Him. Stop trying to control those things on your own.
Just a few verses before all of this, still in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us how to pray.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9-10 (NIV)
Here is what I love about that. Jesus was and is the ultimate fulfillment of the kingdom of God on earth. He is standing right there representing it. So why would He pray, your kingdom come?
Because yes, He came and changed everything. But then He left. And when He left, He said He was going to prepare a place for you. That is what He is doing right now.
On earth as it is in heaven means two things are true at the same time. The King is inviting you into His kingdom right now, and if you are not part of it yet, you can experience it today. He can save you today. He can set you free today. He can show you your purpose today.
And He is building a forever kingdom for you.
We do not just get to experience His kingdom on earth. We get eternity with God.
The greatest news of all comes down to three words. You are invited.
Maybe you have never received that invitation. Or maybe it was handed to you a long time ago and it has just been sitting on the coffee table of your life. It has been on your heart for a while and you have not known what to do with it.
He wants you there with Him. But it is your choice.