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“Seek the Kingdom First” brings us directly into the heart of Jesus’ teaching on priorities. It is not a song about emotions. It is about government—about what rules our lives. The central scripture says:
> “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
> — *Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)*
And this kingdom priority is framed by two other foundational commands:
> “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
> — *Deuteronomy 6:5 (NKJV)*
> “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you… ”
> — *James 4:8 (NKJV)*
These three scriptures—Matthew 6:33, Deuteronomy 6:5, and James 4:8—form a unified message:
The lyrics you have presented are not just devotional thoughts. They describe a spiritual law of priorities: whatever you put first becomes your functional god. Jesus demands that the Kingdom of God be first—above needs, above fears, above possessions, above human understanding.
Let us see how the Word of God defines this order and how we are to walk in it.
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### Matthew 6:33 – In the Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 6:33 is part of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), where Jesus sets out the lifestyle of those who are truly under the rule of God. He is speaking to disciples, not to the crowds alone. These are people who have left everything to follow Him. Many of them knew economic uncertainty, political oppression, and daily anxiety.
The immediate context of Matthew 6:33 is Jesus’ teaching against anxiety:
> “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink… nor about your body, what you will put on.”
> — *Matthew 6:25 (NKJV)*
Jesus uses two illustrations:
His conclusion is very clear:
> “For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”
> — *Matthew 6:32 (NKJV)*
Then comes the divine alternative:
> “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
> — *Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)*
In other words, the unbelieving world is driven by survival and material needs. The disciple is to be driven by the Kingdom and righteousness. God Himself assumes full responsibility for the rest.
### Deuteronomy 6:5 – At the Threshold of the Land
Deuteronomy 6 is Moses’ message to Israel as they stand on the verge of entering the promised land. They are about to receive houses they did not build, vineyards they did not plant, wells they did not dig. They are about to encounter abundance.
In that setting, God gives them the central confession of Jewish faith—the *Shema*:
> “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!
> You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
> — *Deuteronomy 6:4–5 (NKJV)*
This is not sentiment. It is total allegiance. In a land full of idols, God demands exclusive loyalty—no divided heart, no divided worship, no divided priorities. This same command Jesus later identifies as:
> “This is the first and great commandment.”
> — *Matthew 22:38 (NKJV)*
The greatest command is to put God absolutely first in love and loyalty.
### James 4:8 – In the Midst of Conflict and Double-Mindedness
James 4 addresses believers who are in conflict, striving, and spiritual adultery. They want friendship with the world and friendship with God at the same time. James diagnoses the problem:
> “…you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
> — *James 4:2–3 (NKJV)*
He calls them “adulterers and adulteresses” because they are trying to belong to God while loving the world. Then comes the remedy:
> “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double–minded.”
> — *James 4:8 (NKJV)*
The way out of double-mindedness and inner conflict is a deliberate move towards God—drawing near in repentance, separated from the world’s system.
These three contexts all deal with one root issue: Who or what is truly first? Fear of lack? Worldly pressures? Idols of the heart? Or the Lord and His Kingdom?
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### 1. “Seek” – Greek: *zēteō* (ζητέω)
The word translated “seek” in Matthew 6:33 is *zēteō*. It means:
This is not a casual interest. It is a governing pursuit. It implies effort, intention, and priority.
So when Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom,” He is not saying, “Have a vague interest in spiritual things.” He is saying: make the Kingdom of God the dominant pursuit of your life. Every other activity must be secondary.
### 2. “Kingdom” – Greek: *basileia* (βασιλεία)
The word “kingdom” is *basileia*. It means:
So the “Kingdom of God” is not first of all a place you go to; it is the rule of God you submit to. To “seek the Kingdom” means to seek God’s rule in every area:
The lyrics, “Put God's kingdom and His ways first every day,” capture the essence of this: not just God’s blessings, but His ways, His rule, His order.
### 3. “Love” – Hebrew: *’ahav* (אָהַב) – Deuteronomy 6:5
The Hebrew word for “love” in Deuteronomy 6:5 is *’ahav*. It conveys:
To love God with all the heart, soul, and strength is to attach oneself to Him in total covenant loyalty. It demands that no other allegiance competes with Him—not money, not success, not human approval, not even self.
### 4. “Draw Near” – Greek: *engizō* (ἐγγίζω) – James 4:8
“Draw near” (*engizō*) means:
James is saying: when you intentionally approach God—in humility, repentance, and faith—God responds. He moves towards you. There is a spiritual law here: your movement towards God creates God’s movement towards you.
The lyrics, “You promise if I draw near to You, You’ll draw near to me,” correctly identify this as a promise that operates like a spiritual principle.
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We will now walk through the themes of the lyrics and relate them to Scripture.
### A. “Don’t chase after food or clothes like those who don’t know God”
This line echoes Matthew 6:31–32:
> “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
> For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”
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