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“Seek the Kingdom First” is not a suggestion. It is a command of Jesus, with a promise attached.
Let us look at what the Word of God says:
> “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
> — *Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)*
> “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.’”
> — *Matthew 22:37–38 (NKJV)*
> “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
> — *James 4:8a (NKJV)*
These three passages provide the backbone of the song’s message:
The lyrics contrast two ways of living:
Jesus links the inner condition of the heart to outward provision. God’s order is always: first the spiritual, then the material. When that order is reversed, anxiety, fear, and idolatry enter. When that order is honored, peace, guidance, and provision follow.
This is not merely a song about comfort. It is a call to a radical reordering of priorities: God first, in reality, not in theory.
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### Matthew 6:33 – In the Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 6:33 is spoken by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). He is addressing His disciples, with crowds listening. The context is vital.
Immediately before verse 33, Jesus says:
> “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)*
The people listening were not wealthy. Many were poor, living under Roman occupation, taxed heavily. They were not worrying about luxuries, but about basic survival. Into that anxiety Jesus speaks:
He illustrates with birds and flowers. These are not sentimental pictures. They are arguments Jesus uses to confront unbelief.
Then He summarizes with one decisive statement:
> “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
This is a contrast:
### Matthew 22:37 – Confrontation with Religious Leaders
Matthew 22 finds Jesus in conflict with the Pharisees and Sadducees. A lawyer (an expert in the Law of Moses) asks Him:
> “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
> — *Matthew 22:36 (NKJV)*
Jesus replies with Deuteronomy 6:5:
> “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
This is not a new command. It is the foundation of the entire covenant. Then He states:
> “This is the first and great commandment.”
> — *Matthew 22:38 (NKJV)*
In other words, this is God’s priority. Everything else in the Law and the Prophets hangs on this.
The song correctly links “seek the Kingdom” with “love the Lord…with all your heart, soul, mind.” Seeking the Kingdom is not a technique; it is the expression of total love and loyalty to God.
### James 4:8 – Rebuke to Double-Minded Believers
James is writing to scattered Jewish believers. In chapter 4 he exposes worldliness and spiritual adultery:
> “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?”
> — *James 4:4 (NKJV)*
He is addressing believers who want both:
Then he presents 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)*
So James 4:8 is not a soft devotional thought. It is a call to repentance and single-hearted devotion. It fits perfectly with “seek first” and “love with all.”
You cannot seek the Kingdom first while remaining double-minded. God requires undivided allegiance.
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### 1. “Seek” – Greek: *zēteō* (ζητέω)
In Matthew 6:33, the word translated “seek” is *zēteō*.
It is not a casual interest. It is a controlling pursuit.
So when Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God,” He is saying:
This deepens the lyrics: “Put Him first in everything you do… Keep your focus true.” Seeking is not attending a meeting; it is ordering your life so that God’s rule is the governing principle.
### 2. “Kingdom” – Greek: *basileia* (βασιλεία)
The word translated “kingdom” is *basileia*.
So “the Kingdom of God” is the effective rule of God:
To “seek the Kingdom” means:
The lyrics say: “Put God's kingdom and His ways first every day.” That is a good paraphrase of *basileia*: not just an event, but God’s ways being applied in daily living.
### 3. “Draw near” – Greek: *engizō* (ἐγγίζω)
In James 4:8, “draw near” is *engizō*.
And James adds: when you move toward God, He moves toward you. There is a divine response to our approach.
So “Early in the morning, I’ll seek Your face… You promise if I draw near to You, You’ll draw near to me” is not wishful thinking. It is covenant reality.
God has bound Himself by His Word:
When we approach Him with sincerity, humility, and repentance, He will respond.
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Let us move through the themes of the lyrics and connect them to the Word.
### A. “Don’t chase after food or clothes like those who don’t know God”
This reflects 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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