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“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ … But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
— *Matthew 6:31, 33 (NKJV)*
Here we have one of the most radical and challenging commands of Jesus. It is not a suggestion. It is not an ideal for a spiritual elite. It is the normal Christian life: seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
The lyrics you have before you simply echo and repeat this one central command, pressing it into our hearts:
> Seek first the kingdom of God
> and His righteousness,
> and all these things will be given to you as well.
> Do not worry—your Father knows your needs.
We are dealing here with a divine order:
1. Priority: Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness.
2. Provision: All these things will be added.
3. Posture: Do not worry—your Father knows.
If we reverse the order, we lose the promise. If we seek “all these things” first, the kingdom becomes an appendix. The words of Jesus cut right across the anxious, materialistic spirit of this age and call us into the security of sonship under a Father who knows.
Let us look at what the Word of God says, in its context and in its depth.
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Matthew 6 lies in the heart of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). Jesus is speaking primarily to His disciples, though the crowds are listening (Matthew 5:1–2). He is not delivering general religious advice. He is setting forth the lifestyle of those who are under the rule of God’s kingdom.
The immediate context starts in Matthew 6:19:
> “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” (vv. 19–20).
Then Jesus addresses:
We then read:
> “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life…” (v. 25).
That word “therefore” connects anxiety directly with divided loyalty. If I am trying to serve both God and mammon, worry is inevitable. If God is truly first, I am brought into rest.
Jesus speaks in a world where daily survival was a real concern:
So when He says:
> “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” (v. 31),
He is addressing the most basic human concerns. But then He makes a sharp distinction:
> “For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (v. 32, NKJV)
“Gentiles” here are “the nations,” those without covenant and without the revelation of God as Father. Their lives are dominated by pursuit and anxiety. They “run after” these things. That is their lifestyle. Jesus is saying: *You are not to live like that. You have a Father.*
Then follows the central command:
> “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (v. 33)
“Seek first” stands in deliberate contrast to “the Gentiles seek.” There are two kinds of seekers:
Every believer must decide to which group he or she belongs.
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### 1) “Seek” – ζητέω (*zēteō*)
The word translated “seek” is *zēteō*. It does not mean a casual interest. It implies:
This is not a passive attitude: “If the kingdom shows up, I’m available.” It is an active orientation of the whole life toward the rule of God.
Notice also the present tense in Greek: “keep on seeking.” It speaks of continual, ongoing pursuit. Not a one-time decision at an altar, but a lifestyle.
So when the lyrics say:
> Seek first the kingdom of God
> and His righteousness,
they are echoing this intensive, continuous command: make the kingdom and righteousness of God the ongoing priority and pursuit of your life.
### 2) “Kingdom” – βασιλεία (*basileia*)
The word *basileia* means more than a geographical realm. It is fundamentally:
The kingdom of God is the effective rule of God—where His will is done, His authority acknowledged, and His laws obeyed. When we speak of seeking first the kingdom of God, we are speaking of seeking:
We are not merely seeking a place called “heaven” after death. We are seeking the active rule of the King in the present.
So the lyric “seek His kingdom first” means practically: surrender the ruling rights of your life to Jesus the King in every area.
### 3) “Righteousness” – δικαιοσύνη (*dikaiosynē*)
*Dikaiosynē* in the New Testament means:
In Matthew, righteousness is very concrete. Jesus says:
> “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…” (Matthew 5:6).
> “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees…” (Matthew 5:20).
So when we read “His righteousness,” we are not talking about a vague moral feeling. We are talking about:
This deepens the lyrics. We are not merely seeking a spiritual “atmosphere” called the kingdom, but a concrete way of life marked by rightness before God.
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### A. “Therefore do not worry, saying…”
> “Therefore do not worry, saying,
> ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’
> or ‘What shall we wear?’”
Notice that anxiety is connected with speech: “do not worry, saying…”. Worry is not only a mental state; it expresses itself in words. Our mouths reveal our inner orientation.
Proverbs 18:21 says:
> “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…”
When I keep rehearsing “What shall I…?” worries, I am aligning my speech with fear rather than faith. Jesus forbids this pattern.
This is spiritual warfare. The enemy traffics in fear, especially regarding provision. He whispers: “You will not have enough. God will not come through.” When we repeat his insinuations, we empower them.
Philippians 4:6–7 gives the biblical alternative:
> “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God…”
So there is a trade:
### B. “For the pagans run after all these things…”
> “For the pagans run after all these things,
> and your heavenly Father knows
> that you need them.”
Here is a contrast in identity:
“Run after” shows pursuit without rest. The world’s system is built on restless chasing:
But disciples are given a revelation: “your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” This is not sentimental. It is covenantal. The Father’s knowledge includes:
Psalm 23:1 states the same reality:
> “The LORD is my shepherd;
> I shall not want.”
Not “I shall have everything I imagine,” but I shall not lack what my Shepherd knows I need.
So when the lyrics repeat:
> and your heavenly Father knows
> that you need them.
They are pressing us to stand on this truth: provision is the Father’s responsibility; seeking is ours.
### C. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…”
> Seek first the kingdom of God
> and His righteousness,
> and all these things will be given to you as well.
> Do not worry—your Father knows your needs.
Notice the divine order:
1. Seek first – the governing priority.
2. The kingdom of God – His rule.
3. And His righteousness – His standard.
4. All these things will be added – God’s promised response.
5. Do not worry – the commanded posture.
If we are honest, many of us invert this order:
But the promise is attached to the condition. “All these things will be added” belongs to those who meet the prior command: “Seek first.”
This is consistent with many other passages:
The lyrics rightly emphasize: “Do not worry—your Father knows your needs.” That is the atmosphere of kingdom-seeking. Kingdom priority and filial trust go together. When we know we are sons and daughters, we can afford to put God first.
### D. “But seek his kingdom… and these things will be given…”
> But seek his kingdom,
> and these things will be given to you as well.
Here Luke’s form (Luke 12:31) is echoed. The emphasis shifts slightly:
The central point remains: seek His rule.
To seek the kingdom is to embrace:
We are not promised that we will be exempt from hardship. Paul says:
> “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)
But we are promised that in the path of obedience, our material needs will be met according to His wisdom.
Philippians 4:19 gives the same assurance in covenant terms:
> “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Again, notice the context: Paul is speaking to a generous, kingdom-prioritizing church (Philippians 4:15–18). Provision follows right priorities.
### E. “Your heavenly Father knows—seek His kingdom first…”
> Your heavenly Father knows—
> seek His kingdom first,
> and He will add everything you need.
Here the two anchors of the Christian life are brought together:
1. Revelation of God as Father.
2. Submission to God as King.
Many Christians want a Father who provides, but they do not want a King who rules. Scripture does not separate them. He is our Father in heaven (Matthew 6:9)—intimate yet exalted, loving yet authoritative.
“Seek His kingdom first” means:
“He will add everything you need” does not mean everything I desire in the flesh, but everything necessary to fulfill His will for my life.
Ephesians 2:10:
> “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works… which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
God’s provision is attached to the works He has prepared. If I insist on my own path, I cannot presume His full provision. If I walk in His path, I am entitled to expect His supply.
The song repeats the command and the promise. Repetition is not redundant; it is biblical. Jesus Himself repeated this teaching (Matthew 6, Luke 12). God knows our tendency to drift into worry and material preoccupation, so He calls us again and again to the same center: Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness.
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We must move from theory to practice. How do we actually “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”? I will outline four clear steps, each with a corresponding proclamation.
### 1) Renounce Worry and Confess God as Father
First, we must repent of worry as a habitual lifestyle. Worry is not a harmless personality trait; it is a violation of the command of Jesus. It reveals mistrust in the Father’s heart.
This does not mean we never feel concern, but we refuse to let concern turn into unbelieving anxiety. We bring our concerns to God.
Action:
Proclamation:
> “In the name of Jesus, I renounce worry and anxious speech. My heavenly Father knows what I need. I choose to trust Him with my life, my provision, and my future.”
### 2) Establish God’s Kingdom as the Governing Priority
Second, we must make a conscious, specific decision: the kingdom of God comes first in my life. Not merely in theory, but in schedule, finances, decisions, relationships, and ministry.
Ask yourself:
Matthew 6:21 tells us:
> “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
To seek the kingdom first, we must align both our treasure and our time with God’s purposes.
Action:
Proclamation:
> “Lord Jesus, I acknowledge You as King. I set Your kingdom as the first priority of my life. I choose Your will above my own in every area—time, money, relationships, and plans.”
### 3) Submit to God’s Righteousness (Both Imputed and Lived)
Third, we must seek “His righteousness.” We do this in two dimensions:
1. Receive His righteousness by faith.
2. Commit to live righteously.
Hebrews 12:14 commands:
> “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”
Action:
Proclamation:
> “Father, I receive Your righteousness as a gift through Jesus Christ. I also choose to walk in practical righteousness. By Your grace, I submit my thoughts, words, and actions to the authority of Your Word.”
### 4) Align Your Expectation With God’s Promise of Provision
Fourth, we must actively expect God to add what we need as we put Him first. Faith is not passive. It lays hold of the promise on God’s terms.
Hebrews 11:6:
> “He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Seekers are rewarded. The reward includes spiritual blessings but also necessary material provision.
Action:
Proclamation:
> “My God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. As I seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, all these things shall be added to me.”
---
### Proclamation
Speak this aloud, slowly and deliberately:
> “I choose to obey the words of Jesus.
> I will not worry, saying, ‘What shall I eat?’ or ‘What shall I drink?’ or ‘What shall I wear?’
> I am not like the world that runs after these things.
> I have a heavenly Father, and He knows what I need.
> Therefore, I set my will to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
> I bring every area of my life under the rule of my King, Jesus.
> I receive His righteousness by faith, and I commit to walk in righteousness by obedience.
> On the authority of God’s Word, I declare:
> as I seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,
> all these things that I need shall be added to me.
> I reject worry. I embrace trust.
> I am a child of my Father in heaven, and He is faithful.”
### Prayer
“Father, in the name of Jesus, I come to You as Your child. I acknowledge that many times I have allowed worry and fear to govern my thoughts and my words. I repent for seeking things more than Your kingdom, and my own way more than Your righteousness.
Lord Jesus, I submit afresh to Your kingship. Take Your rightful place as ruler in every part of my life. Holy Spirit, search my heart. Expose every area of compromise, every divided loyalty, every hidden fear. Give me grace to obey promptly and fully.
Father, I thank You that You know my needs. I bring them to You now—my financial needs, my practical needs, my family’s needs. I choose to trust Your character and Your promise. As I seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, I ask You to add what I need in Your time and Your way.
Establish in me a steadfast heart that refuses anxiety and clings to Your Word. Let my life be a testimony that the words of Jesus are true: when we seek first Your kingdom, You are faithful to provide. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.”
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