Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
“But” can be a powerful word. It changes the direction of a whole idea, and no book uses this word more masterfully than the Bible. Just a few examples show the importance of this simple conjunction and its power…
Joshua 24:15b – …but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Psalm 9:7 – But the Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Isaiah 54:8 – In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.
Luke 12:31 – But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
In the Gospel, Jesus refreshed and renewed the call for obedience to God and invigorated this call with His Spirit in the hearts of His disciples. This call to seek the divine kingdom surpasses and envelopes all other doctrines and creeds. It the great “but” to all other motivations and callings in life.
We want successful careers and good health. We want to see our children grow up strong and intelligent. We want to vacation and see amazing things. We want to lose our fears and weaknesses. But before all these things we must first seek the kingdom of God. The Gospel tells us this kingdom is at hand (Matthew 4:17), and Jesus told us not to look for it in the world but within (Luke 17:21).
No matter what you do today, pray earnestly for God’s heavenly kingdom to be revealed within you today. Turn aside from corrupt treasures and lay hold on the divine. It is God’s good pleasure to give the kingdom to His children (Luke 12:32).