SEEK FIRST: THE ALTERNATIVE TO WORRY
Mechelle Holbrook
Today’s Scripture: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33, ESV
Theme: Prioritize seeking God and His righteousness over trying to problem solve.
UNDERSTANDING THE PROMISE IN CONTEXT
Matthew 6:33 can sometimes sound like a promise that if we seek God, we’ll automatically get everything we want. But that’s not quite what Jesus is saying when we read the verse in the context of the entire passage. Matthew, chapter 6, is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, where He teaches those who come to Him that life in God’s kingdom looks different than the life they had learned.
Jesus calls His followers to live a life dedicated to pleasing and seeking the real kingdom—God’s kingdom, a kingdom free from hypocrisy and marked by love, grace, and wisdom. When we stop seeking this kingdom and instead focus on this world--on the wrong things, the temporary things, the things that won’t matter in the end--we begin to worry. We forget that God deeply cares for us and for all our daily needs.
WHEN WORRY TAKES OVER
As we finish our series on emotions, I can’t help but wonder—has this series stirred up different emotions in you? I’ll be honest: I’m something of an expert when it comes to anxiety and worry. I worry about tomorrow, about my children, about money, about all these things.
There was a long season in our lives when my husband and I struggled financially. We made a lot of wrong choices and created a lot of debt. And for a long time, we only made things worse by trying to fix the problem ourselves. Eventually, someone shared financial wisdom with us, a budget, a plan, and practical steps, but also something far more important: putting God first. It didn’t happen all at once. It took time. But after seeking God, and through some amazing miracles only He could orchestrate, we were able to come out from under the heavy burden of debt. I share this because, as you can imagine, that season created a lot of anxiety. I’m not proud of how much I worried, or how hard I tried to fix it on my own. But God has been faithful and gentle, teaching me that seeking His kingdom and His righteousness truly works, every time.
THE INVITATION JESUS GIVES US
Seeking first doesn’t mean all of our problems disappear. It doesn’t mean this broken world suddenly stops being broken. But it does mean God cares. It means He will take care of us. Broken things may continue in this world, but they will not last forever in God’s kingdom. Have we yet talked about the emotion you struggle with most—worry, fear, anxiety, hurt, loneliness, other? Jesus understands these emotions more than anyone. That’s why He lovingly gives us an answer: Seek Him first. His kingdom. His righteousness. And trust that He will handle the rest. This is both a command and an invitation from our Lord—an invitation from the One who knows what is best for us. If you notice, Jesus begins Matthew 6:33 with the word “but.” It’s an alternative: an alternative to anxiety; an alternative to worrying about our needs. That alternative is to seek Him.
Make It Personal: What is the thing you worry about most right now? In what ways have you been trying to fix a problem on your own instead of seeking God first? What would it look like—practically and spiritually—for you to seek God’s kingdom in this area of your life? How can you choose, moment by moment, to hand your worries back to Him? What would change if you truly believed God cares for you just as He does the birds of the air and the lilies of the field?
Pray: Lord, I know that I am a mess sometimes. My emotions get the best of me. I allow them to dictate my actions, but You have a better way. Lord, I love how You provide the answers in Your Word. You lovingly remind me that You care for the little birds of the air, so how much more do You care about Your children. Oh Lord, help me to truly seek You first and allow You to provide for me. Help me allow my emotions to be an indicator but not trust them as my guide for life and choices. Amen.
Read: Matthew 6:25-34, 5:6; 1 Kings 17:1-6
Weekly Memory Verse: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7, NIV