When You Speak

Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God.

It came up time and time again. In all my prayers, the only answer I received was Seek Ye First... At first I tried to ignore it. It seemed like such a generic response. It didn't really tell me what to do, and it didn't answer my questions. But then eventually it seemed like it would be the only answer I would receive. 

Matthew 6:33. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

What was God trying to say? I spoke to Caitie, the creative pastor at a church I used to visit. Read Matthew 5,6 and 7 she said. 

Matthew 5: The Sermon on the Mount

3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, 

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4Blessed are those who mourn, 

for they will be comforted.

5Blessed are the meek, 

for they will inherit the earth.a

6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 

for they will be filled.

7Blessed are the merciful, 

for they will be shown mercy.

8Blessed are the pure in heart, 

for they will see God.

9Blessed are the peacemakers, 

for they will be called sons of God.

10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, 

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus was speaking to the crowd and He goes on.

We are to be the salt of the earth, and a light to the world. We are to be a city on a hill and our light should shine before men so they might see our good deeds and glorify God in heaven. It seemed like a tall order. I instantly felt like the prince who had to leave with nothing because he could not do what he needed to do to enter the kingdom of heaven.

I read on. 

We cannot be angry and we must reconcile with our adversaries.

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brotherd will be subject to judgment. 

23So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

25Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court.

We are not to lust after another.

27You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’i 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

We must keep our promises and be honest.

37Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.n

We must love our enemies and pray for them

And true enough, Matthew 5 ends with the understatement of the century. 

48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 6.

Give to the needy, but in secret.

Forgive men their trespasses.

Value treasures in heaven, over treasures on earth.

Do not worry.

25Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?f

31Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.33But seek first the kingdom of Godg and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

And there it was again. Do not worry. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God. Do not worry about what you will eat, or drink. Do not worry about what you will wear. God will provide.

34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.

Was that all that God was saying to me? Do not worry. For all the things I prayed for, all He wanted to say, was going to say, was do not worry. 

Lord, what about my career? Do not worry.

What about my marriage, my future husband, my kids. Do not worry.

But what should I do about all of this? What can I do to bring forward the future? What can I do to get to all those things you have in store for me? Just leave it all to Me.

Post Script

Do not judge others. Do not notice the speck in your brother's eye when you have a beam in your own eye.

7Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

12In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.

Good trees bear good fruit.

...by their fruit you will recognize them.