But seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness...
What does it mean to you to seek God's kingdom? If we're supposed to be seeking it, it might be a good idea to know what it is we're seeking!
Looking up "kingdom" in the original Greek brings some insight to me that I had not considered before. I think when I've read this verse I've thought that I should be longing for heaven and seeking my way toward it. But when I read this definition of kingdom, it brings some other thoughts to mind...
I very often establish myself as ruler of my own little kingdom...I have my family, my job, my friends...and that is my "territory". But what Jesus is saying to me is that I have no territory to call my own...everything is God's and I need to acknowledge that. He is ruler over all and I need to earnestly and daily seek to more readily relinquish all that I think I possess into His hands, for in all honesty, it is His anyway.
If I am professing God as my King, then I need to act like He is my King...in all ways, at all times. I now think that is what Jesus meant when He instructed us to "seek God's kingdom."
All right, I've improved my understanding of what I am to be seeking in response to the first half of Jesus' instruction...so now what about seeking His righteousness?
In looking at other verses that use this same word for righteousness, "dikaiosune", one of the first verses that I looked at was Romans 10:3, where Paul was discussing the hard headed Jews who would not submit to the idea that they may have been wrong about Jesus... "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
See, again, I think I've always had the wrong idea about this part of the verse as well . I've always thought that I was supposed to be attempting to be as good as God, which has never worked out very well for me.
But now, I think Jesus was starting to point our minds toward the fact that we are to submit (there's that word again!) to God's righteousness rather than trying to rely on our own ability to be righteous, a pursuit that will only lead to frustration and anxiety.
So tonight I have a whole new understanding of this verse that I will continue to dwell on...I will now seek God's absolute and supreme authority over my life, and I will seek His righteousness to cover my unworthiness, admitting that I can never attain any degree of true Godly righteousness.
It's actually a great picture of the balance of God --- He is a God of total power, yet He is a God of total mercy --- and all Jesus is saying is to seek to know Him in the fullness of both of these attributes.
What does it mean to you to seek God's kingdom? If we're supposed to be seeking it, it might be a good idea to know what it is we're seeking!
Looking up "kingdom" in the original Greek brings some insight to me that I had not considered before. I think when I've read this verse I've thought that I should be longing for heaven and seeking my way toward it. But when I read this definition of kingdom, it brings some other thoughts to mind...
royal power, kingship, dominion, rule; not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdomNow I'm thinking that what I am to be seeking is God's absolute kingship over me. I need to be seeking His authority over my life, my total submission to His rightful dominion over me. Totally contrary to my nature, but totally in line with what God desires of me.
I very often establish myself as ruler of my own little kingdom...I have my family, my job, my friends...and that is my "territory". But what Jesus is saying to me is that I have no territory to call my own...everything is God's and I need to acknowledge that. He is ruler over all and I need to earnestly and daily seek to more readily relinquish all that I think I possess into His hands, for in all honesty, it is His anyway.
If I am professing God as my King, then I need to act like He is my King...in all ways, at all times. I now think that is what Jesus meant when He instructed us to "seek God's kingdom."
All right, I've improved my understanding of what I am to be seeking in response to the first half of Jesus' instruction...so now what about seeking His righteousness?
In looking at other verses that use this same word for righteousness, "dikaiosune", one of the first verses that I looked at was Romans 10:3, where Paul was discussing the hard headed Jews who would not submit to the idea that they may have been wrong about Jesus... "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
See, again, I think I've always had the wrong idea about this part of the verse as well . I've always thought that I was supposed to be attempting to be as good as God, which has never worked out very well for me.
But now, I think Jesus was starting to point our minds toward the fact that we are to submit (there's that word again!) to God's righteousness rather than trying to rely on our own ability to be righteous, a pursuit that will only lead to frustration and anxiety.
So tonight I have a whole new understanding of this verse that I will continue to dwell on...I will now seek God's absolute and supreme authority over my life, and I will seek His righteousness to cover my unworthiness, admitting that I can never attain any degree of true Godly righteousness.
It's actually a great picture of the balance of God --- He is a God of total power, yet He is a God of total mercy --- and all Jesus is saying is to seek to know Him in the fullness of both of these attributes.
1 comment:
I have learned this today, also (because of your insight and direction) -- "I need to be seeking His authority over my life, my total submission to His rightful dominion over me. Totally contrary to my nature, but totally in line with what God desires of me." Each day I pray for God's love and mercy to enrich my life, lead me, guide me, keep me focused on His power to rule my life. He is my Ruler and my Salvation. I am nothing without Christ, my Savior.
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