Seek the Kingdom First

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

What does it mean to seek the kingdom first? What is the kingdom? Jesus came preaching the kingdom as did John the Baptist. Repentance was a key ingredient to be able to enter the kingdom. Since repentance is crucial to the entering of this mysterious kingdom then we need to understand what repentance is. 

The formal definition is, "a change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done…" 

So, a radical change of mind and purpose is necessary for one to repent and to enter into the kingdom. How is that change possible, when the heart is totally corrupt as Jeremiah says (Jeremiah 17:9) and as Paul emphasizes (Romans 3:10)? How can one who is not seeking the Kingdom and has not the least bit of interest in the good, make a radical change of mind? 

Paul even goes as far as to say that, all are dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). Dead men tell no tales. Dead men cannot change their minds. Dead men can't turn from their own ways. If all are dead, then who can seek the kingdom? Wherever it is. 

This is where the love and grace of God are strongest. This is the moment where we see what God's love and grace are all about. Paul tells us about this in Romans 5:8 when he says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Christ's death, when we were dead in sin, was the Supreme sacrifice. Yet it made little sense unless grace was involved. Dying for the dead makes no sense. The King of the kingdom dying for his dead subjects is the ultimate expression of futility. Is it not? 

When Jesus came preaching the kingdom he was alive. He was the king. His offer of the Kingdom was a valid offer. Yet the plan went sour when God allowed men to kill the King. 

How did that make sense? Paul again comes to our rescue when he explains God's purpose as follows, 

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).

So, seek the Kingdom first! If and while you can. The Kingdom is Christ.