Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!
Seek First the Kingdom
When We Seek Him First, All Else Flows
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” — Matthew 6:33
I have heard many pastors preach on this passage and its meaning. They often teach that it calls us to put God as the first priority. While that is true, it means far more than simply placing God at the top of a checklist, like groceries. Often it’s presented as: God first, family second, work third, friends fourth. The problem with lists is that everything on them competes for the top spot in our hearts. That is not what this passage means, nor is it what God intended for us.
The word first in this passage can also be understood as above all—a word of supremacy. Think of first not merely as the starting point of a path, but as the path itself. God is not just where we begin; He is the way we continue. He is the paper on which the list is written, the foundation on which we build, the fuel that drives the engine, the very source that gives life.
To seek the kingdom first is ultimately a matter of trust. It means saying, “God, I trust You with my life.” Seeking the kingdom means choosing to live as followers of Christ—walking in His commands, His Word, and His ways—without compromise. It means surrendering our lives, cares, concerns, ideas, opinions, dreams, families, friends, possessions, and work to Him.
As we walk the path with Jesus, we trust that God will provide everything we need, bring the right people into our lives, and sustain us each step of the way. When we work for His kingdom, He supplies what is necessary for His will to be accomplished through us. Does this mean God will give us everything we want? No. It means He will shape our desires by His Spirit and place within us the very longings of His heart. As we delight in Him, our desires align with His, and He fulfills them in His perfect way.
The Parable of the Well
There was once a village built in the middle of a dry plain. The people of the village spent their days making long lists of things they thought they needed: food, clothes, tools, houses, animals, and money. Each family worked hard to get as much as they could, yet they were never fully satisfied. Their lists grew longer, and soon everyone argued about what should be at the top. Some said food was most important, others said shelter, and still others insisted on wealth or reputation. The more they worked, the thirstier they became.
One day, a traveler came to the village and saw their struggle. He asked, “Why do you labor endlessly, yet remain thirsty?”
The villagers replied, “We are trying to provide for ourselves. We must decide what comes first—food, money, or work. But no matter how we order our lists, something is always missing.”
The traveler smiled and said, “You do not need a longer list—you need a well.”
He led them to the center of the plain and struck the ground. From that place, water burst forth, pure and life-giving. He told them, “This well is the source. If you drink from it and build your lives around it, you will have all that you need. The water will give you strength to work, wisdom to build, and joy to share. But if you neglect the well and only chase after your lists, you will remain thirsty forever.”
The villagers understood. From that day, they drew first from the well. And as they did, their other needs were met in surprising ways. The water flowed into their fields, their homes, and their lives.
And so it is with us. Jesus is not simply first on our list—He is the well, the source of life. When we seek Him above all, everything else flows from Him.