His Kingdom and Righteousness

Matthew 6:33 (ESV) “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

There is a difference in knowing that you need the Lord versus experiencing the reality of needing the Lord.  In my current season of humility and financial struggles, I continue to experience the desperate need I have of the Lord.  I have always been aware of my need of God and I have always thanked the Lord when He does provide for me.  When I am driving—thanking Him for safety.  When I interact with someone and am faithful to share God’s loving truth—thanking the Holy Spirit for the right words.  When I find an item that I needed and not only is on clearance, it just also happens to be the color I desired—thanks for thinking of me Lord-even in the little things!

Yet now—when I don’t have what I need…or what I think I need… my thankful heart has needed some reminders.  Although I was thankful for all the above provisions, was I treasuring them more than I realized?

Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

I am now working at a local university--praising God for employment. I also am being given the gift of living somewhere free of charge until I can get back on my feet.  Even with these great provisions I am still struggling financially so I am having to decide if I need to sell and give up my car as I simply cannot afford it nor the insurance.  The last time I didn’t have a car was the first three years of college.  The new dependence on others would rise so high that a new world of humility and uncertainty will arise. What do I begin to feel?  Anxiety…

I look back at the above verses. What or who am I valuing more than the Creator and giver?  I need not store my treasures…especially because I cannot afford them.  “No one can serve two masters.  Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money.” (Mt 6:24 ESV)

I never ever thought that I was serving money.  I was grateful for it and others can attest that I say this is God’s money not my money.  Yet when I no longer have it, I am now finding myself realizing how much I really did depend on money for my “independence.”  So I am facing this truth and repenting to the Lord for this sin of letting myself become a slave to debt and money.

All of this is good and well, having a right relationship with the Lord—but I still don’t have any money and I am in debt!  Keep reading: 

Matthew 6:25-26 “Therefore (since you are now serving God and not money) 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?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?”

We are given this well-known reminder of how the birds are cared for.  Many are familiar with the song: His Eye is on the Sparrow.  Just recently I was crying out to the Lord and I had to change a few of these words as I sang.  The original chorus goes: I sing because I’m happy I sing because I’m free for His eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me.  I changed the words to: I sing because I choose to, I know that I am free, for his eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me.  These were the words that I could truthfully sing.  I wasn’t happy…but I was practicing the outpouring of praise and blessing the Lord even when I am suffering.

Giving up worry and seeking earthly treasures—we replace with the key verse: “seek first His kingdom and his righteousness—and all these things will be given to you as well.”  I remember reading this passage a month or so ago and decided I would begin to do a word study of the passages that contained kingdom.  I have continued to grow in my relationship with the Lord as I am seeking His kingdom.  Guess what other word has been often coupled with this word—Righteousness.  This is what I am filling my mind and heart with which makes it possible for me to “not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Mt. 6:33)