“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
What does it mean to practically “Seek first the kingdom of God.” I think it can mean different things specifically to different people, but the priciple remains the same. Seek God, His Word, His kingdom, and His righteousness first, before planning ahead on our newest enterprise.
For some, it may mean staying at a lesser position, forgoing a promotion, and trusting God to provide for them. For others, it may mean quitting their job altogether, and trusting God completely for food and raiment. Each scenario will be different, but we must be sensitive to God's leading. Herein lies the secret.
If we don't seek Him first, we're not likely to hear His voice leading us in His desired direction.
God always provides for His children. He has promised it, and history attests to the verity of the promise. Just how he will provide for us will be different for each individual. For George Müller, God asked him to completely rely on supernatural aid. Whether or not we are called to that is irrelevant. We should be in the place that God wants us. I knew of one brother, who was called to leave full-time missionary work in an un-evangelized culture, to come and encourage saints back in the USA. It was a great struggle for him to leave the mission field, and come back to a "carnal" job, but he knew it was what God was asking of him. Because he was sensetive to God's leading, God was able to greatly use Him in the presentation of the true gospel in America.
Obedience is what God is looking for in His children. God is not limited in power, or desperately in need of Christian workers because of any inability or lack on his part. He is looking for obedient children, through whom he can get glory. If our sole purpose in life is to glorify God, then why not be sensitive to his voice and obedient to his calling?
In the sixth chapter of John, he tells us how Jesus was surrounded by a crowd of eager followers. Jesus, of course, saw their heart, and knew why they were so eager to grab shipping and follow Him across the lake. Looking into their greedy souls, he cut them to the quick and said:
“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” John 6:27
Echoing down through the ages, he is also speaking directly to us. Those of us who are so quick to say that we are just “providing for our families,” while we fritter away the entirety of our waking energies on stockpiling more mammon. The ones who would rather spend time and effort building our earthly kingdoms, than seeking Christ.
In a culture where we are pushed from both the young and old alike to get, attain, and amass more and more wealth, contentment is not rewarded, recognized, or uplifted. It's good to be reminded time and time again that we are not part of this world. According to Paul, in our economy:
“Godliness with contentment is great gain.”