The First Necessity of Life

D. Scott Meadows

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matt 6.33).

Have you ever racked your brain to remember something only to give up trying and then you remembered it immediately? While it was your main focus, it eluded you. Focus on something else and it came effortlessly.

What if I told you that for a Christian, the “necessities of life” are like that? Earthly necessities, I mean, like food and clothing, with which we are to be content (1 Tim 6.8). We are not to be worried about these relatively important things because something else is far more important to us. There is one priority we all must have and it is not earthly things, but heavenly. The Lord promises us that if we pursue the heavenly things first, sufficient earthly things will be ours too, without worrying about them. Heavenly things are the first necessity of life.

Aim for heaven and you will enjoy the earth.

A corollary follows: Aim for earthly things and you will worry about them while missing heaven. This is the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, from which our text verse comes. Let us give close attention to this verse specifically.

This is the counsel Jesus gives specifically to His disciples. We are being addressed as those for whom all this is true already but who still need to hear it for our encouragement in the right direction. Many unbelievers also hear these words. They should repent in alarm at their folly and guilt.

I. Your Heavenly Pursuit. Jesus exhorts us, His disciples.

The alternative of our pursuit (“but”). Note the repeated earth/heaven contrast (re: fasting, 6.16-18; treasures, 6.19-21; God and mammon, 6.24) as mutually exclusive. Applying (6.25ff.), do not make earthly things your priority (your earthly life, your outward adornment, 6.25). The “Gentiles” (godless) “seek” these (6.32). “But” —> you cannot think/live/feel that way. A whole new way!

The activity of our pursuit (“seek ye first”). “Seek” from Gk. meaning “to devote serious effort to realize one’s desire or objective, strive for, aim (at), try to obtain, desire, wish (for)” (BDAG). N.b. effort! This only happens deliberately, on purpose, and is a sustained pursuit. “Seek first”, i.e., before another in importance (MWCD). You should NEVER EVER EVER let earthly things eclipse heavenly in desire/priority. Better you and your family should starve, go naked and homeless, than violate this rule. John Bunyan knew his family was better off with him in prison with his integrity than free without it. He trusted God for them.

The aim of our pursuit (“the kingdom of God, and his righteousness”). These are essentially the same thing as our constant #1 priority. The kingdom of God is “a state of things in which everything converges and tends toward God as the highest good. . . . the supremacy of God in the sphere of saving power” (Vos). Connected here with “His righteousness.” 1) His righteousness as the imputed gift justifying us (Rom 10.3). 2) His righteousness as the imparted life sanctifying us (Matt 5.6). Let your whole life-orientation be the pursuit of God, counting all else dung in comparison with Christ and being justified in Him (Phil 3.8, 9), and even in old age, living in the righteous way (Prov 16.31).

But what about your legitimate earthly needs? Are you supposed to forget about those altogether, take a vow of poverty and live in the woods as an ascetic? No. Jesus says you shall have these as a “fringe benefit” of seeking God’s kingdom above all else. Remember our thesis (above).

II. Your Earthly Provision. Jesus comforts us, His disciples.

The adequacy of our provision (“all these things”). In the context, what you shall eat, drink, and wear (6.31, 32). This is not a promise of wealth but of what has been called “a competent [i.e., proper] portion.” The Baptist Catechism of 1693, #111: “In the fourth petition, which is, ‘give us this day our daily bread,’ we pray that of God’s free gift, we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life and enjoy His blessing with them.” That is all we should desire anyway (Prov 30.8, 9; 1 Tim 6.9, 10).

The assurance of our provision (“shall”). A general promise, not without exceptions in God’s wisdom (Psa 37.25). Saints sometimes suffer severe persecution involving hunger, thirst, nakedness (1 Cor 4.11), torture, mockings, scourgings, bonds, imprisonment, being martyred, homeless, destitute, etc. (Heb 11.35-38). Saints are sometimes blessed with immense wealth (Job 1.1-3). These are special cases God ordains for extraordinary blessings to His people. But neither avoiding poverty nor becoming wealthy should ever be our aim, and the majority of us enjoy our modest portion just as Jesus promises here.

The Adder of our provision (“be added to you”). God adds them to us; we receive these things from Him. Note the passive voice, “shall be added.” It is not that you do not often work for your provisions, but even when you do, they are from God and His most gracious gifts to you. “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Prov 10.22). “The sluggard looks for prosperity without diligence—the practical atheist from diligence alone—the sound-hearted Christian from the blessing of God in the exercise of diligence. This wise combination keeps him in an active habit, humble, and dependent on God” (C. Bridges, in loc.). “Better is a dry morsel, and quietness [i.e., God’s favor] therewith, than a house full of sacrifices with strife [i.e., sin]” (Prov 17.1).

So don’t aim to be rich. Aim to be saved and to lead a holy life and you can trust God to take care of your other needs. Amen. Ω