But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33 NKJV)
Today, the last day of the year, is when many people think about and finalize their resolutions and goals for the New Year.
Losing weight, eating healthier, or spending more time with family are among the most popular specific goals many individuals set for themselves. But fast forward a few weeks into the new year to see where most people will likely be concerning their New Year’s resolutions. Will they be successful in their resolutions of weight loss, eating healthier, etc.?
Can we set a goal for the New Year that is simple to define, all-encompassing, and will help keep us as focused as we should be? Yes, and that’s the focus of today’s verse, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33 NKJV)
How do we seek first the kingdom of God? We focus on God in everything we do, putting His kingdom first. When we focus on God, He helps us do the things we cannot do ourselves. For example, He can help us in controlling our appetites to eat healthier and lose weight that we need to do.
Most importantly, when we first seek God's kingdom in everything we do, we help manifest His kingdom in the world around us. As a result, we grow in our faith and shine His light for others to see, drawing others closer to His heart. And through this process, God richly blesses us in our lives: we prosper with God’s plan actualized in our lives.
Please consider and make seeking first the kingdom of God your goal and priority for the New Year.
"The only way the kingdom of God is going to be manifest in this world before Christ comes is if we manifest it by the way we live as citizens of heaven and subjects of the King." - R. C. Sproul