But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Seek first the kingdom of God instead of being consumed with worry and anxiety over food, drink, clothing, wealth and material wants, trusting that the Father knows these needs and will add and provide what is necessary. Seeking the kingdom means serving God and trusting Him through inconvenience and hardship, and to fear that obedience will leave a family destitute is unbelief. For those blessed with great light it means putting the whole heart into Christ's service instead of striving in a tame, listless way without religious interest, seeking the Lord most earnestly with daily prayer and watchfulness, with supreme love to God and to those for whom Christ died, not merely claiming to believe the truth but living it and practicing it.
In its warning against covetousness the command calls for trust in God instead of letting anxiety over food, clothing or wealth control the life and pursuing earthly security, which can rob of spiritual and eternal riches. Seeking the kingdom in faith means putting the advancement of God's cause and active work in the Lord's vineyard before seeking temporal things and working without a doubtful mind, with the promise of God's provision giving the little flock reason not to fear. Those who move forward in faith to establish God's work need not be anxious about food and drink and material support, because the Father knows the need and will care for them.
Christ teaches this trust by leading the mind first to nature and then through nature to nature's God who upholds the worlds and keeps every breath, beating heart, throbbing pulse, nerve and muscle in order by infinite power. From ravens that neither sow nor reap yet are fed, lilies that toil not nor spin yet surpass Solomon in glory, grass that is today beautiful in the field and tomorrow cut down and burned yet is clothed, the opening bud, lofty trees, shrubs, blooming flowers, the earth clothed in living green kept in order in time and season, little birds watched over, and rain and sunshine given to just and unjust, evil and good, thankful and unthankful, He shows God's unsurpassed goodness and love for man. Since man is formed in His image, the great care given to insignificant things in proportion to rank in creation proves how much more God will feed and clothe people of little faith, showing the inestimable value of the human soul and heaven's attention to man, leading to the comforting assurance that it is the Father's good pleasure to give the kingdom to the little flock.
The things added include the Father's care and provision, while the kingdom is His good pleasure to give, and giving alms and storing treasure in heaven direct the heart toward that kingdom and away from earthly wealth. Seeking the kingdom takes priority over material wants by using the Lord's resources and money for His work rather than spending them on unnecessary things and needless adornment or accumulating earthly security. Applied to building a place of worship, it means moving out by faith to provide a plain, neat, tasteful, debt-free tabernacle in harmony with faith, without cathedral display and without leaving interest-bearing debt, because believers are pilgrims and strangers whose citizenship is above.
It means giving sacrifice for the necessities of the cause without ostentation, hiding self in Jesus with inward spiritual perception, self-abasement and lowliness. It means devoting the house to educating and training children and youth as well as older members not to live to please themselves or court praise and human honor, but to guard their hearts with vigilance against estrangement from God and to hunger and thirst after righteousness. The call for trust instead of anxious thought applies to living simply and dressing modestly, relying on devotion to Christ's service rather than expensive clothing or jewelry for influence.
Seek first the kingdom of God instead of being consumed with worry and anxiety over food, drink, clothing, wealth and material wants, trusting that the Father knows these needs and will add and provide what is necessary. Seeking the kingdom means serving God and trusting Him through inconvenience and hardship, and to fear that obedience will leave a family destitute is unbelief. For those blessed with great light it means putting the whole heart into Christ's service instead of striving in a tame, listless way without religious interest, seeking the Lord most earnestly with daily prayer and watchfulness, with supreme love to God and to those for whom Christ died, not merely claiming to believe the truth but living it and practicing it.
In its warning against covetousness the command calls for trust in God instead of letting anxiety over food, clothing or wealth control the life and pursuing earthly security, which can rob of spiritual and eternal riches. Seeking the kingdom in faith means putting the advancement of God's cause and active work in the Lord's vineyard before seeking temporal things and working without a doubtful mind, with the promise of God's provision giving the little flock reason not to fear. Those who move forward in faith to establish God's work need not be anxious about food and drink and material support, because the Father knows the need and will care for them.
Christ teaches this trust by leading the mind first to nature and then through nature to nature's God who upholds the worlds and keeps every breath, beating heart, throbbing pulse, nerve and muscle in order by infinite power. From ravens that neither sow nor reap yet are fed, lilies that toil not nor spin yet surpass Solomon in glory, grass that is today beautiful in the field and tomorrow cut down and burned yet is clothed, the opening bud, lofty trees, shrubs, blooming flowers, the earth clothed in living green kept in order in time and season, little birds watched over, and rain and sunshine given to just and unjust, evil and good, thankful and unthankful, He shows God's unsurpassed goodness and love for man. Since man is formed in His image, the great care given to insignificant things in proportion to rank in creation proves how much more God will feed and clothe people of little faith, showing the inestimable value of the human soul and heaven's attention to man, leading to the comforting assurance that it is the Father's good pleasure to give the kingdom to the little flock.
The things added include the Father's care and provision, while the kingdom is His good pleasure to give, and giving alms and storing treasure in heaven direct the heart toward that kingdom and away from earthly wealth. Seeking the kingdom takes priority over material wants by using the Lord's resources and money for His work rather than spending them on unnecessary things and needless adornment or accumulating earthly security. Applied to building a place of worship, it means moving out by faith to provide a plain, neat, tasteful, debt-free tabernacle in harmony with faith, without cathedral display and without leaving interest-bearing debt, because believers are pilgrims and strangers whose citizenship is above.
It means giving sacrifice for the necessities of the cause without ostentation, hiding self in Jesus with inward spiritual perception, self-abasement and lowliness. It means devoting the house to educating and training children and youth as well as older members not to live to please themselves or court praise and human honor, but to guard their hearts with vigilance against estrangement from God and to hunger and thirst after righteousness. The call for trust instead of anxious thought applies to living simply and dressing modestly, relying on devotion to Christ's service rather than expensive clothing or jewelry for influence.