My name is Irene Koha.Our two oldest sons are married and serve in the teen and singles ministries. We have one grandchild who is an incredible joy to all of us. My husband and I serve in the ministry in the NW Region and we’re very involved with the European churches as well.
I chose the topic “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” because this has been the most important guideline in my life. It has helped me to stay focused on the most important things and maintain order and balance in the midst of trials and confusion. God is a God of order, and I’m grateful that he has given us very clear directions on how to seek his kingdom. I pray this study outline will help you as you strive to seek first God’s kingdom.
Editor’s note: Irene is very involved in the teaching program for women in the Northwest Region of the Boston Church and also recently acquired her graduate degree and licensing in family counseling. (Her 3 youngest sons, in the campus ministry, are triplets!)
Mt 6:25-33: This passage is part of a long teaching discourse that Jesus gave on a mountainside, known as “Sermon on the Mount”. It talks about several things:
Faith: God is able and willing to provide all we need. His sovereignty and care is obvious in the natural world (example of the birds, the lilies, and the grass). He challenges our lack of faith that leads us to worry.
Priorities, “Seek first”: God’s priorities have to be reflected in our decisions and actions.
Promise: I love promises, especially when they come from God. I’ve often been disappointed by people who didn’t keep their promise. You probably have too. But God always keeps his promises. When our faith is expressed in godly choices we can have confidence that God will meet all our needs. It’s important not to miss this part. His promise has a condition to it.
Eternal Treasure: The passage starts of with “therefore”. In the previous passage Jesus talks about storing up treasures in heaven. Later, in Mt 14:44 he compares the kingdom to a treasure that is worth giving up all that we have. Jesus promises so much more than just to take care of our needs. He wants to reward us with eternal treasures. The goal of our seeking is ultimately an eternal reward in heaven. But Jesus makes a very radical statement: “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” The promise is great and exciting, but the only way to get it is by making Jesus Lord above all else.
I chose this passage because it has always been the most important guideline in my life.
I like order. If there is order around me I can think more clearly, things become more manageable, it helps me to have peace of mind. If there is disorder I get easily confused, overwhelmed, frustrated. It takes a consistent and conscious effort to establish and maintain order. The natural state of things is disorder. If left alone things change from order into disorder (second law of thermodynamics). This is true in the physical world, it’s true in our thinking and it’s true in our spiritual life. God is a God of order. I’m grateful that he makes his priorities clear. It helps me to order my life, so that all its parts are in good balance.
Now let’s look at the passage again: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. What does that mean for me practically?
1. Seek first the King (Relationship with God)
Psalm 61:1: O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
a) A great privilege.
Psalm 63:3: Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you
The king is head of the kingdom. He is above all. My relationship with God, with Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords has to be of greatest priority in my life. If it was a worldly kingdom I would not even have a chance to know the king personally. The great thing about God’s kingdom is that he wants to know each one of us personally. It’s an incredible privilege that he wants to talk and listen to me. Have I always seen it as that?
There were times in my life where I struggled to make the time for God that he deserved.
But I always remember what God has done for me, how he has saved me and given me so much hope. I know I’m privileged among millions to have a relationship with God, and I want to make it as good, as strong, as close as possible.
b) The word, my daily bread
Mt 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”
Throughout the years I have had the conviction that “my daily bread” is not just food, it is spiritual food even more. I need God’s word daily. This takes discipline, planning and focus. It was especially challenging with five small children. But I found that if I really wanted my time with God, he would help me to make it work. My times with God became more and more meaningful to me. But I also felt the pressure of all the things I had to do, all the people I should meet, and all the needs that were around me. It helps me to remember the story of Mary and Martha and Jesus’ words, “…but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Lk 10:42) She made a choice. And her choice brought her lasting treasures. Like a lot of women I’m definitely a Martha type and I have to make a conscious choice to take a quiet time. But just taking the time is not enough. I want to get inspired by God’s word. Personally I prefer to read a book in the Bible versus doing a topical study. That way I read things in context and God leads me in what I need that day. It works really well for me. If I read in the NT I like to look up the OT references.
c) Prayer, follow Jesus’ example
Lk 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
If there was one person who could have justified skipping individual time with God it would have been Jesus. Think of all the people he could have healed while praying. All the sermons he could have preached. All the people he could have taught. He only had three years for his ministry. But he “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed”. He prayed early in the morning, late at night, sometimes all through the night. Do I think I have more important things to do then Jesus, that I can’t find time to give God my undivided attention?
In the Lord’s Prayer Jesus teaches the principle of praying according to God’s will, “your kingdom come, your will be done” (Mt 6: 9ff). I think that’s so important. Seeking the King means seeking his will, not my own. It’s ok to pray for hardships to be taken away, but even more we should pray that we deal with difficulties in a righteous and faithful way, and that we grow through them. I’m always careful when I pray about specific things and circumstances, because I want to make sure I’m not asking God for something that is not best, because he might give it to me. I’m convinced that God answers every prayer that’s prayed with faith and a surrendered heart. When I look back to the 22 years I have been a disciple it is amazing how many prayers God has answered.
I Jn 5:14 : This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.
2. Seek First His Kingdom
Mt 13:45: Again, the kingdom or heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value he went away and sold everything he had and bought it .
His kingdom is made up of God’s people, those who have made him king. God made it very clear that we belong to each other and he expects us to be devoted to each other.
a) Seek the Fellowship
Acts 2:42: the devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Let us not give up meeting together, but let us encourage one another (Heb 10:24-25)
Even before I became a disciple I loved the meetings of the church: Bible studies, house churches, devotionals etc. But God tested my devotion to the kingdom mostly through my children. As a young Christian I became pregnant with triplets. Months of not feeling well and two young children who had a difficult time with new people and a new language made attending services a challenge for me. Once the triplets were born it was quite a task to get them all ready for church on Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights. But I had a strong conviction that God wanted me to be at church. He had given me these children, and I didn’t want to ever use them as an excuse for not seeking the kingdom first.
For our family the meetings of the church were always a priority. When our boys were in sports, Wednesday nights they did not participate. When there were try-outs on Wednesday I talked with the soccer coach and explained that they had to leave early. Actually this coach later became a disciple. When there was school work it would have to get done before church. We had our kids in activities, but we didn’t allow these activities to take over our family and church life. Later, when I went back to school I often felt very stressed with all the papers I had to write. It would have been tempting to skip some Wednesday nights during finals week, but I always told myself that school would not keep me from going to church. I would rather not do school. This might sound like legalism, but I don’t see it as that at all. It’s a priority that I have decided on and that I’m committed to because I belong to the kingdom. It also makes life easy. I don’t have to decide if I go to church or not. It’s already been decided. God’s greatest blessing for me in this is that my children all made that same commitment to him and his kingdom.
b) Seek to learn from each other
Titus 2:3-5: Likewise teach the older women…Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands…..
I’m so grateful for all the things I’ve learned in the church, whether it’s parenting young children or teens, marriage dynamics, building relationships with sisters, reaching out to the lost, practicing hospitality and so much more. When we don’t take advantage of all the wisdom in the church we really miss great opportunities.
I also like to think of the kingdom people of the past, the heroes of faith in the Bible. There is so much I can learn from Abraham, Joseph, Caleb, Hannah, David, Daniel and many others. They all inspire and challenge and encourage me. Remember the Queen of
c) Contribute what I can
1 Pe 4:10-11: Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
Debbie did a lesson on using our talents, so I won’t get into details. But I do believe that everyone has a lot to give. Everyone can give time and effort to reach out to others, to listen and get to know others and to serve in different ways. It takes thought and planning, and it might take giving up time that we spend just for our personal enjoyment. When we do that, God increases our talents. I think of all the things I’ve experienced, learned, struggled through in my 22 years as a disciple. I have so much more to give now, and I enjoy passing it on to others.
3. Seek First His righteousness
Mt 5:20: But I tell you unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the
Teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus explains his concept of righteousness in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7). What did he criticize most in the Pharisees? They didn’t practice what they preached. They looked good from the outside, but inwardly they were harboring sin. They did their acts of righteousness to be seen by men. They loved money. What were they lacking?
a) Godly Motivation = Pure motivation
God wants us to act out of a pure, undivided heart. Here are some questions we can ask ourselves: If no one would notice, would I still give and serve? If no one would reward me, say thank you, think well of me because of what I do, would I do it anyway? Do I control my anger in the same way at home with my kids or my husband as I do at church or at work? Do I reach out to the lost as I did in the early days, when I was praised for bringing visitors to church? This one really hits me. I feel that I justify my complacency. People in the world are just as lost as they were 20 years ago. Having done the right things with mixed motives in the past does not excuse me from doing them with the right motives now!!! I believe this is an issue we can get confused with. Think about it.
The problem with pure motivation is that we don’t really know our heart completely.
Jer. 17:9-10 : “The heart is deceitful beyond all things, who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to what his deeds deserve.” We have to ask God to search our heart and show us our hidden sins.
.Ps 139:23-24: Search me, O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. We need to pray for a pure heart. God will answer this prayer because it’s his will. We need to be reflective. Ask yourself why you’re doing the things you’re doing.
b) Jesus’ standard of righteousness
Mt 5:48: Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect
When Jesus interprets the Ten Commandments it is clear that he raises the standard. Not just murder is a sin, but calling a brother fool, not just adultery is wrong, but looking at a woman lustfully. He calls us to love not just our
c) Looking for rewards from God, not men
Mt 6:4 Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
God does not hold back from motivating us with rewards. Many passages in the Sermon on the Mount speak of blessings, rewards and treasures in heaven. There are many other scriptures that teach about rewards according to what we have done. But Jesus gives a strong warning: If we look for rewards from men, we lose any rewards from God. It is a very clear choice and we have to decide where we want our treasure to be.
What are the rewards from God? I don’t’ think we’re supposed to completely understand these things yet, because they belong to the new reality that comes after death. But we do know for sure that God promises eternal life : Jn 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
We also know that this eternal life is very desirable.
Rev 21:3: Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people and he will be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
In addition to our own salvation God gives us the reward of seeing others in heaven who we helped to get there.
2 The 2:19-20 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
In closing: The rewards are without doubt worth every effort, sacrifice struggle or pain. The way to get them is to seek God, his kingdom and his righteousness before all other things, and to keep our hearts pure before God.
