Matthew 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
This passage of scripture teaches us how we should correctly prioritize our activities and pursuits, relative to the kingdom of God and His righteousness. God has promised in this and many other passages of scripture, to take care of our temporal needs, and therefore, our energies are not to be primarily exerted in merely making a living or chasing after an illusive dream of wealth, fame, fortune, and material accomplishments. While the pursuit of gainful employment is in harmony with the counsels given in the Bible, yet it is not to be made the chief goal of our lives, for the things of this present life all fade away, but the things of the kingdom of God last forever, and thus are to be given top priority at all times and in all places.
A fitting example of what is here being referred to took place one day as Christ was on His way to Samaria with His disciples, to continue His mission of preaching the gospel to those who were hungering and thirsting for the words of life. But before they arrived Jesus became weary and desired to rest awhile at Jacob's well, where He would be refreshed by the cool water that was available to thirsty travelers. While there He struck up a conversation with a woman of Samaria who had come to draw water, and He became so intrigued at the prospect of her conversion, that He completely forgot about His weariness and thirst, which gave way to the much more important work of soul-saving.
This focus on the the eternal welfare of the woman, or on anyone else did not occur randomly, but was rather the way that Christ evaluated the temporal concerns of life, in contrast with the weightier issues of God's kingdom. In other words, if the salvation of one individual means forfeiting much needed rest and necessary food, then so be it, but under no circumstances would He be found pursuing the material necessities of life, whilst any member of the human family was languishing for the living Word. His perspective on life surprised the disciples who had been accustomed to having the cares of life absorb their interest, so that when they offered Jesus the food they had gone in search of, His hunger was completely gone, being satisfied with the much more important aspect of life, that of doing God's will. Let's read:
John 4:6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
The example set for us by Christ in this experience contains very precious lessons for us, as it pertains to our priorities in life. Often we are saddled with the cares of this life, and we are often to be found in hot pursuit of our daily bread, to the point where we lose the interest we should always have in the salvation of souls. At other times we become so weary that sleep becomes a priority, and opportunities for witnessing are put on the back burner, giving way to our desire to rest and be refreshed.
However, in the life of Christ none of these necessary things were ever allowed to usurp the place that salvation and the things of God's kingdom should hold, and we as His disciples are admonished to follow His example, by seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness as our first and foremost priority. When this is done with a willing and cheerful spirit on a consistent basis, then God promises to take care of all of our temporal needs, for as the Bible says, He knows that we have need of all these things.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which demonstrates the right way in which the things of God's kingdom should be prioritized, and if we follow in the footsteps of Christ, we will soon find out that the unnecessary worry and care that so often absorb our interests, will fade into oblivion, as God will supply all of our needs, according to His good will. Let's read:
Job 23:11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. 12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!