'Seek ye first the kingdom of God'

The words, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God," are found in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, as recorded by St. Matthew 6:33. Later in this same sermon he said: "Seek and ye shall find." (Matt. 7:7). There are numerous other places in the Bible where one can find references on the subject of seeking for God.

Man has always sought for God. History records of massive temples that were built long ago in different parts of the world, which relate to mankind seeking and yearning for God. The Bible also speaks about men who began to build a city, and a tower, whose top would reach the heaven, which was called Babel (Genesis 11: 1-9). In Ecclesiastes 3:11, is recorded: God made everything beautiful in his time; and he placed eternity in the hearts of the people.

The atheists even seek God! Their claim is that there is no God because He cannot be seen, therefore, His existence cannot be proven; yet they continue to seek for God. But, they seek for Him in the wrong places.

Is God difficult to find? Man lost his connection to God in the Fall into sin (Genesis 3:1-7). God could have turned His back forever on Adam and Eve, and left them under the power of death. He did not do this, but rather (He) went out to seek them (Genesis 3:9). God still continues to seek man by awakening a desire in man to seek Him. God has given us His Word, the Holy Scriptures, as a guide for seeking Him in His kingdom.

Jesus often spoke in parables to bring forth his message to the people. St. Luke, in the 15th chapter, records several parables in which Jesus describes God who loves and seeks sinful man. In one of these parables he brings forth how life's difficulties can often make a person think of the direction of one's life. These are expressions of God's love to man by which He brings about the desire in man to seek Him.

God also uses His congregation to assist Him in seeking man. This comes out very clearly in Jesus' parable of the lost coin in Luke 15:8-10. The congregation of God is depicted by a woman, as it is in so many other places in the Bible. The coin that fell depicts the lost soul who has become separated from God and His congregation. In various places in the Bible, the congregation is depicted also as the Mother. As the natural Mother gives birth to children, so does the spiritual Mother give birth to children into God's kingdom. We are further reminded of how Jesus sent His disciples to preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins (Mark 3:14; Luke 10:2, etc). He made the disciples fishers of men (Matt 4:19), as His purpose was to seek and to save those who are lost (Luke 9:10). The seeking work of God's kingdom continues in the world to the end of time.

The parables of Jesus which relate to seeking God's kingdom, also tell of finding it, and the joy that it brings to the seeker. In St. Matthew 13:44, Jesus told a parable about the man who found a treasure hidden in a field. In it He tells about the joy of the finder. He further explains, because of his joy, the finder exchanged everything that he already owned to buy that field where he had found the treasure. That field was the Kingdom of God, where he found joy and happiness when his sins were forgiven in the name and blood of his Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The kingdom of God is righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit. When a person finds it, he considers it a great and marvelous happening in his life. As recorded in the 15th chapter of St. Luke, it also brings joy among the angels in heaven; the congregation of God, the Spiritual Mother here upon earth; and to the finder himself.

Jesus, through his disciples in our day, yet wants to remind all who are without the hope of salvation, eternal life in heaven, to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. That kingdom functions here upon this earth, in the midst of men, through His own children (Rev. 21-2). Jesus left the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven in His congregation (Matt. 16:19).