You are probably a responsible person who is concerned
about providing well for your family—making sure that there is food on the
table, money for the children’s needs, comfort and education, and so on.
What does God have to say to us about these legitimate concerns? According to
Matthew 6:31, He tells us, “Do not worry.” Now, He is not saying that we don’t
need all these things because in the same portion of scripture He says, “For
your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Matthew 6:32).
So God cares about us having these things. He wants us to have all these
things. In fact, He wants all these things added to us. And He tells us that
the way these things are added to us is by us seeking first the kingdom of God
and His righteousness. Therefore, our number one priority every day is to seek
the kingdom of God and His righteousness. It is not to seek to add these things
to ourselves.
But what is righteousness? Righteousness is not right behaviour. It is right
standing with the Father. It is the clearance of all your guilt, which makes
you able to stand before God. It is not something you get through right
behaviour. It is a gift from God. Paul calls it “the gift of righteousness”
(Romans 5:17). And to “seek” this gift is to be conscious of the fact that you
have it, to confess that you are righteous in Christ.
So this righteousness we are told to seek is not right behaviour, but right
standing before God, which comes to us as a gift when we receive salvation. At
the cross, Jesus didn’t just remove our sins, He also gave us His righteousness
so that today, we can come boldly before the throne of God and receive freely
everything that He died to give us!
Today, if you want to provide your family with the good things in life, be
assured that your heavenly Father knows that you need these things. Just seek
His righteousness, not your own righteousness, and “all these things shall be
added to you”! (Article and Picture; courtesy of Joseph Prince
Ministries used with kind permission).
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