I published Part Two of this series ten days ago. Part of the delay in finishing this blog was because I had an editing-intensive project I needed to wrap up. In the back of my mind, knowing I needed to finish this, I kept feeling as if I wasn’t seeking God first. That I was prioritizing other needs over getting this message out.
Is this a fair assessment? Spoiler alert: no. How so? Well, let’s revisit what we’ve unpacked within Matthew 6:33. So far, Jesus has taught us to “want God’s rule” and to “want His holy character.” His conclusion is that, when we do these things, “the rest” will be added to us.
Variations of Matthew 6:33
I gotta be honest. I can’t quote my preferred NLT version of this verse. Instead, I have it memorized in the King James. This is why I think of this clause as the “added unto you” portion.
For comparison, here are the three main translations of Matthew 6:33.
KJV:
NIV:
NLT:
I don’t know if one of these is more accurate based on the original Greek. Nothing jumped out at me during my analysis of the original language.
An increase versus a gift
Comparing the KJV to the other two translations reveals an interesting contrast. When I add something, it implies there was an existing thing in place. When something is given, that may be true. Then again, it often means there is a need to be fulfilled.
Our needs
If it sounded like I was splitting hairs there, it wasn’t my intention. I don’t think Matthew 6:33 is as controversial, in terms of translation differences, as 1 Corinthians 15:2.
The more important part of this clause is the context of the verses that precede it. I don’t want to paste the entire chapter into this blog/email (depending on how you receive it). So, pull out your favorite Bible translation and go read Matthew 6:19-34. I’ll be here when you’re done.
And welcome back! Did you see how Jesus used our day-to-day worries to put God’s dominion into context? Deep lessons on money, health, clothing, and so on are packed into sixteen verses.
Life is full of worry. The lack of hair on top of my head, along with the graying sideburns, can attest to that. We’re going to have problems. There will be times when our needs will seem beyond measure.
Seek God’s dominion first
Here’s why I said no to my opening inquiry about priorities. I wasn’t de-prioritizing God’s place in my life. That’s the difference between what Jesus said and how we can misinterpret it. Drawing closer to Him, despite what we’re facing, is the lesson.
Are there going to be times He’ll ask us to put aside our wants and goals to accomplish another purpose? Of course. But it’s not as much about what we’re doing as much as whether we’re being obedient to His call. So yes, you may need to do something big one day that puts your personal plans on the back burner.
When this happens, remember you’re seeking God’s dominion in your life. And that’s when we can rely on the promise of the latter third of this verse. When we seek Him, the rest falls into place.
How it applies to us
What occupies our time the most? Does that align with His call or will for our life? Or does it reflect our never-ending attempt to “have”? Whether it’s wealth, things, status, success, or something else, our priority needs to be on Him, growing closer to His heart, and submitting to His rule.
This isn’t a “well, I want things so I’ll try it God’s way and see what happens.” It’s an “I’m doing it God’s way and letting Him work out the details for me” commitment. If there was one thing I want you to remember from this three-part series, it’s that right there. So to close this series, I’ll repeat it. Mediate on it wherever you are today and as you go about your daily routine.