It’s clear we are to seek first the kingdom of God. But we’ve often interpreted this as merely the pursuit of religious activities, which has left us with a strong divide between what we consider to be for God and then everything else.
Placing God first in our life is not to compartmentalize our life between religious and non-religious activities – ensuring we do more religious things than not.
For instance, we don’t have to quit our 9 to 5, become a professional minister, or join the mission field in the traditional sense. Nor is placing God first simply about volunteering or supporting the various activities of church life together.
While these are all fine things, they become very limiting when this is our only understanding of seeking first God’s kingdom.
To place God first in our life is to live with him at the center. And from this grounded center flows everything else. This means our work, relationships, and even play can all be part of a God-centered life and how we promote more of his kingdom throughout our domain.
As such, whether we’re the butcher, the baker, or the candlestick maker, our work can be God-honoring inasmuch as we’re following his Spirit and using the gifts he has given us to bring more life and goodness into the world.
Our personal relationships with our wife, kids, friends and the like are also great opportunities to be ministers of God’s love and mercy.
Likewise, we become ministers of his joy and delight as we reflect and bask in various forms of play. How often this dark world needs more light and laughter to break through.
In short, with God at the center, there’s no aspect of our life that cannot take on a holy significance.
Of course, this doesn’t mean we can do anything we want. Some things are still not okay. But we have much more freedom when we live a God-centered life rather than trying to let our own so-called religious activities outweigh the rest.
In the end, seek first the kingdom of God by living with God at the center of everything you do.
Photo by Junior REIS on Unsplash
