“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33
Recently, we had a short study where Matthew 6:33 was the key verse. The key character for the study was Solomon and the keyword was humility.
Of all people, I need to take heed to the truth in this amazing piece of scripture because so often, I forget to seek His kingdom and His righteousness and get caught up in the matters of this world.
Solomon, when he was about 20 years old, was anointed as king by his father David. We know David as “a man after God’s own heart” and surely, he raised Solomon with the fear of the Lord.
One night, the Lord appears to Solomon in a dream and tells Solomon that He will grant him one wish, anything he asks for. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
Let’s stop for a minute. Ask yourself this question: What would you ask for, if the Lord appeared to you, as He did in Solomon’s case?
What Solomon asks for and how he does this, is a great lesson for all of us. Let’s take a look at it in 1 Kings 3:6-9.
“Then Solomon said, “You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. “Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. “Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. “So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
Firstly, Solomon refers to himself as both a servant and a child. He has clothed himself with humility before the Lord and without humility, my brothers and sisters; we cannot approach the Lord nor make our requests known to Him.
Secondly, look at Solomon’s request. He is very deliberate in confessing to the Lord that he is in a situation way over his head and does not have the wisdom or understanding to rule God’s people. And instead of riches or fame or the death of his enemies, Solomon asked the Lord to make him a wise man with a discerning heart. Solomon sought the Lord’s kingdom and His righteousness.
And guess what? A promise made centuries later in Matthew 6:33, was fulfilled in this instance when God not only granted Solomon his request, but also added all other things to him – fame, riches, victory over his enemies.
So, my brothers and sisters, let us learn to be humble as Solomon was when he took on the throne and admit to the Lord that we are in over our heads in this world and ask for wisdom and an understanding heart, so that we may seek His kingdom and His righteousness and just as the Lord was pleased with Solomon, so we pray that He will be pleased with us and add all other things unto us.
But, before we close. Take this to heart. The latter half of the Lord’s blessing to Solomon also had a condition to it. Look at 1 Kings 14:
“If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.”
It is a daily process to seek the Lord’s kingdom and His righteousness and all those things that we need will be added unto us by the Lord, ONLY if we are to obey the Lord’s commandments and walk in His ways and love one another as He loves us, as His Word, the Scriptures, tells us to.
God bless you all.
His servant.
Thank Sri 🙂