31 August | EVERYONE

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SEEK JESUS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33

The fortune of Mark Zuckerberg, the main owner of Facebook, was reduced in October 2021 by almost six billion dollars after a bad turn on Wall Street. This loss may have had minor impact on the billionaire, but it did terribly affect small investors who had relied on the prosperity of the social media company.

Not long ago, someone reminded me of a popular saying: "Money does not buy happiness, but it helps a lot." The truth is that money and material things are an important part of this life but not the most important ones. Even for money, whether too much or too little, to make sense, you first need to have peace, joy, and contentment in life. Otherwise, the heart remains empty and sad. This is the reason millionaires and celebrities take their own lives. They have everything external, but the heart lacks peace.

Many centuries ago, Jesus said, “do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things" (Matthew 6:31-32). Jesus did not promote poverty. The Master does not speak of conformism and ineffectiveness. He simply shows the order of priorities so we can be genuinely happy. Seek God first, He says. Prioritize God's kingdom and His righteousness and you will see everything else come as a consequence.

It is a shame that we humans run after the material and forget about God. We may amass fortunes one day, but the heart will remain empty, and the soul will groan in anguish.

Take Action

Do not overwhelm yourself with making a living. Study, work..., but do not make it the center of everything, nor fill yourself with comforts. Real security lies not in that, but in seeking and knowing Jesus. You can get to know Him better today. Sing "The Kingdom of God" (if possible, with your family).