Seek kingdom of God first

Matthew 6:24-34

Jesus said to His disciples, “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will He not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”

Reflections

You cannot serve God and mammon. Mammon is a Hebrew word that, in the Old Testament, means material riches, goods, or property. In the New Testament, mammon has the personality of an idol that is contrasted with God. Mammon is God’s rival or alternative. Jesus reminds us that no one can serve God and mammon at the same time.

God demands our whole heart. Once we decide to commit ourselves to God, we must give up everything contrary to God.

We should not be afraid to get rid of the mammon in our life. Jesus tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all other things will be given us besides. Since God has given us life, we can trust God for the necessary things in our life.

Put worry and anxiety aside.

Trust that God will provide what is best for you and give everything you need.

SOURCE: “366 Days with the Lord 2012,” ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: books@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph