Seek first the kingdom: Living with Godly priorities
What does it mean to seek the kingdom first? We find this statement in Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” In other words, seek the things that will bring you closer to God and to have a home with him in heaven. There’s a few things we need to do in order to seek His kingdom first, and there’s some things we need to avoid.
- Put God First
To “seek first the kingdom” means more than going to church on Sundays it means putting God into our daily lives by living by his will always, not just when we hang around Christians or go to church. We must take up our cross daily and deny our ways (Luke 9:23). How can we strive for this mindset? One way to have a more Christ-like mindset is to put yourself around people who are Christians and have the same values, morals, and beliefs as you. The people we surround ourselves with have a significant impact on our walk with Christ. The friends we choose can either draw us closer to Him or pull us further away. That’s why it’s important to be mindful of our relationships. Choose friends who encourage your faith and challenge you to grow in your relationship with God.
“Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” – 1 Corinthians 15:33
To continually pursue a mindset that prioritizes serving God, we must remain rooted in His Word each day. Regularly studying Scripture strengthens our understanding and deepens our wisdom in the gospel of Christ, just as we’re encouraged in 2 Peter 3:17–18 to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior. As we immerse ourselves in His Word, we begin to discern His will more clearly and understand what He desires for our lives guiding us in how to live faithfully and serve Him wholeheartedly.
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” – II Timothy 2:15
- What Gets in the Way
It’s easy to let worldly pleasure and desires get in the way of prioritizing God, like your career, friends, school, and extra activities. We know from Matthew 6:24 that we can’t serve two masters, we will either love one and hate the other. There are times when we place other priorities above worship, studying Scripture, or serving within the Church. When this happens, we often justify our choices with excuses that reflect a misplaced mindset. Even though some of these things may be innocent in itself, Satan wants us to be distracted by these worldly things.
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” – Colossians 3:2
This world is under the influence of the evil one, as Scripture reminds us in 1 John 5:19. Satan works tirelessly to shift our focus away from God, tempting us to prioritize anything and everything else: our ambitions, distractions, worries, and even good things so long as they take the place of wholehearted devotion to Him.
- Paul’s Example of Putting God First
When I think of someone in the New Testament who exemplifies a life fully devoted to God, the Apostle Paul immediately comes to mind. His devotion to Christ to preach Him and to show others who Christ was not for himself but all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Paul put his full trust and faith into Christ and has lived by His example even when he was put into prison, shipwrecked, and stoned.
“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed — always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” – 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
Despite facing intense persecution, imprisonment, and countless hardships, Paul never wavered in his faith. He remained steadfast, pressing on with unwavering determination toward the ultimate goal, the eternal prize of heaven and being with Christ, as he wrote in Philippians 3:14: “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
- Living it Out
Putting God first is intentional. It means starting each day with prayer, making choices that align with His will, serving others with a humble heart, and faithfully using our time, talents, and resources to bring glory to God. As Christians we are to imitate Christ daily as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1 “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” Making those decisions to sacrifice things for Him daily are important.
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20
The way we live should be a reflection of Christ, if not, choose to change those priorities and put the will of God first.
- A Final Challenge
Every day is an opportunity to ask, “What do my choices say about my priorities?” If God is truly first in our lives, it will be evident what things we put before Christ or if Christ is truly the center of our lives. As a reminder again the bible says in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Putting God first doesn’t guarantee a life without challenges, but it does promise a life grounded in truth, anchored in hope, and the confidence of having eternal life. Our decisions, our time, and the way we love others all become reflections of a heart aligned with Him. To have Christ we must follow his word and align our lives with the gospel of truth.
In closing, may we be people who, like Paul, are pressing on toward the eternal prize. May we daily choose to prioritize God above all else through prayer, obedience, humility, and service. Because when God holds first place in our hearts and our lives, everything else falls into place.
- Seek First the Kingdom - February 10, 2026
Welcome! We are so glad you stopped by. Come Fill Your Cup is a group of Christian ladies dedicated to equipping women for study and service. We know you are busy and that life’s hectic pace pulls you in so many directions, but you can’t truly be the woman God desires unless you take time to fill your own cup…not with spa days (though we love a good spa!) or the latest novel…but with God’s Holy Word. We want to help you with that! Our goal is to reach you in the midst of your busy day and give you encouragement, education, and fellowship as you strive to live the life God has laid before you. Our prayer is that we can help fill your cup so that you, in turn, can overflow to all those around you. So, as we like to say…come fill your cup, and let it overflow!
Leave a Reply