Thanksgiving for the Kingdom of God
The Value of the Kingdom – Part VII

Scripture Reading: Matthew 13:44-52

Key Verse: Matthew 13:44
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.”

As we wrap up studying the value of the Kingdom of God, let’s look at Matthew 6:33:

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

This last ten words summarize why we would give our all to be a part of the Kingdom of God: “All these things will be given to you as well.”

Review the previous verses to understand what Jesus was talking about when He used the phrase “all these things”:

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” (Matthew 6:31-32)

Jesus is telling His followers that God will take care of the needs of this life as long as they seek God’s Kingdom first! Jesus points to the pagans and their thinking that the most important things in this life are the food we eat, what we drink, and the clothes wear.

Jesus was not saying that these things are not important, but rather that they are not the most important things in this life. If we put these things first in our lives, then we have put God’s Kingdom second. When we do this, our lives are out of balance, and we never find contentment and true happiness.

Once we have said that we want to make God’s Kingdom first in our lives, then we go about our days trying to back up our words with our actions. How do we put God’s Kingdom first in our lives?

Here are a few examples that come to mind. I will take less money rather than lie, cheat, or cut corners to have more money. I will treat everyone with kindness, even those that I do not like. I will forgive all grievances because God has forgiven mine.

As we see its great value, it helps us to put God’s Kingdom first in our lives.

Father, I am convinced of how great it is to be a part of Your Kingdom. Remind me to always seek it first above all other things in life. In Jesus’s Name I pray, amen.