Luke 12:31-32 (ESV) Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
This next verse is a wonderful promise after God tells us how to get our priorities in order. Rather than seeking after the things that we need in life, which is self-centered, we are to change our priorities. Rather than focusing on ourselves, we are to seek God’s kingdom as our top priority. If we’re seeking the kingdom, we don’t have time to worry about anything else.
In fact, Jesus makes this promise, that when our priority is seeking the kingdom, then all these physical needs that people worry about will be provided to us. Then Jesus tells us to fear not. You see, worry is a form of fear. If we are a little flock, the Jesus is our good shepherd. If you seek God’s kingdom, not only will we have our physical needs taken care of. We will also have what we seek after, the kingdom of God and its blessings. So, what does it mean to seek God’s kingdom?
Luke 12:33 (ESV) Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
Jesus then turns his attention to how we spend our money. How a person spends their money shows that their priorities are in life. Rather than storing up treasure on earth to meet our physical needs, we are to give to the needy. The needy are those who are either physically or spiritually poor. When we use our resources in such ways, we are seeking God’s kingdom. And we are laying up treasure in heaven.
Heaven is the most secure place existing for your treasure. Treasure in heaven is not affected by inflation, thieves or stock market crashes. Then Jesus tells us why how we handle our money is so important.
Luke 12:34 (ESV) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Your heart and treasure are aligned. If your treasure is here on this earth, then that is where your heart will be. If your heart is on this earth, then you will be worrying and not seeking Gods’ kingdom. Of course, the reverse is true as well. If you heart is directed toward earthly things, then that is where you will store your treasure.
On the other hand, if your heart is seeking God’s kingdom, then you will be laying up treasure in heaven. And as your life’s priority is God’s kingdom, you won’t be worrying. Why? Because you believe that God will meet all your needs and He will. To eliminate worry, seek God’s kingdom in your life.
Let’s talk some more about what it means to seek God’s kingdom. To seek God’s kingdom is have your heart set to carry out God’s purpose for your life. Seeking the kingdom is using everything God has entrusted to you for Him. A person who is a kingdom seeker is God-centered in every aspect of their life. A kingdom seeker is a person of faith, He sees God doing good things in his future.
On the other hand, those who are seeking to meet their own needs are self-centered. They are concerned to meet their own needs because they don’t trust God. So they worry and probably rightly so, for none of us can meet our needs without God’s help. The difference between a self-centered person and a God-centered person will be reflected in who they handle money. The person who says that they can’t afford to give to God is a self-centered person who is worried that they won’t be able to meet their needs. A God-centered person will give gladly give their tithe to God’s church and trust God to meet their needs, and He will. Seek God’s kingdom and you will eliminate worry.