This is one of the most popular memory verse. It highlights the kingdom focus of Jesus in the Sermon of the Mount. It gives people hope that whatever they are concerned about from day to day, need not distract them from the main thing. It has spurred a popular song, which is sung in many churches each Sunday throughout the world. The Maranatha Singers version remains my favourite rendition of this classic.
SEEK YE FIRST
C G/B Am Em/G
Seek ye first the kingdom of God
F C Dm G7sus G7
And His righteousness,
C G/B Am Em/G
And all these things shall be added unto you,
F C Dm7 G7 C
Allelu, alleluia.
C G/B Am Em/G
Man shall not live by bread alone,
F C Dm G7sus G7
But by every word
C G/B Am Em/G
That proceeds from the mouth of God,
F C Dm7 G7 C
Allelu, alleluia.
C G/B Am Em/G
Ask, and it shall be given unto you.
F C Dm G7sus G7
Seek, and ye shall find.
C G/B Am Em/G
Knock, and the door shall be opened unto you.
F C Dm7 G7 C
Allelu, alleluia.
C G/B Am Em/G
Seek ye first the kingdom of God
F C Dm G7sus G7
And His righteousness,
C G/B Am Em/G
And all these things shall be added unto you,
F C Dm7 G7 C
Allelu, alleluia.
© 1972 Maranatha! Music
Words and Music by Karen Lafferty
Observations
There are several things that we can learn from this verse.
a) The Preposition (δὲ , de) 'but'
The preposition 'but' is critical. It ties in the two main needs of the human race. Firstly, there is a need for security like food, housing, clothes, our health, our daily concerns. I will call that daily provisions. Just like the sun by day and the moon by night, there are many events happening that we cannot totally be in control of. We cannot force the sun to come up sooner, or the moon to appear later. These simply happens without us having to worry about it. Secondly, the human psyche is one of restlessness. If one does not worry about Item A, his mind will start roaming around for items B and C, pulling in anxious thoughts like a long trailer, to even exceed Item Z. Such restlessness has caused much grief. (Remember, what good will it do to a man who gains the whole world but loses his soul?) Instead, we need to direct our attention to the front of the train. The driver. The author and finisher of our faith. The person leading our lives. Jesus is that person. He knows all of our needs. He wants people to avoid moving from one worry to another, but directs his hearers to focus on the kingdom of God. With the word 'but,' Jesus draws these two weaknesses of people, of worry about daily provisions, and the tendency of restlessness into one direct focus on the kingdom of God AND his righteousness.
b) The word (προστίθημι, prostithemi) 'add'
These things that people worry about, God will provide as an ADDITION. This small detail is significant. We cannot be too distracted by the provisions that we miss the loving hand of the Provider. We cannot allow the gift to hide the palm of the Giver. We cannot be so infatuated with things that we receive that we fail to give the person who loves us the attention he/she deserve. The word 'add' should conjure in us the question: "Add to what?" Jesus has taught the disciples to seek God's kingdom and his righteousness. That is the main thing. Along with this main thing, the hearers have been assured that whatever they need daily will be taken care of. These things will be "added unto you." Be careful not to think that the purpose of seeking God's kingdom is to receive provisions and daily necessities. No! God is our daily bread. God is our daily companion.
The verb 'prostithemi' (προστίθημι) is also used in several places in the New Testament.
- In Acts 12:3, when King Herod saw that his arresting/killing of James, the brother of John, had pleased the Jews, he continued to try to (προστίθημι) 'add' to this 'pleasing-the-Jews' exercise by trying to arrest Peter too.
- In Gal 2:6, Paul claims that the external facade of the false teachers will (προστίθημι) 'add' nothing to the gospel he is preaching.
- In Rev 22:18, John warns us about the terrible consequences for anyone who (προστίθημι) 'adds' anything to the words of Scripture.
In these tough economic conditions, people are making increasingly desperate attempts to sustain their businesses. I saw a car workshop that is currently trying to promote their winter maintenance package. A banner screams: "Free MP3 player with every winter maintenance package." I ask myself, what has an MP3 player got to do with car maintenance? Absolutely nothing. It does not make the car go faster or smoother. It will not polish the car's exterior. Neither will it improve the fuel efficiency of the car engine. By using the MP3 player gimmick, car owners can easily get distracted from the main thing regarding car maintenance. Quality and reliability of the car mechanic. Location of the workshop. Type of equipment and the integrity of the workshop and so forth. If the car owner decides on the basis of the MP3 player, he is taking a huge risk, especially with an unknown car workshop.
Likewise, when we seek God's kingdom, we cannot be distracted by the 'mp3's of spirituality. Even our daily necessities can be MP3s of our spiritual life. Distracted people choose God simply because of his promises to deliver these human goodies. Far be from it. Remember that Jesus is saying that all these things will be 'added' unto you? But first seek ye first the kingdom and his righteousness!
c) Future Tense
The third observation is that προστίθημι is a future tense. It is not immediate according to our liking, but appropriate according to God's timing. The words 'will be added' should comfort us that the future is in God's hands. The very person who wants to give us his kingdom and his righteousness, surely, the goods promised are not going to be more important than the kingdom, isn't it? What God has promised, he will deliver, only wait in hope and persevere in faithfulness. That is what trusting God is all about.
Final Words
In the parable of the compassionate father (many refer to as prodigal son), the father who has given his younger son his inheritance, continues to long for his son to return from his willful ways. Thankfully the story ends with the return of the prodigal son. The father was overjoyed. He gives the unfaithful son clothes (the best robe). He puts a ring on his finger, and sandals on his feet. He feeds him with the best calf (food). Everyone in the household were asked to celebrate. What is important is that when the Father sees the return of the son, everything else does not matter anymore. God desires to have fellowship with us, so that he can shower his bountiful love on us. He knows we need a roof over our heads. He understands that we need daily provisions of food. He recognizes that we are human creatures with human needs. Yet, he is wise to continue to teach us patience, and not to give in to our desires prematurely. Knowing when to give us what we need, and how much to provide for us, requires not simply speed or efficiency. It needs love. It is from this gesture of love, that he tells us, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness," then all these things will be 'added' unto you.
What we should desire is God himself. For the younger son, his eyes is no longer on the clothes or the food, or the house and inheritance. His desire is to come back to the warm embrace of the Father. Henri Nouwen puts it very eloquently that there are indeed more important things than food, clothes, lodging and our daily provisions:
"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate now knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares." (Henri Nouwen's "Out of Solitude")I will end with the picture of Rembrandt's work, the portrait of the parable of the compassionate father. This picture alone inspired Henri Nouwen to write one of his best and most popular books: "The Return of the Prodigal Son."
Take a moment and enjoy the picture.
ks
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