Prioritizing God's Kingdom Over Life's Distractions

Devotional

Day 1: Seek First the Kingdom of God

To seek first the kingdom of God means to make God and His reign the top priority in every aspect of life, above all other pursuits and concerns. This is not a casual or occasional search, but a deliberate, focused, and ongoing act of the will—a daily choice to pursue God’s presence, His purposes, and His rule in your heart and actions. When you put God first, you are trusting that He will take care of your needs, and you are aligning your life with what truly matters for eternity. The world may chase after happiness, security, or wealth, but Jesus calls you to seek Him above all, knowing that everything else will fall into place as you do. [14:35]

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can intentionally put God first in your schedule or priorities today, even in the midst of your daily responsibilities?

Day 2: Trust God to Provide for Your Needs

God cares deeply for you and promises to provide for your essential needs, just as He cares for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. Worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear does not add anything to your life; instead, it distracts you from trusting in God’s faithful provision. You are of great value to Him, created in His image, and He knows exactly what you need. Rather than being consumed by anxiety over daily necessities, you are invited to rest in the assurance that your Heavenly Father sees, knows, and will supply what is truly needed for your life. [05:46]

Matthew 6:25-30 (ESV)
"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"

Reflection: What is one specific need or worry you can entrust to God today, believing He values you and will provide?

Day 3: You Cannot Serve Two Masters

Jesus teaches that it is impossible to serve both God and money (or any other competing priority); you must choose whom you will serve. Money and material things are necessary tools, but they can easily become idols if they take first place in your heart. When you make God your master, you are freed from the endless striving and anxiety that comes from chasing after wealth or security. Instead, you can trust that as you serve God wholeheartedly, He will take care of your needs and direct your life. [03:07]

Matthew 6:24 (ESV)
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

Reflection: Is there anything in your life—such as money, status, or comfort—that is competing with God for first place? What step can you take to surrender that area to Him today?

Day 4: God’s Kingdom Is Both Present and Eternal

The kingdom of God is not only a future hope of heaven, but also a present reality in the hearts and lives of those who follow Jesus. God’s reign breaks into your daily life as you submit to Him, experience His presence, and live out His purposes. Entering the kingdom requires humility, spiritual rebirth, and childlike faith, and it is God’s delight to give you this unshakable, eternal kingdom. You can live with gratitude and confidence, knowing that God’s kingdom is secure and that you are part of it now and forever. [21:07]

Luke 12:32 (ESV)
"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

Reflection: In what ways can you recognize and respond to God’s presence and rule in your life today, rather than only thinking of His kingdom as a distant future reality?

Day 5: Do Not Worry About Tomorrow

Jesus calls you to live in the present, trusting God for each day rather than being consumed by anxiety about the future. Worrying about tomorrow only adds unnecessary burdens and distracts you from what God is doing in your life right now. God invites you to follow Him step by step, moment by moment, relying on His strength and love to carry you through whatever comes. As you put your trust in Him, you can let go of fear and rest in the assurance that He has a plan for you and will be with you through every challenge. [31:12]

Matthew 6:34 (ESV)
"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Reflection: What is one worry about the future that you can release to God today, choosing instead to focus on trusting Him in the present moment?

Sermon Summary

Life is full of distractions and worries, and it’s easy to let our focus drift to the things that seem urgent—money, security, daily needs, and the anxieties of tomorrow. But Jesus calls us to something deeper and more freeing: to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. This isn’t just a nice saying or a verse to memorize, but a radical invitation to reorder our priorities and trust that God will provide for us as we put Him at the center of our lives.

Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 remind us that we cannot serve two masters. If we try to serve both God and money, or God and anything else, our loyalty will always be divided. Instead, we are called to trust that God knows our needs and cares for us far more than we can imagine. He points to the birds and the lilies—creatures that don’t worry or strive, yet are cared for by the Father. How much more, then, will He care for us, His children, made in His image?

Seeking God’s kingdom means more than just looking forward to heaven someday. It’s about living under God’s reign here and now, letting His presence shape our hearts, our choices, and our relationships. The kingdom is both a future hope and a present reality, breaking into our lives as we humble ourselves, trust Him, and allow His Spirit to transform us. God’s righteousness is His perfect character—His love, justice, and holiness. We are called to pursue this righteousness, not in our own strength, but by staying connected to Jesus, the true vine, who empowers us to bear fruit.

When we make God our first priority, He promises to take care of the rest. This doesn’t mean we’ll never face trouble or lack, but it does mean we can let go of worry and anxiety, knowing that our Father is faithful. Each day has enough trouble of its own, and God invites us to walk with Him moment by moment, trusting Him with both our needs and our future. As we seek Him first, we find the peace, security, and purpose that the world is desperately searching for.

Key Takeaways

1. You cannot serve two masters; your heart will always be loyal to one and not the other. Jesus challenges us to examine what truly holds first place in our lives—whether it’s God or something else like money, security, or comfort. True freedom and peace come when we choose to trust God above all else, letting Him be our sole master and provider. [03:07]
2. God’s care for creation is a daily reminder of His love for us. If He provides for the birds and clothes the lilies in beauty, how much more will He care for us, whom He made in His image? Our value to God is not based on our performance or our worries, but on His deep, personal love and commitment to us as His children. [11:59]
3. Seeking first the kingdom of God is an intentional, daily pursuit. It means making God’s reign and His righteousness our top priority, not just in theory but in the practical choices and attitudes of our everyday lives. This pursuit is not passive; it requires deliberate focus, a reordering of our desires, and a willingness to let God’s presence shape every part of who we are. [17:55]
4. The kingdom of God is both a future hope and a present reality. While we look forward to eternity with God, His kingdom is also breaking into our lives now as we submit to His rule and allow His Spirit to transform us. Living in the kingdom means embracing humility, childlike faith, and a deep trust in God’s goodness, even when we can’t see the full picture. [21:07]
5. God equips us to pursue His righteousness, not by our own strength but through His Spirit. As we stay connected to Jesus, the true vine, He matures us, strengthens us, and enables us to bear fruit that lasts. Our calling is not to strive for perfection on our own, but to abide in Him, trusting that He will provide what we need for every good work. [27:45]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:49] - The Secret of Life: One Thing
[01:55] - Introducing Matthew 6:33
[03:07] - You Cannot Serve Two Masters
[05:46] - God’s Care for Our Needs
[11:59] - Faith and God’s Provision
[13:17] - Don’t Worry Like the World
[14:35] - Breaking Down “Seek First”
[15:18] - What Are You Seeking?
[16:30] - Practicing God’s Presence Daily
[17:55] - Making God the Priority
[19:14] - Treasures in Heaven
[21:07] - The Kingdom of God: Now and Future
[24:23] - Pursuing God’s Righteousness
[26:37] - The Character of Christlike Love
[27:45] - God Equips Us to Seek Him
[29:59] - “All These Things Will Be Added”
[31:12] - Letting Go of Worry
[33:37] - Closing Prayer and Encouragement

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 6:24-34 (ESV) — > “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
> Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
> Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
> And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
> And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,
> yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
> But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
> Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
> For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and 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 added to you.
> Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Observation Questions

According to Jesus in this passage, what are some of the things people tend to worry about? ([03:07])
What examples does Jesus use from nature to show God’s care for His creation? ([05:46])
What does Jesus say about serving two masters, and what does He mean by “mammon”? ([03:07])
How many times does Jesus repeat the command not to worry in this passage? Why do you think He repeats it? ([13:17])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus say we cannot serve both God and money? What does it look like when someone tries to do both? ([03:07])
How does Jesus use the birds and lilies to challenge our understanding of God’s provision and our value to Him? ([11:59])
What does it mean to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” in practical, everyday terms? ([14:35])
The sermon mentions that the kingdom of God is both a future hope and a present reality. How can believers experience the kingdom now, not just in the future? ([21:07])

Application Questions

Jesus says we cannot serve two masters. What is something in your life that competes with God for your attention or loyalty? How can you take a step this week to put God first in that area? ([03:07])
Think about a recent situation where you felt anxious about your needs (money, health, future, etc.). How did you respond? What would it look like to trust God with that need instead of worrying? ([13:17])
The sermon talks about seeking God’s kingdom as an intentional, daily pursuit. What is one practical way you can make God’s presence and priorities more central in your daily routine? ([17:55])
When you consider God’s care for the birds and lilies, how does that change the way you see your own value to God? Is there a lie you’ve believed about your worth that you need to replace with God’s truth? ([11:59])
The kingdom of God is described as both now and not yet. What is one area of your life where you need to invite God’s rule and presence today? ([21:07])
The sermon says we are called to pursue God’s righteousness, not in our own strength but by staying connected to Jesus. What is one way you can “abide” in Jesus this week—through prayer, Scripture, or another practice? ([27:45])
Jesus says not to worry about tomorrow. Is there something about the future that is causing you anxiety right now? What would it look like to trust God with that specific concern, just for today? ([31:12])

Sermon Clips

When it says to pray continuously, Paul doesn't mean to be on your knees with your hands full of praying all the time and not do anything else. It means to have that, practice that presence of God in your heart all the time. Always be talking to them. [00:16:42] (18 seconds) #PrayWithPresence

I try to get in the habit more and more when I'm working. I've got to make a bad phone call or I see a...I'm at work. I see a call coming in and I know who it is. I really don't want to talk to him or I know there's problems coming or I got to, you know, do any number of things and, you know, just going in there and winging it. That's fine. But I'm trying to always turn towards the Lord, even for these little things, these small, simple moments. [00:17:00] (34 seconds) #TurnToGodInSmallThings

Don't work so hard to lay up things in this world that are going to get broken, destroyed, are going to get lost. Focus on pushing things forward into your next life in heaven. If we invest in heaven, it's eternal and it's secure. 100% guaranteed. Make it, make the seeking the Lord a priority. [00:18:57] (30 seconds) #InvestInEternalLife

God delights in giving each and every one of us eternal life in his kingdom. And that can start the minute we accept him. We have eternal life the minute we become believers. Because whether we die or not here, we know where we're going. [00:23:12] (19 seconds) #EternalLifeStartsNow

God in his righteousness has provided his word as a guide for how we can seek his holiness. Some examples of the ten commandments in the old testament and the fruits of the spirit are examples that we can look to for how we can seek his righteousness. [00:25:22] (23 seconds) #SeekRighteousness

I love that picture of Jesus being the vine and all of us branching out from him. We have to be connected to him all the time. We can bear fruit if we are connected to him. When we back away, when we're not in the word, when we're not together, fellowshipping and studying together and praying together, we're not going to do much for the kingdom. [00:28:35] (26 seconds) #ConnectedToTheVine

He's saying that the things that we worry about or are concerned about, if we put him first, and we continue to seek after him, and seek his righteousness, in other words, try to be more and more like him, all the rest of the things in your life will be taken care of. You don't need to worry about them. [00:30:51] (21 seconds) #PutGodFirstNoWorries

If you think about it, we've got enough that we have to deal with on a daily basis. And worrying about what's going to happen tomorrow or next week or next year, it complicates things. It takes our focus off. Number one, it takes our focus off of God. And two, it takes our focus off of what's going on in the minute, in the moment. God wants us to follow him moment by moment, and to continually seek him out through all your challenges of your day, through all the triumphs, all the blessings. Thank him for those things. Thank you. Thank you. [00:31:29] (39 seconds) #LiveInTheMomentWithGod

He's just saying don't live in that. Don't live in anxiety and fear. You have no need to do that. You have God right there. The one who knows you better than anybody. The creator of all heaven and earth. The one who's in control of everything. The one who has a plan for your life. [00:33:01] (17 seconds) #NoRoomForAnxiety

He's saying, everybody in the world worries about things. You're different. You know me. You say you trust me. Well, then prove it. Minute of my moment, day by day. Follow me and trust me. Put God first in your life and he promises to take care of you. And don't worry. [00:33:18] (24 seconds) #ProveYourTrustDaily

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