Recently, I saw someone post on Facebook the following message, “The Key to success is to Put God First. Matthew 6:33.” Now, I do agree that I have found success in my faith walk, when I put God first, when I embrace Christ Jesus and all that He did for me on the cross, that is the KEY to my Salvation, which is belief on the Lord Jesus Christ, and I will be saved. But is what I just mentioned the real intent of the original post? I do not think it is.
I have seen writings from the prosperity gospel preachers that will say, the key to your success is to “Put God First.” But how does one measure success? What did Jesus mean when he said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Exactly what will be added to you?
First, let us understand that Matthew 6:33 is not talking about success of becoming wealthy. One Scripture taken out of many means that this Scripture may have been taken out of context. This was the last Scripture verse of many. I will provide you with the context of what is being discussed by Jesus. Let us look at the entire passage taken from Matthew 6:25-34. In the Bible, the subject matter is titled “Do Not Be Anxious.”
Do Not Be Anxious
25 “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? 26 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? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 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? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Now tell me, did you see anything in the above Scripture passage that discussed success or wealth? Neither did I. The passage discusses that we, as Followers of Christ Jesus, should not be anxious about anything in life. God will provide for us what is needed. According to the notes in the Reformation Trust Bible, “Anxiety over the uncertainty or scarcity of resources to sustain physical life reveals a faltering faith in the Father’s care for His children. Confident prayer, with thanks is the antidote.”[1]
The passage says that we should not be anxious or worry, that the Father will provide food and clothing for us. He is the source of what is provided to sustain us in life.
The conclusion is this, we must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things such as food and clothing and shelter, will be provided to us. According to the concordance notes, “seeking the kingdom of God means that we must repent of our sins, and we make God’s Redemptive Rule, repentance, and desire a right relationship with Him. These are the highest priorities of our lives. Worry is inconsistent with this priority; its doubts distract from these supreme goals. God will meet all the needs of those who risk all for Him.”[2]
The phrase “The key to my success is to put God first” is correct, but in the context of only when we consider that success is not monetary gain. We have success in Christ Jesus when we repent from sin and follow Him and risk it all for Him, by doing so, our Heavenly Father will supply all our needs to feed us and clothe us. We should not worry about tomorrow because God has this for us! He will provide what we need to survive today.
Reference:
[1] The Reformation Study Bible, Sproul, R.C. General Editor (Sanford, FL: The Reformation Trust Publishing, 2015) 1682.
[2] Reformation Trust Bible, 1682.
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