Seek First the Kingdom
“Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
John 16:24
“Ask and you shall receive” is one of the most popular verses in the Bible to justify bad behavior. It is not a verse that should be used out of context. It also shouldn’t be used without looking at other quotes from Jesus to know how to best approach it. This is something I cannot encapsulate with one writing. I will have three separate distinct writings that will go over what that verse in John means and how to make the best use of your requests in prayer. First is this verse from Matthew:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33
This is the verse that inspired the first part of this series. Ask and you shall receive, but seek first the kingdom. The context of this verse is Jesus telling us that we do not need to worry. Even for food and drink, things we need to survive, do not worry. If the kingdom is at the top of your priority list, then everything will be okay in the end.
I’m sure most of us, including myself, have treated God like a genie in the past. We used Him to ask for good things to happen in our lives, and for bad things to not happen. But weren’t really seeking Him and a relationship with Him over everything. For example, I have seen so much recently about finding a Godly man or woman and how amazing a Godly relationship is. This is still true, but before you pursue this you have to ask, are you a Godly woman or are you a Godly man? Draw close to God and he will draw close to you (James 4:8). When you draw close to Him you will not only build that relationship, the blessings will be sure to come as well. We can become too focused on the blessing instead of the blesser. If you seek a faucet rather than a cup of water, you will never be thirsty.
To see an example of this in scripture, take a look at Solomon’s prayer for wisdom in 1 Kings 3. God was pleased that he asked for righteous gifts instead of riches, the lives of his enemies, or long life (1 Kings 3:11-12). So in response, God gives Solomon exactly the wisdom and discernment he’s asking for. On top of that, He still grants Solomon the gifts he did not request such as riches, honor, and lengthened days if he follows His commands (1 Kings 3:13-14).
In summary, without a relationship with Him, you will find nothing. But once you do have that relationship with God, you will find everything. Pray, fast, read your Word, serve others, seek righteousness, and carry your cross. Once you do this consistently you will find many blessings, and sometimes you won’t even have to ask.
“if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
References
“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”
Matthew 10:38
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
James 4:8
“And God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.’”
1 Kings 3:11-12
“I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
1 Kings 3:13-14
