Kingdom Seekers

Kingdom Seekers
By Don Vess

Throughout His ministry, Jesus consistently taught about one central theme: the Kingdom of Heaven. Whether through parables, healings, or sermons, His message always pointed to the Kingdom of God. One of the most profound teachings on this is found in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), where Jesus outlines the principles of kingdom living.

In Matthew 6:25-33 (NKJV), Jesus says:

*"Therefore I say to you, do not worry 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, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?*

*"So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"*

*"Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."*

Verse 33 perfectly encapsulates what it means to be a follower of Jesus and a true *Kingdom Seeker*: *“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”* Jesus emphasizes that our priority in life should not be the pursuit of material things or even our own well-being, but the pursuit of God's Kingdom and His ways. When we put God’s Kingdom first, everything else falls into place under His divine provision.

### The Essence of a Kingdom Seeker

The Bible provides numerous examples of what it means to live with a heart set on seeking God’s Kingdom. Proverbs 16 gives us several insights into the mindset of a Kingdom Seeker:

**Proverbs 16:1 (NLT):** *“We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.”*  
This speaks to the essence of seeking the Kingdom—waiting on God before making decisions. As Kingdom Seekers, we must listen for God’s guidance and be willing to follow His lead, trusting that His plans are far better than ours.

Abraham is a prime example of someone who sought God's Kingdom above all else, despite not fully knowing the path ahead. In Genesis 12:1-2 (NLT), God commands Abraham to leave his country, his family, and everything familiar, to go to a land that God would show him:

*"Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others."*

This journey of faith is a powerful illustration of seeking God’s Kingdom. Abraham obeyed, even though he did not have all the details. He trusted in God’s promise and sought to follow His leading. Kingdom seeking often involves stepping out in faith without seeing the full picture.

As Hebrews 11:8-10 tells us, Abraham was *“confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.”* Though he didn’t see the fulfillment of every promise in his lifetime, his faith in God’s eternal Kingdom was unwavering. He was a Kingdom Seeker, knowing that God's ultimate promise would come to pass, even if it took time.

### Trusting in God’s Plans

Proverbs 16:9 (NLT) says: *“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”*  

As Kingdom Seekers, it is good to have vision and goals, but we must always be open to God’s direction. Sometimes our plans don’t align with God’s perfect will, and in those moments, we need to surrender and trust that His way is best. God’s path might look different than what we expect, but it is always better than what we could have planned ourselves.

Abraham, once again, is an example of this. His journey with God was filled with moments of uncertainty, challenges, and even waiting for long periods before promises were fulfilled. Yet, his faith remained steady because he sought God's Kingdom and trusted that God would fulfill His word.

### Kingdom Seeking is a Journey

Being a Kingdom Seeker is not always easy. It involves stepping into the unknown, trusting God's timing, and following His lead even when it’s difficult. At times, it’s thrilling, filled with miracles and divine provision. Other times, it’s a test of patience and faith. But through it all, Kingdom Seekers know one thing: God is faithful. He always fulfills His promises.

Let’s continue seeking God’s Kingdom first, knowing that when we do, everything else will fall into place. Just as Jesus promised in Matthew 6:33, when we prioritize His Kingdom, we can trust Him to take care of our every need.

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**Prayer:**  
Father, teach us to be Kingdom Seekers. Help us to trust in Your plans and seek Your Kingdom first in all that we do. May we, like Abraham, walk by faith and follow Your lead, knowing that You are always faithful to fulfill Your promises. Amen.