What's Your Focus?
What's Your Focus?
Matthew 6:33 is often quoted by people who are stressing the fact that a Christian's priority in life must be to please God: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." This verse is part of Jesus' sermon on the mount, which was preached to His disciples.
The principle expressed in Matthew 6:33 brings atention to what should be the focus of the life of every Christian: glorifying God in everything one does. Notice the following scriptures:
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6).
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:1-3).
"But you, O man of God, flee those things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses" (1 Timothy 6:11-12).
Whatever a Christian does - work (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12; 1 Timothy 5:8), exercise (1 Timothy 4:8a), help others (James 1:27), be a parent, child, husband, or wife (Ephesians 5:22-6:4), etc. - he must focus upon glorifying God in his body and in his spirit "which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
by Michael Hurst