What Does It Mean to "Seek First the Kingdom of God" According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

What does "seek ye first the kingdom of God" mean in Matthew 6:33?

According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, "seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" means that religion must be the first priority in our lives, not subordinate to anything else. It means giving God the first position, allowing nothing to come before Him in our thinking. As Lloyd-Jones explains, "If you really believe it, it's got to come first, and it will come first." It's about making our relationship with God the dominant factor that governs our entire life.

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say religion must come first in a person's life?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides several reasons why religion must come first:

1. It concerns our highest relationship of all - our relationship to the living God
2. It addresses the highest part of our being - our soul and spirit
3. It leads to the highest conception of life - righteousness and holiness
4. It concerns our eternal welfare and destiny, not just our temporary existence
5. When this relationship is right, we need not worry about anything else

As he states, "If your religion isn't first and chiefest, it's of no value to you. It isn't the true Christian faith."

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast the Christian view with the modern view of religion?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrasts the Christian priority of seeking God first with what he calls the "modern, sophisticated attitude" that views religion as having only "subordinate importance to adult minds." He specifically challenges historian A.L. Rouse who claimed that political freedoms and constitutional government were more important than religion. Lloyd-Jones argues this reverses God's order of priorities and has "produced the world of chaos." He states that there are only two possible views: "The godly view, the ungodly view... the religious view, the nonreligious view."

What does Lloyd-Jones say happens when we seek God's kingdom first?

According to Lloyd-Jones, when we put God's kingdom first, "all these other things shall be added unto you." He explains that those who belong to God in Jesus Christ have no need to worry about the future because as Jesus taught, God who cares for sparrows and grass will certainly care for His children. When you have sought and found God's kingdom, "you're ready for life, you're ready for adversity, you're ready for illness, you're ready for death... you are ready for eternity in the hands of Jesus Christ."

How does one enter the Kingdom of God according to Lloyd-Jones?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that we cannot enter God's kingdom through our own efforts: "You will never enter the kingdom of God by your own striving. It's too great, it's too pure, it's too noble, it's too wonderful." Instead, the kingdom is "offered to us as a free gift, here and now." He explains that Christ only asks that we admit our need of Him and come as we are: "All the fitness he desireth is to feel your need of him." As he says in his closing appeal, "Come unto him, and so enter into the kingdom."