It doesn’t take us long – when we look at the Bible, world history, ourselves – to see that humans have a natural tendency to be selfish. To look out for ourselves first. To run our own lives. This sin-natured tendency in us finds its origin in the very first sin. – Adam and Eve seeking to run their own lives, put themselves first, and chase after (what they thought was) their own good. It was them seeking first their own kingdom.
Daniel had the same choice. He could seek first his own good by staying quiet and safe from the king’s wrath, even if he had to defile himself with the kings food. Or, He could seek first faithfulness and righteousness by saying no to disobedience to God’s law, even if that put him in danger.
Daniel and his friends were exiles. They were taken from their homes and were now living in a foreign land, serving a foreign king. They could have easily convinced themselves that it was best for them to do what they could to stay safe and be successful – even if that meant compromising God’s law. They could have easily let their selfish and self-protecting nature take over. And yet, they stayed faithful to God. They put themselves in possible danger in order to be obedient to Him.
Why? Because they knew who the true King was. And they held on to the truth that we aren’t the ones who know what “our own good” is. The serpent’s lie that Adam and Eve believed was that God was holding out on them – that He was holding back what was best. That is the lie we are tempted to believe everyday. That we are the only ones who have our best interest at heart and that we must look out for ourselves.
Jesus knew this. The context of Matthew 6:33 is Him telling us that we don’t have to worry about what we will eat, drink, or wear. We don’t have to seek first our own kingdom. Because we are not the only ones looking out for ourselves (we honestly do a very bad job at it anyway). Our Heavenly Father truly does know what is best for us, and wants what is best for us. We see that so very clearly on the cross. And when we stop worrying, stop pursuing our own success, stop seeking our own kingdom – and start seeking His – we find peace and provision.
Provision because God gives us exactly what we need (even if it’s not what we think we need), and peace because we don’t have to worry about our own lives any longer. We are in His hands. We see this in the lives of Daniel and his friends (more than once), we can trust that it will be true for us as well: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
What are you seeking in your daily life?
