“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you“– Matthew 6:33

Life can often seem very complicated. Career decisions, family dynamics, academic ambitions — every area and issue of life has its own challenges.

However, Jesus spotlights for us the one overriding, all-encompassing priority for living and, buy doing so, simplifies our complicated decisions considerably. Seek first the kingdom, Jesus says, not personal advancement, financial security, or self fulfillment.

Should you accept this promotion? Seek first the kingdom. Where should you send your children to school? Seek first the kingdom. Should you pursue this relationship? Seek first the kingdom.

While this directive does not provide the specific answer to every problem, it certainly does eliminate a great number of possible options. If it does not further the kingdom of God and reflect his righteousness, then it does not meet your basic criteria and need not be considered any further.

When we single-mindedly seek the welfare of the kingdom, then Jesus promises that God will seek our welfare, as well: all these things will be added to you. What things are these? Everything that is necessary and good for you, everything that will assist you in your goal of advancing the kingdom of Christ.

As you face difficult and convoluted questions today, filter your thoughts and decisions through this all-important objective: seek first the kingdom of God.–(Baptist Bible Hour)

Love “Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;”- 1 Corinthians 13:5

A story is told of a man who, after his fiancée broke off their engagement, received the following letter:

Dearest Jimmy,

No words could ever express the great unhappiness I’ve felt since breaking our engagement. Please take me back. No one could ever take your place in my heart, so please forgive me. I love you!

Yours forever, Marie

P.S. Congratulations on winning the lottery.

It’s been said that many people get married for the same reason a tick gets on a dog. Not for what they can give, but for what they can get out of it!

So how can we love with the right motives? Well, whether we’re married or not, we’re called to love others in such a way that we seek their good before ours. We don’t love others for what they can do for us, but for how we can serve them.

Jesus embodied this kind of love in His life here on earth. He served those He loved by washing their feet, eating with them at risk to His own reputation, and fighting for them when they were unjustly accused.

If you want to love well, look at Jesus, the perfect example of love for us!

Pray and ask God to show you how you can love others better by serving them and putting their needs before yours.–Senior Living

The chances are good that before this day is over someone will do something that displeases you—to put it mildly. How will you respond? Naturally you can say what you think and engage in a verbal battle, but that just makes matters worse. Love looks for a way to be a peacemaker. I found the following in some of my notes that might be helpful to you. I don’t know the author, but what is said gives us food for thought.

The most unruly member of the body is the tongue, and the most harmful member of the church is the one who speaks evil of it. It is sad and strange how some are more kind to their co-wokers and the clerk at the store than they are to their brothers and sisters in Christ. Nothing displays our level of spiritual maturity better than our speech. The manner in which you speak to and of others tells more about you than it does about them. And it is a sad story that most folks tell. Considering how common this fault is it is amazing that God is able to bless the average church at all.