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, by 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. (From “A Good Thing)

….absent from the body—present with the Lord.– 2 Corinthians 5:8

Writing about the fact that, for the believer, there is no separation from Christ, Octavius Winslow said:

Death cannot separate us from the love of God
which is in Christ Jesus—and all the blessings
which that love bestows. Death separate us? No!
Death unites us the more closely to those blessings,
by bringing us into their more full and permanent
possession.

Death imparts a realization and a permanence to all
the glorious and holy longings of the Christian. The
happiest moment of his life is his last! Then it is
that he feels how precious the privilege, and how
great the eminence—of being a believer in Jesus.

And the day which darkens his eye to all earthly scenes
—opens it upon the untold, and unimaginable, and
ever increasing glories of eternity! It is the birth
day of his immortality!

Jesus, the Conqueror of death, will approach and
place His almighty arms beneath you, and lay your
head upon His loving bosom. Thus encircled and
pillowed, you “shall not see death,” but passing
through its gloomy portal, shall only realize that
you had actually died, from the consciousness of
the joy and glory into which death had ushered
you!

Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.–Psalm 73:24

It’s been said that, “All of life is here summed up in one verse”. Let the truth of this verse sink deep into your heart and your outlook will never be the same. As he speaks from his place on earth, whatever the details might be, the Psalmist boasts of the Lord as he speaks to the Lord–“Thou shalt guide me”. What a tremendous thought. He believed, and he was right, that God would direct his steps throughout his earthly journey. He was confident that God would never leave nor forsake him. He was certain that when he stumbled God would strengthen him, and when he strayed God would steer him.

Notice how—“with thy counsel”. The Psalmist was a wise man. He did not depend on the guidance of mere fallible humans, nor even himself. He knew God is all-knowing and ever-wise. He was certain that the Lord is a dependable guide, well able to lead him through this wicked wilderness, we call “the world”–not an easy place to live. He knew God would never give bad advice, nor lead him in the wrong direction. We should be so confident and calm. For every problem God provides a solution. For every misstep, leading us away from the straight and narrow, God counsels us back on track.

Now, all this is wonderful, but this is just on earth. It gets better–much better! It always does for the Christian. The best is always yet to come for the child of God. It’s just a matter of time. He says–“and afterward receive me to glory”. Here He carefully and lovingly guides us. Finally, however, He will usher us into His very presence, where “there are pleasures for evermore”( Psalm 16:11). That is glorious! The Bible never speaks of any intermediary state. It is always out of and into. As others have said, “Death is not a tunnel, it is a door”. When our great guide has finished with us here on earth, He receives us into His presence. There is never any separation –no time apart from God. Although our location and circumstances change, our company with God does not. When He is finished guiding us here He faithfully receives us “to glory”. That will be glory for me!

It is exactly as described in Psalm 48:14, “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death”. Take courage dear Christian, He will not fail you!

For the Lord shall be thy confidence.—Proverbs 3:26

H. E. Manning wrote: He has kept and folded us from ten thousand ills when we did not know it: in the midst of our security we should have perished every hour, but that He sheltered us “from the terror by night and from the arrow that flieth by day”–from the powers of evil that walk in darkness, from snares of our own evil will. He has kept us even against ourselves, and saved us even from our own undoing. Let us read the traces of His hand in all our ways, in all the events, the chances, the changes of this troubled state. It is He that folds and feeds us, that makes us to go in and out,–to be faint, or to find pasture,–to lie down by the still waters, or to walk by the way that is parched and desert.

What he says is indeed true, and we need to keep it in mind as we face the difficulties and dangers in life. We need never despair–God’s power is always greater than our problem! It is as Elizabeth Charles wrote: We are never without help. We have no right to say of any good work, it is too hard for me to do, or of any sorrow, it is too hard for me to bear; or of any sinful habit, it is too hard for me to overcome.

The Psalmist offers us help and hope with this wonderful truth: For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.–Psalm 48:14