Seek ye first the kingdom of God. What does that really mean?

Matthew 6:33 is often quoted in 'prosperity gospel' circles:

 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

It is a great verse but many times people go for the last part of the verse without understanding the first part of the verse. Now I'm not going 'legal beagle' here, I'm just pointing out some of the context. In fact the first part of the verse is continually amazing to me as I continue to discover the true nature of a loving Father and God.

If we are to seek first the Kingdom of God, it is nice to know what it is. So what is it? A kingdom is a country ruled by a king. That was simple! We live in the United States of America. It is a republic. We elect a president and representatives to run this country and we have laws and rules by which we exercise our rights as citizens, but these representatives and elected official aren't the source of our righteousness as evidenced by the constant debate about the rights of individuals and what is fair and just.

God has a right to righteousness. He is the authority by which all things are made. He knows how his universe works best and what he created was created in love. From the giant construction of the heavens down to the tiniest intricacies of the atom, love and order can be found. We have the choice to seek his spiritual kingdom citizenship. I am thankful to live in a country that recognizes freedom of religion and I hope it continues to do so. Our first amendment is precious and wise. Our government cannot establish a particular religion. Who or what we believe is our God given right and the writers of the constitution respected that.

Righteousness is about what is just. It is what works correctly, so obviously if God created the universe he knows how it works and is quite powerful. I love the Kingdom of God and I have seen how exercising citizenship has wonderful right benefits because of God's loving just nature.  So often, when difficult situations(no-apparent-answer type situations) pop up, God handles it when we turn it over to Him.

Life is full of conflict and most of that involves interaction between people. It is difficult when emotions escalate and stinky pride backs people into a dark corner and anger tempts reaction. Sound, loving thinking and decisions go by the wayside and chaos and mis-justice reign supreme. This is where turning to God and his righteousness stops the progression in its tracks! I have seen this so often that I readily depend on Him to settle these things especially if I steer clear of the pride-anger-unforgiving zone. That zone sets up an acoustic barrier for genuine clear answers flowing out of the heart of God.

Read the context of Matthew 6 and see:

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.