In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus commanded us to seek first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). The meaning of the verse is as straightforward as it seems. It primarily indicates that we should pursue the salvation that is a part of God's kingdom since it is more valuable than all the wealth in the world. Does this imply that we should disregard the practical and everyday tasks that keep us alive? Of course not. However, the Christian ought to have a different perspective on them.

However, how can we tell if our primary goal is to establish God's kingdom? We can ask ourselves some questions. "Where do I mostly focus my efforts? Do I spend all of my time and money on things that will undoubtedly expire or on things that will serve God and have eternal results? Then, believers who have mastered the art of putting God first can rest in this sacred dynamic: "...and you will also receive all of these things."

Although God has promised to provide all of our needs (Philippians 4:19), His perception of what we need frequently differs from ours, and His timing will only sometimes satisfy our expectations. Perhaps God is aware that what we really need is a period of poverty, loss, or loneliness, even though we may perceive our needs as being wealth or growth. We are in good company when this occurs. Although God loved Job and Elijah, He permitted Satan to beat Job mercilessly while keeping an eye on him, and He permitted Jezebel, an evil woman, to crush the spirit. In all situations, God provided sustenance and repair after these hardships.

These "negative" facets of the kingdom are in opposition to the so-called "prosperity" gospel, a heresy that is spreading globally. The phrase "God wants you to be rich!" is being used by an increasing number of fraudulent teachers to attract followers. However, such mentality is not the Bible's teaching, and it is most definitely not the teaching of Matthew 6:33, which states that there is no secret to becoming wealthy. It is an explanation of God's operation. Jesus advocated focusing on the things of God's kingdom rather than this world, its position, and its deceptive temptations.