"Seek ye first the kingdom of God"

MARGARET Y. LULL

Shortly after beginning his three years' service as a teacher and leader among men, Jesus preached a sermon which is so complete in its expression of Truth that Mrs. Eddy has said of it in her Message to The Mother Church for 1901 (p. 11), "To my sense the Sermon on the Mount, read each Sunday without comment and obeyed throughout the week, would be enough for Christian practice." In this talk to his disciples and the multitude which followed him up the mountain slopes above Capernaum, Jesus gave a profound rule for supplying all human needs: "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? ... But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

That is a simple rule, but one which mankind seems to find difficult to obey. When human problems press for solution, and lack of supply or discordant home and business conditions present ugly claims to reality, we are sometimes tempted to wonder how Jesus' injunction can be carried out. By taking no thought for the practical details of everyday life, should we not be evading our responsibilities and failing to take proper care of what concerns us? Surely, we think, those words of our Master must have been meant only for his disciples in that far-off land, and do not apply to us in this age of complicated living!

The answer of Christian Science is that, by seeking "first the kingdom of God," one beset with human cares and anxieties is taking steps to demonstrate supply in the only way which can possibly be effective. God is ever-present Mind, and man, His reflection, has an inexhaustible heritage of right ideas. This understanding will correct and destroy every wrong belief about health, situation, or supply. By replacing sick, sinful, or unhappy beliefs about ourselves and our fellow beings with the truth that man, made in God's image, is well, pure, and joyous, we shall find these true conditions manifested. Jesus, who found tax money in the fish's mouth, who commended his mother to the care of John and provided food for his disciples on the shores of the Galilean sea, neglected no human obligation. He knew the truth, and his understanding healed lack and broken human relationships.

When we seek "first the kingdom of God" by realizing the truth about our problems to the best of our understanding, we need to beware that our thoughts do not turn too quickly to the things that "shall be added." Even after we have been students of Christian Science for many years, the habit of outlining the way our demonstrations shall work out may persist, and this would rob us of the rich blessings which come as the result of sincere work. If we are truly seeking "first the kingdom of God," we shall not be thinking of the material results, though we shall be expecting good to follow. We shall rejoice in God's omnipotence and ever-presence, and willingly leave the results with Him.

We shall reach a glorious point in our development when we can drop a false sense of responsibility regarding daily tasks and surroundings, and stop wanting things to be done our way. What a load will slip from our shoulders when we cast off the fear of life's tomorrows! As we seek "first the kingdom of God" each day, the way will be made clear to us—perhaps only a step at a time. To know the truth and faithfully to do today's task is what is required of us.

What God imparts is infinitely better than anything we could plan for ourselves. Knowing this, we can face each day with zest, embarking upon a happy adventure. We do not yet know what experiences are in store for us, but with calm assurance we can face each temptation as merely a wrong suggestion to be replaced by right knowing, and as an opportunity to push farther along the path from sense to Soul. Then at the close of the day we shall see in humble gratitude the gifts which God bestows—the things which have been added.

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