God First – Greg Laurie Devotion – March 20, 2026

Biblical Context

The Gospel of Matthew was written by Matthew, also known as Levi, a former tax collector who Jesus called to be one of His twelve disciples. This book tells the powerful story of Jesus’ life, His ministry, His death, and His resurrection. Matthew wrote this with Jewish readers in mind, showing them clearly that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah God promised. Matthew 6:33 comes from Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount, a key teaching found in chapters 5-7. In this part of the sermon, Jesus gives very practical advice, telling His followers not to get caught up worrying about everyday needs like what they’ll eat, what they’ll drink, or what clothes they’ll wear. He points out that people who live without knowing God often chase after these very things. Jesus wants His listeners to trust God completely for all their daily needs. He makes it clear that God knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him for it. This verse then delivers the powerful conclusion to His whole teaching on what should matter most and where our trust should be placed. It sets the stage for how we should live our lives, focusing on God’s ways first.

Key Word Study

Let’s take a closer look at the word “Seek” in Matthew 6:33. In the original language, ancient Greek, this word is zēteō (pronounced zay-teh’-o). Zēteō means to go after something with real effort, to try hard to find it, to search for it, or to work to gain it. It isn’t a casual glance or a mild interest; it’s an active, ongoing pursuit. This word shows a deep desire and a very intentional choice to follow after something. When Jesus tells us to “seek” God’s Kingdom, He’s not just asking for us to think about it now and then. He wants us to put our main energy and our full attention into it, making it our number one goal. It means giving our best effort to discover and live by God’s ways, putting His desires at the very top of our life’s list. It’s an an active hunt, a daily choice to make God’s will and His rule in your life the most important thing. You’re not just waiting for it to come to you; you’re going after it.

The Farmer’s Excuse

Picture this: A man is driving through the countryside during a truly heavy rainstorm. He comes across an old farmer, standing there, just looking at the ruins of his barn. The man pulls his car over, concerned, and asks the farmer what in the world happened.

“Roof fell in,” the farmer replies, his voice tired.

“What actually caused it? Why did it just collapse like that?” the stranger asks, wanting to understand.

“It leaked for so long,” the farmer says, shaking his head. “It just finally rotted right through.”

“Why in the world didn’t you fix it before it got so rotten you lost the whole thing?”

“Well, sir,” the farmer explains, a sigh in his voice, “I just never found the time. When the weather was good, you know, there wasn’t an urgent need for it. The sun was shining. And then when it rained, it was just too wet and bad to even try to work on it.”

Priorities Show Up in Your Schedule

Doesn’t it blow your mind that when you really want to do something, you somehow manage to find the time, no matter how packed your day is? You’ll move mountains, you’ll shuffle your schedule, you’ll make it happen. But then, when someone asks you to do something you’re not so keen on, suddenly your calendar’s completely full. There’s just no space at all, no room to fit it in.

This same exact pattern can happen in your Christian walk, too. If you’re serving God only when it’s easy and fits perfectly into your plans, then you’re settling for second best. You’re accepting less than God’s amazing standard for you. Not only that, but you’re also keeping God at arm’s length, putting a wall between you and Him. You’re settling for a relationship that’s not as close and deep as it could be. If you only make time for the things of God until something you think is “better” comes along, then you’re absolutely missing out on all the incredible things God wants to do in your life and through you.

Make Time, Not Excuses

Think about how much better it is to simply make time for the things of God. To actually put them above everything else you’ve got going on. How much better it is to get your priorities straight once and for all. Instead of finding reasons not to, instead of making those easy excuses, make the time for the Lord. It isn’t just an easy, simple way to live your life; it’s also the very best, most rewarding way.

Jesus told us clearly, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33 nlt). That’s a truly amazing promise, a deal you can’t beat. And it shows you just how much God really wants a close, personal relationship with you. He’s not distant; He’s reaching out.

The Danger of Drifting

When you start to feel yourself drift away from God, it’s usually because you begin to believe you need certain other things in your life more than Him. These things might include earthly success, building up wealth, collecting more possessions, diving deep into hobbies, or sticking to old habits. So, you start chasing after them with real drive, with passion. You convince yourself that these things will bring you joy, give you a great sense of accomplishment or fulfillment, or somehow fill whatever empty feelings you might carry deep down inside you.

And then, just like that farmer with his crumbling barn, you start to neglect the things that truly matter most. The spiritual things. And, also like the farmer, you run the very real risk of rot—spiritual rot. Your foundation can weaken when you ignore it.

God’s Incredible Offer

God, in His amazing kindness and endless mercy, says this to you: “If you’ll make your relationship with Me your main thing, if you’ll close that distance between us by putting Me first, I will help you see what you genuinely need. I’ll help you get rid of that spiritual decay and make you strong from the inside out.”

What an incredible, generous offer! And it all kicks off with one simple but powerful thing: you changing your priorities. It’s a shift in where you place your value and your time.

A Question For You

Reflection question: What would seeking the Kingdom of God above all else look like in your life?