What does it mean to seek the Kingdom of God?

We're working through Luke's account of the life of Jesus at the moment, and yesterday we read Luke 12:22-31.

It comes in the middle of a bunch of teaching: before it there's a warning against hypocrisy, a bit where Jesus is telling his followers they need to step up and acknowledge that they follow Jesus (even when that's dangerous) and a bit where he tells them not to store up supplies for the future as they don't know how much future they have anyway.  After it there are several bits about being ready for when Jesus returns.  And in the middle is this section, where Jesus seems to be saying "don't worry [even?] about the basic stuff you need to survive: seek my Kingdom and I'll take care of what you need."

Then today I read through Acts 24-26.  Paul, the first missionary, has been arrested for causing a disturbance.  He's examined by various Roman authorities and is pretty co-operative with all of that, but in 26:28-29 we see this:

 Agrippa [the king] said to Paul, “Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?” Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.” 

After two years in prison, under threat of execution, Paul's key number one concern is unchanged.  He wants everyone he comes in contact with to become a Christian.

image source

Is that what "seeking first the Kingdom" means?  Having a razor-sharp focus on evangelism?

This morning Martin and I also read Luke 10:38-42, where Jesus visits his friends, the sisters Mary and Martha.  Mary stops everything and listens to what Jesus has to say; Martha, in contrast, remains busy with housework.  Martha complains to Jesus about Mary abandoning her responsibilities, and Jesus says "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, but few things are needed—indeed only one. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Is this what "seeking first the Kingdom" means?  Ignoring the necessary work of daily life, and spending all our time meditating on Jesus' words?  And trusting that God will take care of the things necessary to daily life?

I've been thinking about what I've been spending time on in the past few days.  The biggest are probably:

• health (exercise, reading/thinking about my arthritis and how to help that, stuff to do with healthy eating);
• relationships (spending time with people, thinking/talking about what might improve some things);
• enjoying creation and enjoying being creative (walking/biking in nature, sewing, thinking/planning for a creative project).

I have also spent time in prayer and reading the Bible, and one of the relationships I was investing in was with someone who I think is taking some small steps which may one day result in following Jesus.  But those two things have definitely not been my main activities.

Is this what seeking first the Kingdom of God looks like?  I feel like my life is thoughtful, and that many of the values that are reflected in what I do that come directly from my faith.  For example, yesterday Martin and I had 'date morning', where we biked to Waikowhai Park, wandered around there whilst talking, and biked home via a vegetarian lunch at a local cafe.  The biking/walking/low-meat-lunch bits of that were all about loving our neighbours as ourselves - the neighbours who are being hurt by the changing climate.  Date morning itself, whilst hardly a uniquely Christian concept, is about honouring the relationship God has given us.  Enjoy the beautiful bush and beach, and the yummy lunch, all involved in delighting in God's good gifts.

But so much of my days is spent on survival-type stuff - particularly, on keeping myself in as good health as feels realistic.  And that feels sensible.

Yet Jesus was telling his followers to not worry about how they'd get food or clothing - God would take care of that.  And figuring out how to get food and clothing feels pretty sensible, too.  So should I maybe not be putting effort into those things?  But we are also called to be wise, and that doesn't feel wise.

I don't know.  I feel like the Bible has less to say than one might expect on what daily living looks like as a Christian!  It's not like the Bible expected that everyone would be an evangelist or a mystic - slaves are told about how to be good slaves, not urged to run away and be professional Christians, for example, and it seems the early churches Paul was writing to were full of 'ordinary' people.  But we don't have heaps about what would be good ways to use your time in that context.  If you have thoughts you'd like to chip in with, I'd appreciate others' perspectives!