His Kingdom & His Righteousness

[dave c]

HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #132ab, Re-Written 09JAN10

The Disciples’ Prayer—Part Twenty Eight: His Kingdom & His Righteousness

by rev dave c

Matthew 6:25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' 32 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (NASV).

In Part Twenty Seven of this series, “Matthew To Maslow”, I began a comparison between Christ’s teaching in “the Disciples’ Prayer” (or, “the Lord’s Prayer”) of Matthew 6:5-13 and Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy Of Needs. It is important to understand that I am not trying to use Maslow to defend, to extrapolate, or to modify the principles of prayer in our relationship with God the Father as delineated in the subject verses and as exemplified by the life of Jesus. Quite the contrary. I am saying that what may be accurate in the observations of the American educational psychologist regarding human motivation, merely reflects the truth of how God created us (Ro 1:19&20).

Whereas (and however) Maslow’s Hierarchy begins with physiological needs and then moves into issues of safety, relationships, and self-esteem; the Disciples’ Prayer teaches us to begin with a recognition of the divine nature and eternal power of God as our Heavenly Creator (Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name—Mt 6:9b; NASV). We are to then confess God as our Sovereign—our King (Your kingdom come—Mt 6:10a; NASV). This worshipful attitude of submission is to be followed by a decision and a commitment to the surrender of our will to His (Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven—Mt 6:10b; NASV).

Effectively, we are starting in the middle of Maslow’s model by beginning with a self realization of who we are in the presence of Divine Providence. We are taught to then ask the Father to provide us our daily need for air, water, rest, and food (Give us this day our daily bread—Mt 6:11; NASV). This distinction between the Humanistic, natural man and his struggle for survival; and the born again, spiritual man of the New Testament is epitomized by Christ’s admonition in Matthew 6:31-33, "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' "For the Gentiles [the unsaved] eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (NASV).

A second difference between Maslow and Scripture occurs in the order of basic needs once essential sustenance is met (i.e., “food” for the former and “bread” for the latter). Maslow maintained that we next required safety (or “shelter” from his earlier model), and then a sense of belongingness and love (or “reproduction”). On the other hand, the Disciples’ Prayer tells us that the need for fellowship with God and with each other (And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors—Mt 6:12; NASV) is our next consideration, which is then followed by the request for protection (And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil—Mt 6:13; NASV). When I consider what motivated me in life prior to salvation, I would have disagreed with Maslow even then by placing my need for interpersonal relationships before my need for safety and security. And that without the current benefit of Truth verified in and by the Written Word of God.

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets" (Mt 22:36-40; NASV). "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends (Jn 15:12&13; NASV). Love God with our whole person. Love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Lay down our life for our friends. In these three commands we find a summation of “seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”. Lord, help us to learn to place our love for You ahead of all else, and the needs of others before our own. Help us to understand that love is the fulfillment of the law (Ro 13:10b; NASV). Thank You, Jesus, and amen.