Kingdom First

Sermon Series: Kingdom Living – The Sermon on the Mount

Week 5 – Kingdom First

Text: Matthew 6:19–34 Title: “Kingdom First”

Introduction

“A morning of worship, a lifetime of grace.”

How many of us worry? About bills… health… our kids… the future. We all do. Worry is one of the most common human experiences — and yet, Jesus directly addresses it.

In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shifts from the secret life with God to the internal attitudes of the heart: how we handle treasure, loyalty, and anxiety. He calls us to seek first the Kingdom of God instead of being consumed by earthly concerns.

We can’t serve both God and money. We can’t treasure heaven and earth equally. And we can’t hold onto worry while trusting the Father fully. Jesus is inviting His followers to live with Kingdom priorities and Kingdom confidence.

1. Treasure: What You Value Shows Your Heart (vv. 19–21)

Jesus says:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Earthly treasure is temporary. Moths eat fabric. Rust corrodes metal. Thieves break in. But heavenly treasure lasts forever.

This isn’t just about money — it’s about priorities. What you value reveals where your heart truly is.

Illustration: A family heirloom may be valuable, but even it can be stolen or decay. But the investments we make in people, in God’s Kingdom, in prayer, in generosity — those are treasures that moth and rust can’t touch.

Application:

Evaluate where your heart is by looking at your calendar, your bank statement, and your thought life.

Ask: Am I storing up earthly treasures or Kingdom treasures?

2. Loyalty: You Can’t Serve Two Masters (vv. 22–24)

Jesus continues:

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light… No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other… You cannot serve both God and money.”

He uses the “eye” as a metaphor for focus. A healthy, single eye is focused on the light — on God’s Kingdom. A bad eye is distracted, greedy, or self-centered.

Then He gets to the heart: You can’t serve God and wealth. It’s not that money itself is evil — but divided loyalty is spiritually dangerous.

Illustration: Trying to walk in two directions at once doesn’t work. Eventually, one loyalty wins.

Application:

Ask yourself: Who or what is my true master?

Does God get the first and best of my loyalty, or the leftovers after everything else is served?

3. Anxiety: Seek First the Kingdom (vv. 25–34)

Finally, Jesus addresses worry:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life… Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

“See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.”

God cares for the birds. He clothes the lilies. And we are far more valuable to Him. Worry doesn’t add a single hour to our lives.

Instead of worrying, Jesus gives the alternative in verse 33:

“But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Application:

Replace worry with worship.

Replace anxiety with action — seeking God’s Kingdom first in prayer, service, and obedience.

Trust that the Father knows what you need and will provide.

Illustrations

Birds and Flowers: Jesus uses everyday images — sparrows, wildflowers — to remind us of God’s care. Next time you see a bird or a flower, let it preach to your heart: “God provides.”

Two Masters: Imagine trying to row a boat with one oar going left and the other going right — you just spin in circles. That’s what divided loyalty does to us spiritually.

Conclusion

Jesus is calling His church to live with Kingdom-first priorities. Treasure in heaven, not on earth. Loyalty to God, not divided between Him and wealth. Trust in the Father, not in worry.

When we seek first the Kingdom, our hearts are set in the right place, our eyes are clear, and our anxieties are replaced with faith.

Closing Prayer

“Father, thank You that You are our Provider. Help us to trust You more deeply and to value what You value. Turn our hearts from earthly treasure to heavenly treasure. Focus our loyalty on You alone. Replace our worry with Kingdom-seeking faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”