“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
Seeking God is the pursuit of God and the advancement of His kingdom. When we make God our pursuit, we are open to receive His alignment in every other area of our lives. By seeking a holy lifestyle and the wellbeing of His church, we invite His supernatural grace into our existence to bless, empower, and change our lives for His glory.
God wants us to be kingdom builders! One way we can build the kingdom is through faithful commitment to a local church. A local church will be effective when the people called to it will serve and support it. Hebrews 10:25 in the Amplified says. “Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.”
We serve by participating. We can be a part of church services, events, and outreaches by committing to being there. We often go to church to receive, but we should also go to church because we might make a difference in the life of someone else. Our attendance makes opportunity to bless someone else, and it shows our support to the group.
We serve by volunteering. You don’t have to have special ability to volunteer; volunteering is about being available for God to help someone else. You can volunteer in church services, events, and outreaches.
We can support a local church by supporting the vision and the leadership. You can build up a church through encouragement, affirmation, and unity. If you have a different vision for the church, if you complain about the leadership, or you influence people to leave the church, then you are tearing the church down.
We can support a local church by giving our finances and resources. You are helping to build up your local church when you monetarily give to support the church needs, church outreaches, and church missions. When people disobey God by withholding their money from their church, it could hold a church back from being effective.
When you serve and support, you are pursuing the health and growth of your local church and the kingdom of God. God will bless you for it!
Application: Do something this week to show your pastor or another church leader that you are grateful for the work they do.