Matthew recorded in his gospel exactly what our Lord said should be our focus:

“But seek first His (God’s) kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you”,  6:33.

May I step out of my norm and offer a personal testimony?

All of my growing-up years my mom went to church and took me with her.She never willingly missed a Sunday morning worship assembly.  But then she never willingly missed a Sunday morning Bible class either. My mother never missed a Sunday night unless she was sick, and you know, I don't ever remember her being sick on a Sunday night. Can you guess where we were on Wednesday evenings?

Mom wasn't a legalist.  What she was, was a Christian.  Julia W. Kessler was a Jesus loving, Bible studying, righteous-living, smile-giving, non-complaining faithful-to-the Lord and-His-church disciple with a servant's heart.

My testimony to you is that had she made it a practice to claim Sunday nights, or Wednesday nights or even Sunday morning Bible study time for herself instead of her Lord, I seriously doubt that I would be a Christian today.

That, you see, would have been my opportunity to see that she wasn't really committed to God at all.  Oh, I might have eventually “gotten baptized” and when finally on my own, frequented church meetings when it was convenient for me, when I needed to soothe my conscience, or was in some trouble and felt like I needed to get the Lord on my side. It would have been so easy for me to learn that God was handy to have around, kind of like having a lawyer on a retainer as some folks do these days.

Instead, my mom showed me what it meant to love the Lord and put His kingdom first. She showed me what it meant to seek above all else what is right in God's eyes.

Thanks Mom.  You have given me something beyond value