Prioritizing the Kingdom in Everyday Decisions and Actions
The Concept of the Kingdom in Biblical Context
The concept of the kingdom is central to biblical teachings, encompassing both a present spiritual reality and a future eschatological hope. In the biblical narrative, the kingdom is often associated with God's sovereign rule over all creation [3]. The Hebrew Bible introduces the idea of a kingdom through the establishment of the Israelite monarchy, with figures like Saul and David exemplifying the role of a king under God's authority [1, 2].
Kingdom as a Spiritual Reality
In the New Testament, Jesus' teachings emphasize the kingdom of God as a spiritual reality that is both present and future. Jesus instructs his followers to "seek the Kingdom of God" (Luke 12:31), which involves adopting God's value system, pursuing His purpose, and submitting to His authority [5]. This kingdom is characterized by justice and righteousness, as highlighted in Isaiah's prophecy regarding the Messiah's rule [6].
Prioritizing the Kingdom
Prioritizing the kingdom in everyday decisions and actions involves aligning one's life with God's sovereign rule. This means valuing what God values, particularly the poor and marginalized, as reflected in James' exhortation that God has chosen the poor to inherit the kingdom [4]. It also involves recognizing the interconnectedness of earthly and spiritual affairs, as the kingdom encompasses both the providential rule of God over nations and the gracious rule of God in the hearts of believers [7].
Ecclesiastical and Eschatological Dimensions
The kingdom has both ecclesiastical and eschatological dimensions. Believers are considered part of a "kingdom of priests" (Revelation 1:6), indicating their royal status and priestly role in the world [8]. The ultimate fulfillment of the kingdom is tied to the return of Christ and the establishment of a new heaven and a new earth.
Implications for Everyday Life
Prioritizing the kingdom in everyday life means living out one's faith in a way that reflects God's justice, mercy, and love. It involves recognizing that earthly governments and personal decisions are subject to God's providential rule. As such, believers are called to be faithful stewards of God's kingdom in their spheres of influence, whether in personal, familial, or societal contexts [7, 9].
The biblical concept of the kingdom thus serves as a comprehensive framework for understanding God's purposes and living a life that honors Him. By seeking the kingdom and its righteousness, believers participate in the present reality of God's rule while looking forward to its future consummation.
Sources
- 1 Samuel “that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.” -- 1 Samuel 8:20”
- I Samuel “I Samuel 8:20 (KJV) — That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: King — "a chief ruler, one invested with supreme authority over a nation, tribe or country."--Webster. In the Bible the word does not necessarily imply great power or great extent of country. Many persons are called kings whom we should rather call chiefs or leaders. The word is applied in the Bible to God as the sovereign and ruler of the universe, and to Christ the Son of God as the head and governor of the Church. The Hebrews were ruled by a king during a period of about 500 years previous to the destruction of Jerusalem, B.C. 586. The immediate occasion of the sub”
- James (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on James 2:5: 2:5 Listen to me: Employing this rhetorical device for emphasis (see Deut 6:3; Amos 3:1; Matt 13:18; Acts 15:13), James presents his argument against favoring the rich. • Hasn’t God chosen the poor? God’s special concern for the poor is reflected in the Old Testament (Exod 23:11; 1 Sam 2:8; Ps 12:5) and in the ministries of Jesus and Paul (Luke 4:18; 6:20; 1 Cor 1:26-28). This concern was emphasized by the Jerusalem church (Gal 2:9-10), of which James was the leader. • inherit the Kingdom: The Kingdom of God was central to the teaching of Jesus (Matt 12:8; Mark 1:15”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 12:31: 12:31 Seek the Kingdom of God: Adopt God’s value system, pursue his purpose in the world, and submit to his authority.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 1, section 15.24: his kingdom with judgment and with righteousness. These are the means by which earthly governments prosper and take deep roots; but those which are only administered by fear and violence cannot be lasting. Since, therefore, justice is the best guardian of kingdoms and governments, and since the happiness of the whole of the people depends on it, by this clause Isaiah shows that the kingdom of Christ will be the model of the best kind of government. Judgment and righteousness do not here relate to outward affairs of state. We must observe the”
- Zechariah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Zechariah 6 (introduction): The two kingdoms of providence and grace are what we are all very nearly interested in, and therefore are concerned to acquaint ourselves with, all our temporal affairs being in a necessary subjection to divine Providence, and all our spiritual and eternal concerns in a necessary dependence upon divine grace; and these two are represented to us in this chapter - the former by a vision, the latter by a type. Here is, I. God, as King of nations, ruling the world by the ministry of angels, in the vision of the four chariots (Zac 6:1-8). II. God, as Kin”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 1:6: And hath--rather as Greek, "And (He) hath." made us kings--The oldest manuscripts read, "a kingdom." One oldest manuscript reads the dative, "for us." Another reads "us," accusative: so Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, and ANDREAS. This seems preferable, "He made us (to be) a kingdom." So Exo 19:6, "a kingdom of priests"; Pe1 2:9, "a royal priesthood." The saints shall constitute peculiarly a kingdom of God, and shall themselves be kings (Rev 5:10). They shall share His King-Priest throne in the millennial kingdom. The emphasis thus falls more on the king”
- Nehemiah (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Nehemiah 9:32: On our kings, on our princes - I believe Nehemiah in this place mentions the whole of civil society in its officers as they stand related to each other in dignity: - 1. Kings, as supreme. 2. Princes. 3. Priests. 4. Prophets. 5. The Fathers, heads or chiefs of tribes and families. 6. The Common People. Those who disturb this natural order (for it subsists even in Britain) are enemies to the peace of the whole, whatever they may pretend to the contrary.”