Staff Service - 10 Jan 1956

This is one of the best known texts in the New Testament and probably one of the least understood. The misunderstanding consists in one of emphasis rather than in one of interpretation. There are two kinds of mistakes made. First it is often assumed that Jesus was unconcerned about man’s physical existence. His teaching is that of an idealist whose main concern is man’s moral and spiritual well being. There is the passage in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus is talking about what one shall eat and what one shall drink and wherewithal we shall be clothed, and then he tells his disciples not to let anxiety about such things master them. Clearly in that passage Jesus is giving emphasis to the utter folly of being over-anxious. Whenever we read that passage we stop there and note the emphasis. We go away with the impression that Jesus did not want to be in the least bit concerned about our material needs and the things of this life. Such a view has been responsible for an escapist Christianity, and it has merited the rebuke of writers such as Karl Marx who has condemned our religion in contemptuous terms. He calls religion the ‘opium of the masses’. All this condemnation comes as the result of the misinterpretation of the sayings of Jesus. The second mistake is in a way the opposite of the first. It is to imagine that God has made such provision that we need not be concerned at all. The result is an attitude of slackness and carelessness. Our Lord pointed to the birds as creatures which lead a carefree life and yet find their sustenance. But the birds have to work hard to get their food. God provides for birds no less than for man, but they have to work. It is important therefore to get the emphasis right. Jesus affirms that it is right to be concerned about this life, but our concern must be bound up with something else. It is part of a natural law which puts first things first. We are right, Jesus says, to think about our material well-being, the security of our families, and the welfare of our nation, but we shall never be sure of these things, if we do not put something else before them – seek righteousness first. Let us take one or two examples of how this principle works itself out. Think of the home. A young couple beginning their married life are rightly concerned with a multitude of necessary things. There is a house to be obtained and that is a big enough problem for any one these days. There are things necessary for the home; complicated decisions as to how far the money will go and what best to buy with it. Then the family begins to come and with it added responsibility. There is the welfare and education of the children. Perhaps we feel the need to have the use of certain things like the radio, the motor car and such modern amenities which are no more a luxury but appear to be a real need for our daily life. All these are legitimate and natural pursuits. But the possession of them does not make a home. They do not guarantee its security and its permanence. It is righteousness that exalts a family; faithfulness,

tolerance, trustworthiness and fair play – these are the primary things. When these are sought first happiness follows even if the luxuries are denied. But nothing can sustain the family if righteousness be ignored. Again consider our Lord’s saying from the point of view of business and professional life. What comes first - Success or integrity? Any businessman of vision knows the answer to that. Indeed he will tell you that success depends on integrity. Of course a man may ignore integrity and succeed, but his success will become his downfall. It carries the seed of destruction within itself.

If a business firm has a reputation for honesty and straight dealings, and if the men who work in it are known to be reliable and dependable, the firm may not make a fortune but the business will not fail.

What is true of business is true of every occupation. Do what is right. Prove yourself trustworthy as well as good workmen, let honesty and sincerity be the hallmark of your trade, and you will be assured of these other things which the less scrupulous men make their deliberate aim in life. I am not suggesting that you will not sometimes be misunderstood or even misjudged. Neither do I suggest that the businessman who puts integrity before success will always succeed, that is as the world counts success. But you will have claimed the kingdom, a good conscience, pride in well doing, and the knowledge that these indestructible things make everything secure. Righteousness first and the rest follows. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Let us consider for a moment what the violation of the principle would lead us to. What happens when we fail to give the first place to righteousness and seek after other things? Certain misguided people have been telling us that the secret of life for the future is to be found in the control of nature with the help of Science. So all we have to do is to become more scientific and to pin our faith to that. Now no one in his senses wants to be unscientific; that is an ostrich like attitude to life which simply makes nonsense of it. But where has this implicit faith in Science landed us? Twice within the lifetime of some of us we came to the brink of destruction. Even now our very existence on the earth is being threatened by those forces which Science has brought into being. The predicament in which we are in today is the result of our putting our faith in Science and ignoring and neglecting all else. That is what happens when our advancement in scientific knowledge out passes our moral growth and spiritual development. It is the judgment which comes from our refusal to seek righteousness first.

I think I have said enough to make clear what our Lord wanted his disciples to learn when he taught them: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. That is the message to us as we plan our work in the new year. Our Lord’s words challenge us as teachers as they do men and women in every occupation. What is the main objective before us and controlling motive in all our school organization, in all the decisions we make every day, and in all our dealings with parents and children. Is it the preservation of spiritual values and the imparting of truths, or is it getting the praise of people for what the world looks upon as success – good knowledge, sound finance and such things. Let us strive to prove ourselves trustworthy and efficient in our work. Let honesty and sincerity be the characteristics of our life and work. Then only we will have the satisfaction of being found faithful by God. We will even have material success.