August 4

28 comments

Every Promise Has a Premise

By Michael Q. Pink

August 4, 2022


“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Let’s be honest here. Have you ever found yourself in need of “things” and they didn’t seem to be showing up like you felt you needed? You believe Jesus was telling the truth about “all these things being added to you”, but yet they don’t seem to be in your possession?

Seeing as how it’s impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18), what else could be going on here?

May I suggest we look at the PREMISE before we claim the PROMISE?

What does it mean to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”? How do you personally go about seeking first His Kingdom and righteousness? What does that look like in practical terms? I dare say, most folks haven’t given that much thought.

Let me break it down for you using the MQP-AMP version (my personal amplification of Scripture for my own edification)

I recorded this short video that really opens up Matthew 6:33, but later found that about half way through the video, the image freezes, but the audio continues. After a few minutes, it syncs back up again. Nevertheless, I wanted to pass on the message to you, so here it is. (Below this video are the notes and an important announcement.)

THE PREMISE...

SEEK (with the intention of finding, by means of thinking, meditating, reasoning and enquiring, with an intensity born out of a developed craving that demands from you, a result)

FIRST (Make this act of seeking, your first priority with respect to your time, who or what you give honor to, even how you use your influence, including the deliberate and purposeful directing of your thoughts and desires.)

THE KINGDOM OF GOD (The king’s domain... the place of His rule, authority and dominion, principally and specifically in your life which He purchased with His blood, and your body which is His temple where His Spirit dwells.)

AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (His integrity, virtue, purity of life, and correct way of thinking, feeling and acting.)

THE PROMISE...

AND ALL (nothing missing, nothing lacking, complete in every way)

THESE THINGS (whatever you need for life, down to the last detail including what you eat and drink, even the very clothes you wear)

WILL BE ADDED TO YOU (joined to you, laid beside you, annexed for you, given to you and increased for you)

YOU: (Insert your name here )

I hope this blog post encouraged and even motivated you. (It certainly did that for me.) I would love to hear what you've got to say so please post a comment.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

I have just created the Jesus School of Business PUBLIC Facebook Group. I would love it if you would join the group (HERE) and invite all your friends. I've got some really big things to share and that's where I'm going to put it so folks can help spread the word and interact with me and each other.

Michael Q. Pink

About the author

Michael is America's leading authority on applying Biblical Wisdom and Natural Law to sales and business and has authored 19 books including The Bible Incorporated, Selling Among Wolves and God's Best Kept Secrets. Using that knowledge, he has helped thousands of professionals and entrepreneurs experience radical transformation in their lives and careers, including helping a start-up with 3 struggling sales reps turn the corner and become the 16th fastest growing company on the INC 500 list. 

  • I really like the way you are illuminating the premise that precedes the promise. God’s love is unconditional, in the sense that God IS love, it is intrinsic to his character and being. However, His promises, the specific benefits of relationship with Him, are conditional. The condition is basically our humility and submission to Him. He IS King of all, and Kingdom power, authority, and benefits are contingent upon our proper attitudes and actions as citizens and soldiers of the Kingdom.
    It is good to see surrender to God’s will being put at the forefront of teaching on blessings and promises being fulfilled!
    I am glad to say “AMEN” to this teaching.

    • Well stated Andrew! Thank you for adding to the conversation and for posting on this blog.

      Blessings, Michael

  • This is a tricky verse, especially when studied removed from the overall picture the Bible presents. Messiah Yeshua made it clear in the Gospels that the “Shema” in Deuteronomy 6:4-7 sets my first and foremost priority. Am I seeking first His Hand or am I seeking first His Face? Do I say with my mouth that I first seek the Promiser but in my heart of hearts what I’m pursuing are His Promises? I can fool myself but He sees my heart and only He can change it. “Agape,” and not self-interest, is the motivation He deserves. John 14:15 makest very clear: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Agape is not something I do. It is who I am becoming in Messiah Yeshua. I’ve learned the hard way that it all comes down to abiding in Him. It’s not about what I do but about what He is doing in and through me. I’m also beginning to realize a parallel between the relationships between faith and works and between abiding and promises. Works manifest because of faith. Promises manifest because of abiding or not. There is more than one side to His Promises. Not a formula. A relationship. Is there a more amazing or better promise in God’s Word than Him making His abode in me and walking with me? For me, that’s the cake. Everything else is just icing. Icing without the cake winds up in indigestion and eventually Diabetes. Thanks for sharing. Promises are part of God’s Word. They’re just not the best part of it, for me. I love you and your post. Shalom.

    • You are so right George! The best part is Jesus, making His abode in us. Everything else is just icing. I must admit that I do like icing, but using your analogy, the cake (the relationship with Jesus) is more than enough and requires no icing. Thanks for posting your comment! Hope to see you in the Facebook group as well.

  • Michael,

    Thank you for your Message. I’m currently going through a spiritual awakening and have come to believe that nothing is coincidence. With that said, this is a message I needed to hear, especially because I’ve been seeing the number 633 frequently. Reading this message and your detailed breakdown of it registers strongly with me. Your work definitely has great purpose.

  • Thank you for sharing this. I find myself right now in this place of learning to trust and abide. I am deeply in debt, just lost my babysitting job and I feel like God is leading me to let go. To not run out and get six jobs like I ‘think’ or ‘feel’ like doing but to actually learn to trust His provision and seek first His kingdom. I retired after 36 yrs. I have always worked hard. I like working hard. To not do that right now is actually freeing because it means I’m getting off the crazy train, I’m letting go and letting God. It all becomes pretty real when you actually do that.

    • You are on the right track. Keep pursuing Him and following His lead.

      Thank you for posting your comment!

      Blessings, Michael

  • This is so good Michael. I am pursuing God daily, altho difficult to get up early. But I know he’s working on me, renewing my mind. It’s been a battle but I’m already seeing a glimmer of hope, stemming from believing Him at His word. We draw near to God and He draws near to us. 😊

  • Michael,

    Thank you for sharing this. I am currently in a season of seeking God fervently as I am making a transition from being an employee to an entrepreneur. The last time I did this 9 years ago, I fell on my face. I do believe this time is different as I am a very different person by the work God has done in my life.

    Thank you for being a blessing to others. It’s been wonderful to learn from your wisdom!

    • Ron… Only Jesus made it through life without a mistake. We have all flubbed and most of us, more than once. You can learn from those mistakes and from others to minimize both the occurrence and the frequency. I’m glad to help you on the way.

  • This is so true, what God has for us is complete, nothing missing, lacking and complete in every way.

    The enemy plants fear in our hearts that we will miss out when we put God first, that’s a lie every believer should know.

    Everything in Maslow’s ladder of needs is covered by the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross and eternal life too.

    God’s kingdom first is the best way.

    Thank you for this encouraging word.

  • Good Morning Michael Q. Pink, what’s amazing is that you truly opened up this truth, in a more eye opening way. You’re so absolutely correct, when I make seeking God/Him and His Kingdom the 1st priority of my day, it simply flows. God adds to me throughout that day, in marvelous and magnificent ways. The wisdom, peace and direction of God is operating within the/that day. It’s like you know this, yet it’s operating in this truth consistently. Making the decision to not allow the distractions of this world get hold of me, at the beginning of my day – Seek 1st The Kingdom of God. Thank You, for greater clarity, understanding and insight of this verse. Amen, Amen, Amen!!!

  • I’ve felt for some time that I needed to give God the first time block of my day so I experimented with that. It’s revolutionary. I hadn’t thought about it as come into his presence and stay until he leaves. Bold, I’ll trying it. Thanks so much for this.

    • Hi Andy… It IS revolutionary! Thank you so much for posting a word of encouragement!

      Keep pressing in my brother!

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