All these things shall be added unto you

“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? … for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” ~ Matthew 6:31–33.

Introduction

We live in a world of constant calculations. Every day, we add up our bills, subtract our expenses, divide our time, measure our resources, and sometimes end up feeling completely spent. We worry about how to make ends meet, protect our families, meet our responsibilities, secure our future, and find peace in an uncertain world. 

These pressures can become so intense that, if unchecked, anxiety begins to dictate our decisions, while fear speaks louder than faith.

Happily, in Matthew 6, Jesus Christ introduces a divine order that changes the way we approach life. Without denying our needs, He tells us that our heavenly Father already knows them. Then He gives us one of the most powerful principles of kingdom living: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness ...”

This is not an endorsement of irresponsibility, passivity, laziness, or careless living. Scripture commends diligence, wisdom, planning, faithful stewardship, and honest labour (Proverbs 10:4; Colossians 3:23). Rather, Jesus teaches us not to make anxiety our master or material provision our highest pursuit.

The Kingdom-first life moves us from anxious striving to trusting obedience, and from chasing “things” to pursuing the God who knows our needs. It is a clarion call to trust Heaven rather than our anxious calculations.

1. Avoiding The Trap of Chasing Things

Jesus understood the pressures of ordinary life. He mentioned food, drink, and clothing, which are the basic necessities of human existence. He knew that people would worry about survival.

Today, the list may include rent, school fees, medical expenses, employment, business conditions, family responsibilities, infrastructural deficiencies, social maladies, insecurity, and the uncertainties of tomorrow. Yet, Jesus says, in effect: Do not allow these things rule your heart.

While food, clothing, shelter, health, and financial provision are important, the problem begins when they become the controlling centre of life. Concern is natural; consuming anxiety is destructive.

Jesus then gives us one of the most comforting truths in Scripture: “Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things”. We shouldn’t approach life as spiritual orphans. We have a Father.

Our Father-God sees the need before we articulate it. He knows the pressure before we explain it. He understands the burden before anyone else notices it. This is why Peter writes, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7). 

Our lives must never be governed by panic, fear, or the restless pursuit of material things. We must surrender our anxieties, and release our fears to Him.

2. Understanding God’s Addition

Jesus said: “And all these things shall be added unto you”. This is a glorious promise of God’s fatherly care. Nevertheless, we must understand that His addition is very broad, and may come in different forms.

Sometimes His addition is financial provision. Sometimes it is wisdom or strength. Some other times, it may take the form of peace of mind in the midst of uncertainties, or favour, opportunity, relationships, direction and grace for an assignment in a demanding season. 

God can change our circumstances, but at times He changes us within them. Sometimes He opens an effectual door; at other times, He gives us courage to walk through a difficult one (1 Corinthians 16:9). Indeed, God remains our unfailing Supplier in every time of need (Philippians 4:19).

Our Heavenly Father is faithful to sustain His children and provide all that is necessary for His purposes (Psalm 23:1). This is the confidence of Kingdom living: under the Shepherd’s care, we will never be abandoned.

3. Kingdom Priority Before Provision

Kingdom addition is not a promise without a priority. This is the divine order: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God ….”. Before addition comes alignment, and before increase comes surrender.

To seek the Kingdom first means placing God’s rule, values, righteousness, and purposes above competing interests. It means making His will the governing consideration in our choices.

Genuine “kingdom-lifers” will choose integrity over dishonest gain, forgiveness over revenge, obedience over convenience, prayer over panic, righteousness over compromise, and God’s approval over human applause.

Jesus demonstrated this posture when He said, “I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30). When the King takes first place, everything else finds its proper place.

One of the greatest dangers in Christian living is becoming more interested in God’s gift than in God Himself. The King must remain greater than the gifts, and the Provider more precious than the provisions (Matthew 6:33).

The greatest blessing is not merely what God puts into our hands, but the privilege of belonging to Him. Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

The order matters: delight first, desires afterwards. Seek the Giver before the gifts. When God Himself becomes our treasure, our hearts become freer from anxiety, greed, comparison, and endless striving.

4. Trusting the Father While Doing Your Part

Faith is not inactivity. The same Bible that teaches us to trust God also declares, “If any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). The believer must therefore labour, plan, learn, save, build, give, and manage responsibly—not sit idly expecting provision to fall from heaven (Proverbs 14:23).

However, while we sow, labour, learn, plan, save, give, and act responsibly—our confidence must remain in God (Proverbs 3:5–6). We must work without worshipping work, plan without trusting merely in plans, earn without making money our master, and prepare without allowing fear to rule us.

This is the place of spiritual balance: responsibility in our hands, but confidence in God.

5. Faith Makes Room for God’s Performance

Faith remains indispensable to divine performance (Hebrews 11:6). Elizabeth testified to this when she said: “Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord” (Luke 1:45).

Biblical faith is not an attempt to force God into our timetable. It is not mere positive thinking dressed in religious language. It is confidence that God is trustworthy, His Word is true, and His purposes will stand.

Faith therefore enables us to obey when the outcome is unclear, to remain peaceful when circumstances are uncertain, and to keep walking when the provision has not yet appeared.

Faith says: My Father is faithful; He is able, He cares and He will fulfill what He has spoken. Faith receives what God has spoken and rests upon His character.

Conclusion

Beloved, stop allowing the pursuit of “things” to dominate your heart. Work diligently. Plan wisely. Manage faithfully. Pray consistently. But above everything else, seek God first, put His Kingdom first, and walk in His righteousness.

As a child of God, seek His righteousness when compromise looks easier. Seek His will when your own way seems attractive. Trust the Father for the additions; He knows what you need. Trust His Fatherly care, and refuse to live under the tyranny of fear.

According to His promise, may the Lord add to your life whatever is necessary for His purpose—wisdom for every decision, strength for every assignment, peace for every storm, provision for every legitimate need, favour for every divine opportunity, and grace to abound in every good work, in Jesus’ mighty Name. You won’t miss it, Amen. Happy Sunday!