The Bible in several places speaks of “one thing” that believers are to focus on. Jesus alludes to it in Luke 10:42, where he tells Martha that “one thing is necessary.” The apostle Paul in Philippians 3:13-14 is more explicit: “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” The Scriptures exhort believers to have singular focus, because being “betrothed to one husband” (2 Cor 11:2) entails “a sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (v. 3); more practically, singular focus enables effective discipleship.
Matthew 6:33, however, presents an apparent conundrum. It tells us to “seek first” not one thing, but two—“the kingdom of God” and “his righteousness.” Not only is this logically contradictory, as two objects cannot both be given highest priority, but it is also impractical, as human beings are generally unable to focus on two things at once. The problem is even more pronounced when one considers that people have historically acted in unrighteous ways in the pursuit of what they thought was the kingdom of God. One can think of the atrocities committed by the crusaders in their efforts to advance or retake the kingdom or church leaders who exploit their congregants to build their own ministries, which they equate to God’s kingdom. In such instances, “kingdom” and “righteousness” seem to be competing, even contradictory interests, with the former usually prevailing as people succumb to their more fleshly desires.
An elegant solution presents itself when we consider the nature of the kingdom of God. If we understand the kingdom not as a present reality that needs defending or promoting, but as an eschatological one arriving with the return of Jesus on the day of judgment, then kingdom and righteousness no longer conflict. The logical and practical difficulties are avoided and the verse is harmonized, as seeking first the kingdom and seeking first his righteousness are functionally equivalent. This is because righteousness is the means by which we enter the eschatological kingdom. In telling us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, Jesus in Matthew 6:33 is indeed instructing us to focus on “one thing,” which is to enter the kingdom by his righteousness. Thus, we are to devote ourselves wholeheartedly to the cross, the source of our righteousness, in hope of the glory of the coming kingdom.