The Kingdom of God is not just a place we go when we die. It’s a reality we can experience here on earth. When we have a Kingdom mindset, we see the world through God’s eyes and live in a way that honors Him. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus describes this perspective perfectly.
“Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you,” He said.
This is more than just a call to seek God. It is an invitation to partner with Him in every area of our lives, including our finances. But first, we need to understand what it means to have a Kingdom Mindset. So, this blog post covers:
- What is a Kingdom Mindset?
- What is the Kingdom of God According to the Bible?
- Why is a Kingdom Mindset Important?
- How to Develop a Kingdom Mindset
What is a Kingdom Mindset?
We talk about building wealth for the Kingdom, but what does that really mean? I did not critically ask myself this question until I was several decades into my faith journey. At that point, I had stopped pastoring and was well on my way into retirement.
I needed a fresh perspective, so I called up two pastors I knew and asked them question after question about the Kingdom. They came from completely different denominations than I did, which was perfect because I needed new insight. The pastors had great things to say, but one verse in particular jumped out at me in our conversations.
“But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you,” (Matthew 6:33, ESV).
All my life, I read that verse as “Seek God first” or “Seek Jesus first.” However, the Kingdom distinction makes all the difference. Of course, when we seek the Kingdom we are seeking God, but it is more specific than that– we are seeking His will on the earth. It is not about us as individuals—it is about the whole world.
A Kingdom mindset is a way of seeing the world through the eyes of God and living your life in accordance with His will. It is about putting God first and seeking His glory in all that you say and do.
[Related: You Are Not in Control]
What is the Kingdom of God According to the Bible?
Have you ever heard of the Kingdom of God and wondered what it really means? Simply put, the Kingdom of God is God’s reign over all of creation. The Kingdom of God breaks through when God’s grace and miracles invade our mundane situations.
For example,
- In 2 Kings 4:3-4,7 God multiplied a widow’s tiny bit of oil into abundance.
- In Luke 9:16-17, Jesus fed a crowd of over 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish
- In John 9:1-7, Jesus healed a man born blind by applying mud to his eyes, telling him to wash in the Pool of Siloam, and showcasing the Kingdom of God’s transformative power.
Wherever the gospel of the Kingdom is preached, the Kingdom of God is there. I came to faith at a time when the gospel of the Kingdom was neglected, but the gospel of salvation was all the rage. The gospel of salvation preaches that anyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God is saved, born again, and will go to heaven when they die. This is a crucial part of the story, but it is only half of the equation.
The gospel of the Kingdom is the other piece of the puzzle. It preaches the powerful things we can do with our faith while we are alive. Jesus teaches us this point when He tells His disciples to pray:
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,”
(Matthew 6:10)
The Kingdom of Heaven on earth looks different for everyone. So, I can’t tell you exactly what this means for you—you have to seek it out for yourself. But, I want to share why it should be an important part of your faith journey.
Why is a Kingdom Mindset Important?
A Kingdom mindset helps us make a difference in the world. When we have a kingdom mindset, we are motivated by love for God and for others. We are also empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a life that is pleasing to God. So many churches are stuck within their four walls because they do not A grasp the gospel of the Kingdom. In other words, they don’t engage with culture to make an impact.
Someone with a Kingdom mindset cares about the poor, needy, and brokenhearted. They devote their lives to the service of others. They are not viewed as self-righteous or hypocritical because they are too busy loving others. Someone with a Kingdom mindset will also recklessly abandon anything for the sake of the gospel. They realize that nothing is more important than following the voice of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 13:44). For many of us, this may seem like a tall order. However, there is a blueprint that can help.
The Gospel of Salvation + The Gospel of the Kingdom
I came to faith at a time when the gospel of salvation was all the rage. The gospel of salvation preaches that anyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God is saved, born again, and will go to heaven when they die. It is absolutely necessary. However, without the gospel of the Kingdom, the gospel of salvation is limited. The gospel of the Kingdom preaches on the powerful things we can do with our faith while we’re living in human form.
A failure to grasp the gospel of the Kingdom is why so many churches today are stuck within their four walls. They don’t actually engage with culture to make an impact. Someone with a Kingdom mindset cares about the poor, needy, and brokenhearted. They devote their lives to the service of others. They aren’t viewed as self-righteous or hypocritical because they’re too busy loving others. Someone with a Kingdom mindset will also recklessly abandon anything for the sake of the gospel. They realize that following the voice of the Holy Spirit is the most important thing (Matthew 13:44).
When it comes to the Gospel of Salvation and the Gospel of the Kingdom, it’s not an either or—it’s a both and. Jesus illustrates this when He encourages his disciples to pray
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” (Matthew 6:10).
We need a paradigm shift. As the Body of Christ, the mission of our lives must be to enact this kingdom culture in the earth. Bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to earth looks different for everyone. It is an expression of one’s relationship to God and their desire to enact His will. So, I can’t tell you exactly what this means for you—you have to seek it out for yourself. However, there is a blueprint that can help.
[Related: How to Integrate Your Faith, Work, and Finances]
The 7 Mountains
The 7 Mountains are a framework for thinking about God’s Kingdom on earth. They represent the primary spheres of culture: religion, business, government, family, education, media, and the arts. As Christians, we are called to bring the Kingdom of God to earth. This means reforming every area of culture with Kingdom principles.
The family, education system, media, and arts mountains have a great influence over culture. The messages coming out of these areas dictate what people value, think, and believe.
The government and business mountains are the control centers. They create the laws and regulate the flow of money. In order for the Kingdom of God to exist on earth as it does in heaven, the Church needs to be above the rest of the mountains. This doesn’t mean that we should implement a theocracy, but that Christian influence should permeate every sphere.
Here are a few tips to help you maximize your influence:
- Adopt a Kingdom mindset. Realize that you are on mission with God every single day!
- Find scripture about the Kingdom of God (Matthew 13 is a great chapter) and meditate on the meaning.
- Begin to pray about how you can implement Kingdom principles in your workplace.
- Know what ‘mountain’ you are most equipped to serve in right now. For me, that area is Business. At different times, my focus has been on the Church and Family mountain. Those are still very important to me, however, now that I’m not pastoring and my children are grown, I direct more attention to transforming the Business mountain. Everything is connected, so the work I do in the Business mountain inevitably affects other areas as well!
- Realize that you were born for such a time as this (Esther 4:14.) You have something unique to bring to the table that our culture desperately needs.
I hope this blog has encouraged you. What does having a Kingdom mindset mean to you? Let me know in the comments!
Note: This blog was originally published on Jul 12, 2021, and has been revamped to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness.
If you want to learn how to apply your Kingdom mindset to your financial life, take some time to explore our free Money Mastery Devotional.