Seek first = all things.

This is the text of a tattoo I have on my left arm of my simple paraphrase of Matthew 6:33.You can look up the original version. But for me these are the parts I needed:

• Seek - verb, aggressive, requires ownership 
• First - priority, ranking, first thing to leverage
• All - total, encompassing, bonus
• Things - variety, not necessarily essential but beneficial, multiple

I see it like a portal. Seek FIRST (narrow, doorway, priority) and on the other side ALL things (many, variety, unexpected) can and will follow.

I trust God and take Him at His word. I don't always feel it but that's why I got the tattoo. To remember who is unchanging even when my circumstances do change.

This verse is also my business strategy (and even speaks into my stock investment strategy). 

I seek to build the Church then I hope (and many times it's really only hope) God will bring the business. 

Many people build a business and hope to build the Church through that. I'm not opposed to that logic and can point to many generous people who have done this.

But for me I went to the next level and decided from the core my actual business strategy would be the build the church and let God build my business.

I'm more passionate about building people who build teams who build the Church. I'm not as passionate about building a business. I have working knowledge and skill in that area but it doesn't captivate me like building the Church. So I do what drives and let God do what drives him. 

What drives God? Rejoicing in and resourcing those who do His will and walk with (or earnestly seek after) Him. He's driven to build my business. 

The kicker: It's not always going to be built the way I want or expect. Some people may not write me a check but will provide a vacation home for a week. Some may not sign a contract but I've had men donate their airplanes to me to fly at will. 

God's economy operates in similar principles that you're familiar with but often through different expressions. You may want $1000 job and God may give you a $5000 gift.

As I write this I'm on a plane leaving a meeting. I pitched a really great deal and contract to some new clients. (BTW, I rarely pitch anything, I usually let my value speak for itself so this was weird in itself.) This client liked that idea but sidestepped my pitch and two minutes later gave me an unexpected check for literally 5X what I pitched them. 

Go build the Church (by being great at what you're put here to do, even you don't always know what that is) and let God bring yourALL the other things you don't even know to ask for.

That's a remedial lesson on God's economy.