Scripture Verse

Do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:31–33

Introduction

Words: Geor­gi­ana M. Tay­lor (1847–1915).

Music: Pit­cairn (Cairns) George Cairns, in Vic­to­ri­ous Life Hymns, ed­it­ed by Charles M. Al­ex­an­der (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: Sun­day School Times, 1919), num­ber 144 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Cairns (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), or a bet­ter one of Tay­lor,

portrait
Georgiana M. Taylor (1847–1915)

Lyrics

Seek ye first, not earthly pleasure,
Fading joy and failing treasure,
But the love that knows no measure,
Seek ye first, seek ye first.

Seek ye first God’s peace and blessing;
Ye have all if this possessing:
Come, your need and sin confessing,
Seek Him first, seek Him first.

Seek this first—be pure and holy;
Like the Mas­ter, meek and lowly;
Yielded to His service wholly:
Seek this first, seek this first.

Seek the coming of His kingdom;
Seek the souls around, to win them,
Seek to Je­sus Christ to bring them;
Seek this first, seek this first.

Seek this first, His promise trying,
It is sure—all need supplying—
Heav’nly things—on Him relying—
Seek ye first, seek ye first.