Now if you said the former then I would challenge you to simply put the Lord first.
"But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." ~ Matthew 6:33
The young shepherd boy, David, took the time to set his priorities in the proper order and guess what happened? Addition happened instead of subtraction.
Our God has a way of adding blessings unto people that no one else among people or angels or whatever can add! He can give, He can take away, but He just loves to add!
There were times in David's life later on where he didn't do that, and he soon fell into sin ..and then sin subtracted. I can't imagine what it would have felt like to lose a son.
Perhaps you've seen people sin and sin and it only seems like they have addition. Maybe a lot of that is them adding to themselves at another's expense. Whatever, you can be sure that their sins will catch up to them.
Here are some of the things, among others, that God added unto David.. the head of a ruthless giant, a kingdom, a wife (later he took on others), Jerusalem, victory after victory and eternal life!
Check out in the Bible where God explains how David claimed his home, "And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief. And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David" (1 Chron. 11:6).
Yes, David simply sought to know the Lord in righteousness and he put God's kingdom ahead of all other priorities he was concerned about, and all of those things and others were added to him.
King David was one of a kind like you are, but let me ask you this: Does God play favorites?
No way!
Wouldn't the Lord add some good things unto you too if you did the same as David did? Sure He would. God keeps all His promises.
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." ~ James 1:17
Christ's free gift of salvation for those claiming it is complete! And no work of ours can compete or add to this special work of the Son, no, it's all for the glory of God's Son!" ~kVs
"And he [Uzziah] sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper." ~ 2 Chronicles 26:5
When we put God and His eternal Kingdom first, our lives will take on the proper balance as well and we can express our gratitude. When Jesus Christ preached, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you," what were the things that the Lord was speaking of?
Well, when we check out the context of that verse, "these things" would include the clothes that you'll need to wear, the liquids that you'll need to drink in order to stay properly hydrated, and the food for nutrition to dine upon that your body will need for strength to serve and enjoy life.
God wants to add unto you a place to work that won't harm anyone, a place for you to live, and if you are so called.. a growing Christian person for you to care for, marry and cherish ..'til death do you part. He also to add souls into His Kingdom through your sterling witness for Him. As you live the life and share the Gospel with the people you meet, God will use you to lead them into forgiveness from this wonderful relationship with Christ.
Who or what do you put first? Who or what do you seek? How is that workin' out for you (not that anything other than Christ seemingly to be working out is what should verify anything when eternity is at stake)? Please don't hesitate to turn and put Christ first if you haven't already done that. Way important!
When considering Heaven, Hell, and all of our sins committed, who needs to push mentioning the benefits? But the basic issues of life and then some ..will be taken care of by the Lord when you put Him first.
