Teachings from the Mountainside - Pt. 13

 [Jesus said] “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:25-34 ESV).

 

We have two nesting boxes for Eastern Bluebirds in the back of the property. We began to see them nearly as soon as I built them and hung them. They seem to arrive early in the spring nesting and raising their brood until the weather turns hot. Just as quickly as they arrive they seem to disappear. And, then about this time of the year, they reappear for the fall and early winter. I guess they like the abundance of food and water easily found on our property. They are a marvel to me. They are never very still, flitting from one spot to another. The vibrant blue, especially of the male, is unmistakable. They seem to be perfectly content. They epitomize the teachings of Jesus in our reading today.

 

I know something of the worry of the responsibilities of life. Some of us worry about paying the monthly rent or mortgage. Some of us worry about the choices our children are making. Others of us are anxious about big decisions we must make about our future. And, while we will never know a life without concerns, Jesus assures us we can know a life without worry. He points out that worry is not helpful because it changes nothing. Worry doesn’t add a single hour to life; it doesn’t solve a single problem. And worry isn’t helpful because life is more than our worries make it out to be!

 

We are called to live for so much more than the fleeting things we worry about.

Jesus reminds us that worry isn’t necessary for a child of God. Your heavenly Father knows precisely what you need, when you need it. The same God who paints the flowers of the field and tends the birds of the air holds every part of your life in his hands. The same God who loved you so much that he went through the hell of Calvary for you, loves you too much to leave your life to chance. Don’t worry! God’s got this!