Anxiety and Tomorrow

 

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 6:31-34 ESV).

 

Our reading today is particularly current. Before we dive right in, let me simply ask you if you feel tired today? Today happens to be one of those days when I feel a little more weary than other days. From what I've been told, we have a right to be tired. Consider this: according to what scientists say, in the last 24 hours our hearts have beaten 103,689 times. But there's more. Our blood has traveled 168 million miles. In the last 24 hours, we have breathed 23,040 times, inhaled 438 cubic feet of air, eaten three and a half pounds of food, spoken 4,800 words, moved 750 muscles, and exercised 7 million brain cells. No wonder we get tired.

Still, even though we've done all those things, we can't say that any of these things have accomplished all that much, other than keep us alive.

I hope these useless factoids have brought a bit of a smile to you. I do wonder how it would be to finish not just a day, but an entire life, without anything to show for the passing days, weeks, months, years, and decades. I think it would have to be mighty depressing. But, that’s why, God tells us, it's important for us to keep first things first. Our reading today helps us with these priorities. Keeping God first in our lives sts the tone for life. If we keep God first in our lives, all the other things we do will fall into place. If we keep our loving Lord first, we will have accomplished the greatest work He has given to us.

And, if we keep the Savior first, then so many of our pains and problems, our sorrows and sadness will be put into their proper place as well. Even when life seems to be closing in on us, the thought that God has thought so much of us that every detail has been examined and provision for our good has already been made. All of creation is the recipient of that kind of careful attention from the Creator of all things. As you continue in the Lenten season make it a point to ask God to grant you the power to keep him first. That one accomplishment will make everything else pale in comparison. Tomorrow won’t be nearly as daunting!