Further Instruction from the Mount - Pt 2

 

[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).

 

Tomorrow’s troubles are often the chief source of anxiety. In this part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has just gone over the trouble with valuing this world over the Kingdom world. He is emphasizing it with the emphasis that His followers should resist the pull of worry by remembering the Father’s faithful care and by giving priority to His kingdom. Life simply is more than possessions. You’d think we would understand that but we often find that simple things are the hardest things to master.

 

Jesus reminds us that life is greater than food, drink, clothing, or any other possession. If God feeds the birds and clothes the fields with beauty, He will certainly care for His people. Then He asks a very pointed question: “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Worry consumes energy without producing peace, provision, or control. It magnifies tomorrow’s trouble while weakening today’s faith.

 

Again, the antidote is to seek first the Kingdom of God. Instead of fretting over daily needs, believers are called to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” This does not deny real needs; it places them under the care of the Father who already knows them.

 

Let me suggest one simple thing that might be helpful if you are a “fretter.” Trust God with your anxieties. Don’t ignore or deny them. God already knows what you’re feeling and He’s ready to help. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Write down the things that concern you, whatever they are. Talk to God about those things. Lay your requests and concerns before Him. Then, thank God for His faithfulness and provision in the past; and, trust God to continue to take care of your worries about tomorrow.

 

Choose today to let the peace of God guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.