“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6: 31-34, NKJV
Dear Father, please help us to realize that worrying is not a solution. Help us to seek the things pertaining to Your kingdom, and leave the rest to You. Amen
“Do not worry.” That is easier said than done. When there are bills to be paid, food to be put on the table, medicines to be bought, repairs to be done on the house, gas to be put in the car, school fees to be paid, and there is no money to do these things, the last thing you want to hear, is someone telling you not to worry. Unless, of course, they can offer you a solution. But that is in essence what our promise for today is all about, not worrying in the face of necessity.
One thing we must make very clear, is the fact that not worrying, is not the same as not caring. As responsible Christians, we do care about paying our bills, and taking care of ourselves and our families. But worrying has never paid a bill nor put food on our table! To the contrary, the stress it generates tends to create more bills, and deplete our funds. As we search for a solution to worry, one very interesting note for consideration is the question Jesus poses: “Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes” (Matthew 6: 25)? In the final analysis, it really is a matter of priority, is it not? How many people have food, and to spare, but they cannot really enjoy it. How many have a closet full of beautiful clothing, but their bodies have become so emaciated by illness that they cannot even appreciate their clothing. So true are the words of the author who wrote, “I complained that I had no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet.” Perhaps many of the things we worry about, would fade into insignificance if we placed them alongside things of greater importance.
Jesus again asks a question that is worthy of our consideration: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his [her] life (6: 27, NIV)? What’s the point in worrying, if worrying does not make any situation better?
Jesus is getting closer to the real reason for our worrying, “…O you of little faith (30)[!]” That is really why we worry. Our lack of faith does not permit us to see beyond the problem to the Problem Solver. Listen to what He says: “For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (32, NRSV). We are not orphans! These are the things that a non-believer could worry about, but not the sons and daughters of God! God knows when the bottom of our shoe is worn out, even if others cannot see it. He knows when our tuition is due, even if they have not already sent us the bill. He knows that our roof needs to be repaired before the next rains begin to fall. He knows, and He cares!
But perhaps the greatest reason for not worrying should be the knowledge that we are important to our heavenly Father. “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” (verse 26)? It was for you that I shed my blood, it is for you that I am coming back. So do not worry. Do not worry about today, because I am in it with you. Do not worry about tomorrow because I will be there when you get there. Do not worry because I love you!
When we are busy seeking the things of the kingdom; when our eyes are on the things above, not the things of the earth, God will take care of all our needs!