Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)
[25] “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? [26] Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? [27] Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life*?[28] “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. [29] Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. [30] If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? [31] So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ [32] For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. [33] But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. [34] Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
We talk about not worrying. We say we can give it up, but when face to face, not so easy. I think of you even Dave, two Sundays ago in church how concerned that "you could lose all you hold earthly dear."
ReplyDeleteI think over the years this is one most find so hard.
i think you are right on ths one Dan. The toughest thing is to believe that we are that valuable to our Heavenly Father and that He will take care of us.
DeleteYep, I think of the song Amazing Grace, "that God would save a wretch like me."
DeleteI think sometimes we either feel not worthy, like the proical son or we try to do it all ourselves, or the prodical's older brother and deserve it. Either one keep us from truly see the full kingdom.
Totally love this scripture from Matthew. From a very young age I have had an amazing faith in God. My earthly father taught me the basics and I believed every word he told me. If he told me that God threw dirt in the air to make stars, I believed it. My faith has remained intact over the years but ... it took me a long time to grasp the fact that God is in control and cares about every single detail of my life, even a sore toe. So, when it comes to fretting and stewing and worry and anxiety it's been a bigger challenge. Exchanging youth for a little wisdom has led me to know that God cares, He's there and guess what, He doesn't sleep at night so I try very hard to turn things over to Him and sleep - not be anxious. I quote scriptures on worry, anxiety to myself when I begin to go there but still there are times that it's tough. Family stuff has great dynamics for worry and anxiety but came to realize they all have the same God as I do and I'm not it!! Thanks, work in progress, Sylvia
ReplyDeleteVerse 33 has always been meaningful since becoming a believer some 30 years ago. We don't seek first the kingdom enough since most of food, water, clothing is right on hand. Some in African nations do not have these and have to rely on God's provision each day- not much better than the birds and animals yet God provides when they seek Him first.\
ReplyDeleteGerry A
Seeking the kingdom first is a challenge. The temptation is to seek this world's stuff and add the kingdom in where we can. Jesus probably knew that when we put the kingdom first, everything else fits properly in our lives but when we don't, nothing fits right. But I have to confess that even when I am seeking the kingdom first, it is still tempting to worry about stuff that He has promised to provide. I am praying for an increased faith that doesn't shake when appearances seem to indicate that He is not providing. His timing, it seems to me, is designed to test our faith. And the promise of Scripture is that this testing helps us to grow up into maturity. I do want to be mature.
ReplyDeleteI've wrestled with this portion of scripture. It can be easy to think that if we just have enough faith that we will have all that we physically need, clothing more beautiful than the lilies of the field! But then there are the verses talking about suffering, counting the cost, carrying our cross. In 2 Cor. 11:23-27 Paul talks about his struggles and lists them off including shipwrecks, beatings, going hungry, naked, etc. Like Dad says, you have to marry scripture with scripture. It never made sense to me how we could be more beautifully clothed than the lilies if Solomon in all his splendor wasn't clothed as beautifully. Could it be that Jesus is not merely talking about physical clothing?
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 61:10: I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
todays's reading reminds me of my brothers and sisters in Christ in Guatemala. They have very little but always ready to give God praise and thanks, especially when we go there bearing gifts and they praise God first. They did not outwardly thank us but thanked God that we came to Guatemala. I find it hard to pray for my needs when I am able to meet my physical needs through my income. My prayer is that I be content with what I have.
ReplyDeleteLarry
I am really enjoying reading the comments.
ReplyDeleteI noticed His Kingdom and His righteousness - His neat. Phil 3:9 Paul's prayer.
I have always been struck by seeking the Kingdom in these verses. It is His Kingdom and His righteousness, think I'll chew on this for a while.
Dave Fox
Dave Fox,
ReplyDeleteI think it may help to think about the opposite of His Kingdom and His Righteousness as being our kingdoms and our own righteousness. Kinda makes his look way better.
I struggle with this passage. Maybe I am echoing Dan's sentiment here, but it can be difficult to seek after His Kingdom when things like finances. food, and your family's well being takes a center stage view. The odd comfort in this passage is even when I struggle, He's still promises to me my need. With that mindset I seek His kingdom, maybe not a deeply as I should, but assured that He loves me more than birds and flowers!
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