Matthew 6:25-34
In these verses, Jesus asks us two very sound, very relevant, very important questions. The first is, “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”
For those of you now pondering that question, let me give you a fast answer. NO. And yet, think about how often, how easily and for how long we succumb to worry. It’s a daily, if not hourly battle. We worry over bills; we worry over demands at work. We worry about relationships. We worry about how much we worry!
In verse 25 here in chapter 6 of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus says, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear.” It’s a closing thought to His declaration that we can’t serve two masters – God and money. Or God and whatever else you’re bowing down to. Here, Jesus doesn’t suggest that we not worry, He doesn’t recommend that we not worry, He tells us not to do it. Now, some people take this to mean that worry is a sin that separates us from Jesus, but Jesus doesn’t take the conversation that way. Rather, He gives us reasons why worry runs contradictory to faith in Him. And how that should be enough not to give into it.
He points to birds. Birds don’t store up food. They don’t farm. They don’t go shopping when the cupboards bare. They’re wholly dependent on the promise that when they’re hungry, there will be worms and bugs in abundance. God supplies the need for this simplest of creatures. Why? Because God loves His creation! But Jesus’ bigger point is that if God is that faithful to birds, how much more will He be faithful to those He created in His own image? Who He refers to as His children?
It’s very easy, when we face our various trials to curl up into a fetal position and wish it would all go away but…as Christians, we have a better option. We can pray to our Savior and ask Him to light a path for us to find peace. And if you believe and if you’ve placed yourself in fellowship with other believers, God will be faithful to supply your need. Now that doesn’t mean He’ll see to it that you buy the winning Powerball ticket. It simply means that, just as He doesn’t let the birds of the air starve to death, He will see to it that you are fed as well.
When worry is replaced by faithfulness, need is replaced by thanksgiving!
Second question Jesus poses is this, “Why do you have so little faith?”
Why is turning to Jesus so far down the list when we’re up to our eyeballs in desperation? There are several reasons. First, prayers are answered in God’s time, not our own and in the microwave age we live in, that’s just not acceptable. But, if we learn to wait on God, what comes from that is invariably better than whatever we’re trying to craft as a solution on our own.
Second, because we’re often trying to serve another master along with God, that other master wins out because it tends to provide a fast, earthly and, often, very temporary solution. Self-medicating for example may bring some relief from worry in the moment but when the effects wear off, the trial is still there and in fact has only increased in size. Third, worry imposes on us the paralysis of analysis. Satan convinces us that there is no way out from under the pressures of our situation and so we do nothing.
It’s like sitting in a house that’s on fire with a fire extinguisher in your lap and never bothering to use it.
If we believe in Jesus’ desire to save us from worry, then all we need in those times of worry is to pray to Him for wisdom and turn to other like-minded believers for help. Jesus will make a way. And although it may not place you in the penthouse suite, Jesus will see to it that you do not go hungry, naked and without shelter. And He will be glorified, and you will be blessed. And that’s what this relationship with Him should be all about.
Jesus closes with this, and these are for sure words to live by…
“So, don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
And as we face today’s troubles, may we never forget we never face them alone so long as we know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!