IT HAS NEVER FAILED! SO, WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT 100% OF MOST THINGS I HAVE FRETTED, WORRIED ABOUT, OR WAS ANXIOUS AND TROUBLED OVER NEVER HAPPENED OR TURNED OUT THE WAY I HAD THOUGHT IT WOULD. I WASTED A LOT OF TIME ON NOTHING!
WHAT SADDENS AND SHAMES ME THE MOST, IS THAT WITH SUCH DEEP SEATED WORRY, I WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY GET ACID REFLUX AND HEARTBURN. SO, BY COMPOUNDING MY SITUATION MY WHOLE FOCUS BECAME ON FINDING THE ANT-ACIDS/TUMS.
I AM EMBARRASED TO ADMIT THAT MY FAITH AND TRUST WAS MORE IN THE ANT-ACIDS TO TAKE AWAY MY HEARTBURN THAN IT WAS TO “CAST ALL MY CARES” ON GOD AND SEEK THE ONE WHO COULD PROVIDE FOR MY SITUATION AND GIVE ME PEACE TO THE POINT OF NOT NEEDING THE ANT-ACIDS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
HOW MANY OF US FRET AND WORRY OVER THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR LIFE? I AM SURE THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT RELATE TO WORK, FAMILY, CHILDREN, SCHOOL, HOME REPAIRS AND OUR CAREER. THERE ARE MANY THINGS IN LIFE TO WORRY ABOUT.
FOR THE MOST PART, RIGHTLY SO! THERE ARE A LOT OF IMPORTANT THINGS FOR OUR LIVES, OUR FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND WORK THAT MUST BE DONE, ACCOMPLISHED OR PROVIDED. HAVING A PASSION AND CONCERN FOR THESE THINGS IS NOT THE PROBLEM.
I THINK WHAT JESUS IS TRYING TO TEACH IS THAT WORRY CAN BE JUST AS DESTRUCTIVE TO THE SPIRITUAL LIFE AS IT IS TO OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH. WE SHOULD NOT INCESSANTLY WORRY ABOUT THE BASIC NEEDS OF LIFE BECAUSE SUCH ANXIETY STEMS FROM LITTLE OR EVEN LACK OF FAITH.
JESUS IS TEACHING THAT WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS MORE THAN CAPABLE OF PROVIDING FOR ALL OF OUR NEEDS. IF WE WILL INVEST OURSELVES IN THE WORK OF GOD’S KINGDOM IN THE WORLD, WE CAN BECOME LESS ANXIOUS REGARDING THE FUTURE, IF WE WILL STAY FOCUSED ON GOD.
ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS I SEE IN THIS PASSAGE IS ALSO WHAT JESUS IS NOT SAYING ABOUT WORRY. HE IS NOT IMPLYING WE SHOULD HAVE A TOTAL LACK OF CONCERN FOR HARD WORK, “EARNING OUR KEEP” AND HAVING A CONCERN FOR DOING WHAT IT TAKES TO PROVIDE AND CARE FOR OUR RESPONSIBILITIES. IN NO WAY IS HE SAYING “KICK BACK AND LET GOD DO ALL THE WORK!”
JESUS WAS EMPHASIZING THAT WHAT WE FOCUS ON IN THIS LIFE ARE THOSE THINGS THAT WILL TRANSFER ON INTO ETERNITY. WE ARE TO KEEP AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE OF LOOKING HOW WE CAN IMPACT THE FUTURE AND ETERNITY WITH WHAT WE ARE GIVEN IN REGARDS TO OUR TIME, MATERIAL POSSESSIONS, AND EVEN OUR FINANCES.
THE WORD USED HERE FOR ANXIOUS IS A VERB THAT CAN MEAN, “TROUBLED WITH CARES” OR “SEEKING TO PROMOTE ONE’S INTERESTS.”THAT MEANS, ONE WHO IS AXIOUS ABOUT THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD HAVE BECOME SO FIXATED ON THEIR ISSUES IT BECOMES A HINDRANCE, A DISTRACTION AND HAVE HAD THEIR ATTENTION DRAWN AWAY FROM THE THINGS OF GOD.
WHEN WE BECOME OVERLY FOCUSED ON SUCH SIMPLE THINGS AS FOOD AND CLOTHING WE START TO BECOME IMMOBILIZED TO THE POINT WHERE OUR TRUST IS DIVERTED FROM GOD TO OUR OWN ABILITIES TO PROVIDE FOR OURSELVES.
WORRY PRESENTS US WITH THE DUAL TEMPTATION TO DISTRUST GOD AND TO SUBSTITUTE FEAR FOR PRACTICAL ACTION. WORRY MEANS PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT WE CANNOT CHANGE INSTEAD OF PUTTING OUR ENERGIES TO WORK IN EFFECTIVE WAYS.
JESUS MAKES IT CLEAR THAT WORRY TAKES AWAY FROM LIFE RATHER THAN ADDING ANYTHING TO IT. WE CAN COUNTERACT WORRY BY DOING WHAT WE CAN AND TRUSTING WHERE WE CAN’T.
WHEN WE LIVE FOR GOD AND WAIT ON HIS TIMING, WE WON’T HAVE TIME TO WORRY. WHEN WE SEEK FIRST TO HONOR GOD AS KING AND CONFORM OUR LIVES TO HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, WORRY WILL SOON BE CROWDED OUT AND HAVE NO PLACE IN OUR LIVES.
SO, THEN, WHAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE?: CHRISTIANS ARE PRESENTED WITH THE CHALLENGE OF PRIORITIES. WE MAY NOT WANT TO HEAR THAT OR BE READY TO ACCEPT IT, BUT WE MUST. OUR PRIORITIES MUST BE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE WHO ARE OF THIS WORLD!
UNBELIEVERS HAVE DIFFERENT PRIORITIES: COMFORT, LEISURE, PLEASURE, MONEY, FASHION….JUST TO NAME A FEW.
VERSE 33 IS PARAMOUNT: “BUT, SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNES AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO YOU.” THE KEY WORD HERE IS “SEEK”….YOU MUST GO AFTER IT!
THE FORM OF THE WORD “SEEK” IS PRESENT IMPERATIVE. THAT MEANS, FOR US, THAT “SEEKING” IS NOT ONLY A COMMAND, BUT IT IS A CONTINUING OBLIGATION. WE MUST BE ACTIVELY PURSUING AND ACCOMPLISHING THESE THINGS CONTINUALLY.
WE ARE OBLIGATED TO SEEK THE THINGS OF GOD AND ALL THAT HE CONSIDERS RIGHTEOUS AS OUR TOP PRIORITY IN LIFE. IT IS SEEKING TO ADAPT OUR LIFE TO LIVING AS GOD REQUIRES AND TO SERVE AND OBEY HIM IN EVERTHING. IS THAT HARD? ABSOLUTELY!
WHY IS IT HARD? BECAUSE IT COMES INTO DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THE WAYS OF THE WORLD THAT WOULD HAVE US SERVE, CARE FOR AND PLEASE OURSELVES FIRST AND FOREMOST.
AM I SAYING THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH WANTING THE BEST FOR MY FAMILY, HAVING NICE THINGS, OR POSSIBLY HAVING THE LATEST IN TECHNOLOGY OR FASHION? NO, NOT AT ALL.
WHEN THE PURSUIT OF THESE THINGS TURNS THEM INTO A COMPETITION OF PRIORITIES WHERE GOD ENDS UP BEING THE ONE WHO GETS “BUMPED” FROM OUR SCHEDULES OR REMOVEVS GOD OUT OF “FIRST PLACE” IN OUR LIVES, THEN WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
AT FIRST, I KNOW THIS MAY SEEM RATHER IMPOSSIBLE THAT ANYONE COULD GET TO THAT LEVEL. “HOW IN THE WORLD IS THAT EVEN OBTAINABLE” MAY BE ANOTHER QUESTION. I DON’T THINK IT WAS EVER MEANT TO BE AN “ALL AT ONCE” EXPERIENCE, BUT THROUGH OUR DAILY WALK WITH GOD EACH DAY AND MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE WHEN THE ISSUES PRESENT THEMSELVES.
I THINK THAT IS WHAT JESUS MEANT WHEN HE SAID IN VERSE 34, “NOT TO BE ANXIOUS ABOUT TOMORROW, FOR TOMORROW WILL BE ANXIOUS FOR ITSELF. SUFFICIENT FOR THE DAY IS ITS OWN TROUBLE.”
WHEN WE GET DISTRACTED BY TOMORROW (AND THE FUTURE), WE MISUSE THE STRENGTH GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR USING TODAY. BY MISUSING THIS STRENGTH, AND RELYING ON OURSELVES CAN IMMOBILIZE US…PARALYZE US INTO NOT ACTING UPON OUR RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRESENT DAY. WE CAN BECOME PRONE TO PROCRASTINATING OR AVOIDING THE ISSUES ONLY TO MAKE THEM WORSE OR MORE CHALLENGING THAN BEFORE.
SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD! STARTING ISN’T AS HARD TO START “SEEKING” AS YOU MIGHT THINK! THE EASIEST, IS TO SUPPORT YOUR CHURCH! REGARDLESS OF ITS FAULTS AND WHAT MAY BE LACKING, IT IS STILL YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY. LOVE IT, SUPPORT IT AND INVEST IN ITS MISSION WITH YOUR TIME, ENERGY, AND RESOURCES.
PERSONALLY, YOU CAN “SEEK” THE KINGDOM BY SHOWING LOVE TOWARDS OTHERS, BEING MERCIFUL, KIND, JOYFUL AND FORGIVING. JOIN A BIBLE STUDY GROUP AND GROW! START A BIBLE STUDY GROUP AND HELP OTHERS GROW. I THINK YOU GET IT!
LET US MOVE FORWARD LOOKING HOW WE CAN “PRIORITIZE OUR PRIORITIES” AND SEE WHERE THE THINGS OF GOD “RANK” IN WHAT WE ARE DOING AND STRIVING TO ACCOMPLISH.
IF LIFE HAS GOTTEN OVERWHELMING….STRESSFUL…FILLED WITH ANXIETY, TAKE TIME TO EVALUATE; STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE OF WHERE YOUR LIFE IS HEADING RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU ARE OVERWHELMED AND ANXIOUS, THEN MAYBE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU ARE DOING MAY HAVE TO BE RE-EVALUATED; SOME THINGS MAY HAVE TO BE DISCONTINUED; CHANGED; SOME MAY JUST NEED MORE FOCUS AND OTHERS LESS ATTENTION.
MOTIVE! AWARENESS OF OUR MOTIVES! WHAT ARE WE DOING….WHY ARE WE DOING IT….AND WHO ARE WE DOING IT FOR, SHOULD ALL BE MEASURED BY THE YARDSTICK OF ETERNITY AND HOW IT RELATES TO FURTHING THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
HAVE NO FEAR, FOCUS ON GOD; MAKE HIS WILL YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITY….THERE WILL BE NO NEED TO WORRY, BECAUSE AS PROMISED, IN PHILIPPIANS 4:19, “….GOD WILL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY IN CHRIST JESUS.” AMEN.
