ANXIETY.
Matthew 6:25-34.
MATTHEW 6:25. “Take no thought” is an unfortunate translation. When Jesus says (literally) “be not careful,” He obviously is not sanctioning thoughtlessness, nor even carelessness. He rather means, “Do not be anxious.”
Jesus introduces a trinity of cares: what shall we eat; what shall we drink; what shall we put on? Our “life” (the word would be more literally translated “soul”) is more than all these. Again it is a question of priorities: what use is it anyway if we gain the whole world, but lose our soul (cf. Matthew 16:26)?
MATTHEW 6:26. If we study the birds, we might learn something of the providence of God: we might learn to trust Him. For they do not sow or reap or store in granaries, but God provides for them: and are we not better than they (cf. Matthew 10:29-30)?
MATTHEW 6:27. Which of us by fretting and worrying can add one inch to our stature, or one moment to our lifespan?
MATTHEW 6:28-29. And what about the flowers of the field? They labour not nor spin, and yet they are adorned better than Solomon in all his glory (cf. 1 Kings 10:4-5).
MATTHEW 6:30. Even such things, which would later be gathered with the grass as kindling for the fire, are under God’s care: so why should we doubt Him?
MATTHEW 6:31. So, “do not be anxious,” repeats Jesus.
MATTHEW 6:32. People who do not know God may prioritise these things: but we have a heavenly Father who knows that we need them - even before we ask.
MATTHEW 6:33. As for us, we must hold the things of this earth with a loose hand and prioritise our lives in such a way as to give precedence to the kingdom of God and the establishment of His righteousness (cf. Isaiah 9:7).
MATTHEW 6:34. We set our eyes, set our hearts, towards the advancement of the kingdom of God. We trust not ourselves to accomplish it, but we know the One whose righteousness is imputed to us and follow His lead. Rest assured, when He is in charge of our lives we need not worry about tomorrow today!
