The Thanksgiving List

Are we anxious? Are we worried about tomorrow? Let’s see how writing a long, long, long thanksgiving list can help. Let’s see what God has to say about fretful thoughts in Matthew 6:25-33.

Matthew 6:25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

While the love of money traps the rich, worries trap the poor. Being anxious about the future is quite common. Planning for the future makes good sense, considering different contingencies, but God does not want us living in anxiety, being overly anxious. Take “no anxious thought” is the intended meaning.

Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” Have you ever wondered how the birds survive? God provides for them and us.

There are about 9,000 species of birds. All lay eggs, perfectly designed for structural strength, loaded with protein, and rich in nutrition. Birds were designed to build a wide diversity of nests that are artistic and complexly engineered. Birds eat rodents, suet, nectar, fruit, insects, berries, nuts, and seeds.

During long, cold winter nights, feathers are excellent insulation, especially down feathers. Feathers are designed to trap heat when fluffed, keep birds warm and repel water. While some birds migrate to warmer areas, many species will crowd together among evergreens, in a cavity, or in a birdhouse and stay warm.

Matthew 6:27 “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?” This means adding a cubit to our stature or single step to the length of our lifespan. Longevity is big business. But worrying about something that is in God’s hands is futile.

Matthew 6:28-29 “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.” God provides clothes we need.

We would call these wildflowers or native species today. Wildflowers are particularly relevant to Jesus’ point, because usually no human was involved in intentionally planting them. They are not cultivated or hybrids but naturally occuring and are more beautiful than the most expensive clothing. Don’t worry about inconsequential, pointless fashion.

Matthew 6:30 “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!” Wildflowers growing among the grass were burned with it in ovens using straw for fuel.

Matthew 6:31 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’” The poor worry that they may not have these things at all. The rich worry about having the best of these things. Take no anxious thought.

Matthew 6:32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” Clearly the nations eagerly seek food and clothing. Food among the nations is a $2.4 trillion industry. Fashion among the nations is a $1.2 trillion industry.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” We seek the kingdom in prayer, knowing God will provide for our earthly needs. We are a becoming mature Christians when the things of earth grow strangely dim.

A cure for anxiety and worry is giving thanks for God’s love and care for us. Try to regularly give thanks for a long, long, long list of blessings. We seek first His kingdom, not this world. We give thanks for what we have and learn to be satisfied. We ignore a culture that deceives us into being dissatisfied so we will buy, buy, buy. We pray for our daily bread, not tomorrow’s bread, because faith says, Today’s bread is enough! God grant us the faith to live in blessed assurance that He will supply all our needs!

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation