24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:24-25; 31; 33-34 (ESV)
We all know how difficult worry and anxiety can be. Worry is a common problem, yet we may freely admit that it does not improve the situation. We also can readily admit that it isn’t easy to stop or change our anxious feelings. Pop psychology and sermons don’t seem to give us much relief either. Perhaps some understanding might help.
The Lord’s words, in today’s passage, are more in line with clarifying explanations than divine commands. Let us note that the context is about service and divided loyalties. The anxieties referred to here concern personal care and provisions: Worrying about tomorrow’s provisions, worrying about enough to food, worrying about sufficient clothing, and worrying about having enough money. Now, it is only human to concern ourselves about these issues. In fact, it shows responsibility and good sense. The Lord certainly didn’t intend for us to be irresponsible and lazy. He didn’t mean for us to ignore realities and lay around letting others supply our needs.
The Lord’s focus is on who we are serving. His challenge is about where our loyalty lies. If we serve ‘mammon,’ we will be anxious about the things which mammon supplies, retirement, food, clothing, etc. If we serve God, we will be anxious about his Kingdom and his righteousness and rely on him to supply our physical needs. I suppose we might ask ourselves what we treasure and where are our priorities.
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Grant to us the faith and confidence that we may trust you for each day’s needs. Empower us with concern for your kingdom and righteousness. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his Kingdom and live to treasure it,