Facing Life Without Worry
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Key Verse: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Selected Scripture: |
AN IMPORTANT ASPECT of Christian spiritual development is the establishment of priorities that will enable one to have confidence that his temporal necessities will be met. (Matt. 6:25) Nevertheless, other scriptures imply personal effort is required on the part of each believer to secure various material needs, as opposed to having an expectation that God will furnish everything for us without any labor on our part.—Eph. 4:28; I Tim. 5:8
As an impetus to prevent anxious care on our part, Jesus gave as an example the birds of the air; they did not worry whether God would provide for their needs. (Matt. 6:26) The concept of taking extraordinary means to obtain future personal security apart from God, however, seems well illustrated in the parable of the rich man who knew no limits to his desire and ultimately lost all in death. (Luke 12:16-21) In another illustration, Jesus said the beauty of the lilies exceeded that of Solomon’s elegant apparel. (Matt. 6:28,29) “If God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”—vss. 30-32
The foregoing portion of Jesus’ words admonishes us not to have anxieties concerning what tomorrow will bring in our lives. Those who are not true followers of Christ would have many fears and concerns about the future. As we look at news events on a global basis today, it is apparent that a sense of gloom with regard to the economic well-being of nations and individuals is rampant. Those who have fully devoted themselves to the doing of God’s service will joyfully continue to proclaim the message of his coming kingdom of righteousness, justice, and equity as being the only solution for the problems that exist in society at present.
Our Key Verse addresses a promise that believers who put God’s interests and plans first in their lives will never be plagued by anxious cares and worry, but may be confident that if we live one day at a time and focus our energies upon serving the Creator, he will never leave us nor forsake us.
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”—Col. 3:1-4
May we faithfully fulfill our covenant of sacrifice and share in blessing the human family when God’s will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven.—Luke 11:2