“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:31-34, NASB)
Last time we learned that we shouldn’t worry, neither for what we will eat, nor what we will wear, for if we put our faith and trust in God, He will provide what we need (please see “Worries,” May 18, 2022). This was a portion of Matthew’s account of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, which is continued in the portion above. Jesus continues His dissertation on worries. You’re probably thinking, “Wade, why didn’t you cover this at the same time before?” Well, it’s because I wanted to play some music that goes with this passage.
First, Jesus reiterates that we shouldn’t worry about what we eat, drink, or put on our bodies. He says that “the Gentiles eagerly seek these things.” I think Jesus is trying to tell His fellow Jews that they’re different from the Gentiles, that He is the Hope of Israel, and that the Kingdom of God is at hand for them. In addition “your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”
Jesus then shares again the secret to defeat anxiety: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” So if we spend our time on the things of God, and not be overly worried about this world, we’ll receive our needs from the Father. Jesus concludes: “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
I understand that “each day has enough trouble of its own.” ALS is a day-by-day disease. By God’s grace, I concentrate on making it through today. When I could barely walk anymore, I used to say it was step-by-step. In the days prior to my tracheostomy, when I had to rely on the bipap machine to breathe, I said it was breath-by-breath. Now I’m on a ventilator 24/7, and I can’t walk. I’m back to day-by-day. I’m not worried, I know where I’m headed after I pass on.
Jesus tells us not to worry. He wants us to rely on the Father to provide what we need. Jesus says the Father knows just what we require. With faith, He will provide!
