“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” Matthew 6:25
“In Matthew 6, Jesus reasons with us through a number of evaluative comparisons in order to draw us into a proper perspective on our lives. He reminds us that we are far more precious to God than the birds of the air or the lilies of the field for which He unfailingly and lavishly provides. He also tells us that “life [is] more than food, and the body more than clothing.” By distinguishing between life and food and the body and clothing, Jesus teaches that even when we worry about necessities such as food and clothing, we ought not to allow ourselves to believe that these things determine life…
Having demonstrated that which is more important, Jesus calls us to replace our lesser worries with a greater concern: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” When we come to Christ, we not only exchange our sins for His righteousness, but we also trade our cares for His. He unburdens us of our labor, as He calls us to His: “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:30). Therefore, we cease our worrying, for the life we have surrendered to Christ is no longer ours to support, but rather God’s…
The beauty of creation attests to the Creator’s love and assures us that He who made us will sustain us. With full confidence that the God who promises us His kingdom will also supply all our other needs, let us joyfully cast our anxiety on Him and seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. And since we have received everything from our heavenly Father, let us also be generous in giving so that we may be used by God to provide for the needs of others.”
Jane E. Kim, Assistant Professor of English, Torrey Honors Institute in “The Lent Project” of Biola University post dated 15 March 2016, and graciously shared with me by Jot Turner, who serves at the national office of the EFCA.
Are you worrying about food and clothing? Do you believe that your life is no longer yours to support? Jesus is not calling us to stop working, sit in a field, and pick flowers. He’s calling us not to work for money anymore.
Your income is a by-product of using your gifts for the kingdom to glorify God. If you are teacher, teach for God (not money). If you serve, serve for God (not money). God is the One who determines life, not you. Trade your cares for a greater concern today!
If this seems like a difficulty pathway to take, with Professor Kim I would suggest that you meditate on Psalm 23 today. That’s my plan for my flight home to Denver this evening. This Lent I am learning that Psalms keep me centered on God.