Matthew 6: 25-34 ; 1 Peter 5: 7
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? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Matthew 6: 25-31 is a perfect therapy for a stress-filled life (or a recipe for a stress-free life). As humans, we tend to fuss over our needs in life; especially those needs pertaining to our daily up keep. This tendency is so overwhelming that it becomes the focal point of our daily endeavors. Everything we do in life is centered around satisfying our needs – be it financial, material, social, or spiritual.
Well, satisfying our spiritual need is a worthy pursuit, as long as it drives us towards God, and our purpose in life. However, the pursuit of money and material provisions could become extremely drowning as we are lost in the pool of endless desires and perpetual quest.
A profound insights detailed in Matthew 6: 25-31 is summarized in the following few points:
(1) ‘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’? – This means we should not get overly consumed about the daily provisions of food, clothing, or even shelter, because God has given us life (which is a greater necessity)! If you woke up this morning, then your daily up keep is guaranteed by God.
(2) ‘Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they’? – This suggests that the birds and animals (which are of lesser value) are being kept and taken care of by God. How much more you – the precious soul HE died for.
(3) ‘Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life’? – This clearly indicates that with all of our endeavors and strive, we are unable to bring out any meaningful change without God’s intervention and help. We are completely dependent on HIM whether we realize it or not.
(4) ‘And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith’? – Consider this; even the flowers, as insignificant as they may seem in the scheme of things, are faithfully attended to (and decorated) by God! HE does a much more superior job than we could ever do for ourselves!
Folks, God wants us to trust His love and providence. He knows we need these basic supplies, and would provide them. We need to come boldly to the throne, every day in faith, and obtain what we need.