What If He Really Meant It?
For some time now I’ve had an ongoing but irregular series in which I simply present the statements of Jesus asking the question “What if He really meant it?” So often we approach Jesus’ words as though they were mere slogans, as if He didn’t really mean what He said, maybe He just said it for shock value? But what if He did mean it? What difference would it make in your life?
Today’s consideration comes from Matthew 6:25-34:
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? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
What if He really meant it? Does your life exude rest in God?
- Read Jesus and the Gospels by Craig Blomberg
- Read Jesus the Messiah by Robert Stein
- Read Synopsis of the Four Gospels (English Only) by Kurt Aland
I’ll be the first to admit that I struggle with this one. I notice in myself (especially since I don’t get to hear Christ preached at any of the local churches) the Petrine problem of taking my eyes off of Christ. I know that it becomes natural not to worry when I understand my life to be “hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). But especially as a husband and father, I am too quick to sin by way of worrying about providing for them.
It’s sad that so many of us who believe in and advocate the sovereignty of God so often resort to worry and anxiety.
Guilty.
for so long I let my fears short-circuit His leading. it really is amazing what God did when I laid down some of my fears and asked Him to lead.