[A guest post by Stan Winslett. Be sure to send him thanks for taking the time to write this for us!]
I am so good at this… worrying! Well I should be. I have had enough practice at it for many years. I think we all do to some extent, whether we are students worrying about exams and financing an education, or adults who are just trying to provide for themselves or their families. But, the more I dive into God’s Word and build my faith in Him through His strength; I find the pressures of life to be much more manageable on a day to day basis. He has the power to relieve my mind and yours, if we will just take Him at His word.
One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is Matthew 6 as Jesus teaches several principles of life. In fact, He spends the first part of the chapter on teaching several “what not to do” lessons. Over the years, I have failed at those. But, he ends the lesson with the solution to life’s worries. I will concentrate on that portion, but I encourage you to read the entire chapter for context. Let’s look at some of His points in this lesson beginning in verse 19.
Jesus specifically warns us to not put our trust in accumulated wealth because it is not dependable. Money cannot buy real peace and it can be gone or greatly reduced in an instant! We certainly have seen that on several occasions in the last few decades. Moths, rust and thieves come in various forms, and can destroy our perceived security very quickly. We must be devoted to God instead (v24).
Here’s a quick look at the rest of the passage.
This is a great passage on anxiety. Why do I worry? Because, my faith in Jesus is lacking (v30). Worry only hurts us and cannot add a single moment to our life (v27). It really takes away from our enjoyment of the present moment that we live in. God is in control! We must trust Him. He takes care of the birds of the air and He declares our worth to be much more than theirs (v26). He promises to take care of those who believe. Do not worry (v31). Worry is not His formula for believers.
Instead, the priority for us is found in verse 33. Seek (desire, strive for, ask for) first His, kingdom and His righteousness and then all our needs will be taken care of. His righteousness is in Jesus Christ alone! He is the one master spoken of in verse 24. We must put Him first. He knows what we need (v32). We must live for Him and trust in Him in this present moment. After all, that is all that we have. Worrying about the future is not God’s plan for believers (v34).
I will try to do better… in His strength… I fail when I depend on my strength.