25 “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? 27
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]? 28 “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? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’
or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after
all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need
them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:25-33 NIV
This passage is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the
Mount. He preached the sermon on a mountainside to a large crowd. The Lord
spoke of how to lead a life worthy of God. He told us how to lead such a life,
to love our enemies, follow the law, speak only kind words, to be modest in our
actions and in our giving to the poor.
This is where Jesus gave us what are known
as the Beatitudes. He called blessed those who are poor in spirit, who mourn,
the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure of
heart, the peacemaker, and those who are persecuted because of
righteousness.
Jesus told us not to “store up treasures on
earth” which can be lost and stolen and to not lust after wealth and
possessions.
In the passage of Mathew 6: 25-32 Jesus
encourages not to worry. He tells us that as God feeds the birds of the air and
clothes the grasses of the field, so he will take care of his children, who are
dearer to him than all else in nature.
Jesus told us not to covet material things,
but to lead a life of love for the Father. He says that worrying about such
things will not do us any good or prolong our lives. However, if you lead a life
of justice and mercy the things you need will be provided for you.
We live in a world of great disparities in
wealth and too much poverty. We have a need to struggle for justice for the
poor and the vulnerable. But Jesus wants to do our best without anxiety and
care. We are to know that the Heavenly Father knows of our needs.
Being anxious will not allow us to be at our
best. It will often cause destructive behaviors if we battle anxiety and
depression.
Jesus says we should seek the kingdom of
heaven and the solace of a loving Father if things are difficult. We may still
have problems with unmet needs, but the calmness that comes with the knowledge
that we are loved by God will ease our cares. It will allow us to be at our
best, as we work to secure the things we need for our families and
ourselves.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life,” said Jesus.
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