“Do Not Worry About Tomorrow”

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Meditation on Matthew 6:25-34

November 18, 2012

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    “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. 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 can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry 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 clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

     Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles, the unbelievers, who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

    So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”  (Matthew 6:25-34)

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     A couple of years ago, when I was supply preaching with Jim at a little country church in Pennsylvania, I shared a message on the gospel we read today: Matthew 6:25-34. 

     At the time, our family was in an uncomfortable transition period in which we were not earning enough money to cover our living expenses. Neither Jim nor I had a full time job. I was still a part-time graduate student finishing Hebrew for ordination. I was not yet free to accept a call to ministry even if one were offered.

      Jim’s work as a healthcare consultant had ended abruptly several months before. He had not yet been offered the interim ministry position in which he served prior to my receiving a call to ministry here in Renville.  And we didn’t have the eyes of eternity to see into the future.

     To be honest, the word “uncomfortable” doesn’t describe how I was feeling.  I was having trouble sleeping at night. Worry was my constant companion.  I still had my faith and believed we were doing what God wanted us to do. We were waiting and listening for His voice and continuing to serve Him wherever we were, though it meant we were barely scraping by.

    But I was scared. In the back of my mind, I feared more difficult times were ahead.  What if a church never wanted me as their pastor? What if Jim did not find an interim position that could sustain us?

     It was “what if, what if, what if…”

    Then, this lectionary scripture came up for the Sunday when I was preaching.  And although I always find inspiration in God’s Word, I felt the Lord speaking directly to me when He says: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

    Christ is urging the crowds to see beyond their earthly situation—and not live like the unbelievers, whose focus is on themselves and their daily wants and needs.  Some in Jesus’ audience are probably pretty well off.  But many are not. Jesus is saying to everyone—rich or poor and in-between—“put aside all the stuff of this world; forget about money and your secular jobs that bring you earthly treasure. Seek only to be pleasing to God, to obey Him.”

     Jesus says, “Strive first for the Kingdom of God and its righteousness and all the rest (all that we need in which to live in the here and now) will be given to us, as well.”

    When I read Christ’s “do not worry about tomorrow,” my reaction was anger and frustration. What does He mean when He says, “don’t worry about tomorrow?” How can I not worry about my family if we lose our home and have no money on which to live?

     How can I not worry when the Lord tells us that our lives will always be difficult?  That tomorrow will bring more trials, maybe harder ones.

      Jesus concludes, “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

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      Well, the day I shared my feelings about Christ’s words with the little country church, I was blessed. The people showed kindness and compassion. Many thanked me for sharing my struggle with anxiety—my inability to quit worrying about things Jesus says I shouldn’t even be thinking about.

      They confessed they were worriers, too. 

     We prayed and asked for God’s forgiveness, His grace to cover our sins, our failure to be obedient to Him.

     Then this week, when I read this same scripture once again to prepare for my sermon here at Ebenezer, I asked myself, “How I am doing? How is my anxiety level these days?” 

     My family’s lives are, in many ways, much changed than they were the first time I preached on this passage. I do worry less about money. I am too busy with ministry. And I don’t worry about whether Pastor Jim and I will find ministry jobs.

    God has blessed us with two wonderful church families. God has provided for our children, too, so they can attend college and prepare for their futures.

    Still, there are new challenges every day in our family life and in our ministries. There is never a day when there isn’t something or someone to worry about, just like Jesus said there would be.

    But this time, when I read this scripture, I didn’t hear what I had thought was a scolding, which made me angry and put me on the defensive. Jesus wasn't saying, “Quit worrying! Stop it!”

    I had gotten it wrong.

    The message is anything but a personal chastisement.  It is a universal assurance for all people that we don’t have to worry, because God, who sees and knows all things in His Creation, will watch over and care for us.

     What is all this talk about the birds of the air and the lilies of the field?  Jesus is trying to tell us just how valuable we are to Him.  I say “trying” because some of us refuse to accept how valuable we are for His Kingdom purposes. We are too busy finding fault in ourselves, even though Jesus already wiped away our sins when He died on a cross.  And rose again.

     Some of us are too busy looking down and inward, instead of looking up—and keeping our focus on Him.

    “See the birds of the air… Consider the lilies…” is Jesus trying to tell us how much God loves us—more than anything He has created.

    And though we don’t want to trust Him to provide for us and carry us through the storms of life, He will anyway.

    Because the trials will come. And God will be our rock, our salvation, our refuge. 

     Friends, hear the Words of Christ as He intended them to be heard—to comfort, encourage, and empower you to keep on walking this journey of faith, following after Him.

     Hide these loving words in your heart. You who struggle with worry.  You, who can’t help but worry because you are human.

      Listen to God’s promise to be with you and care for you always, when He says,

    “Do not worry about tomorrow.”

    “Do not worry about tomorrow.”

Will you pray with me?

   

  Loving Creator God, forgive us for when we have taken our eyes off of you and thought only about our needs, desires, and fears.  Forgive our lack of faith.  Help us to trust you more and worry less.  Reassure us that You are forever watching over and caring for us, even more than the birds of the air and the lilies of the field.  Let us find our treasure not in the things of this world, but only in You and seek Your righteous heavenly Kingdom to come, through Your Son, Jesus Christ.  In Him we pray.  Amen!