Matthew 6:25-34
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? 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 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? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
I come from a long line of worriers. I don’t know if it’s a genetic trait or a learned behavior, but I’m pretty sure most of us are better at worrying than we are at being patient or trusting God or feeling content. We worry about everything, from basic needs like clothes and food, to things that don’t even really affect our lives like what other people might think about us. We worry about big things like wars, pandemics and the collapse of society, and about little things like what if it rains the day after I wash my car.
Jesus pointed us to the birds and the flowers to remind us that we humans, for all our intelligence and ingenuity, often over-think life. Birds don’t calculate exactly how many seeds they should eat today so there will be enough left for tomorrow and the day after that. Flowers don’t stand in front of a mirror wondering what someone else will think about their new shoes and hairstyle. Instead, they simply live as God created them and accept what God provides. Wouldn’t it be nice to live like a bird for a while?
Well, maybe you can, at least in some ways. Remember that God created you and loves you. He knows just what you need. He sees what you are facing today and knows what tomorrow will bring. Remember that God has plenty of blessings ready for you, so long as you are willing to wait patiently and gratefully for each one. The more you remember God’s goodness and grace, the more you will forget all your worries. Life is better that way.
Thank You, Jesus, for reminding me how much You love me. Teach me to trust You each day, for all that I need, and show me how I can bring hope and encouragement to others. Thank You for hearing my prayers, in Your name. Amen.
____________________________
Pastor Mike Mirakian
