Listen: Chris Witts presents Morning Devotions.
By Chris WittsSunday 5 Apr 2020Morning Devotions with Chris WittsDevotionsReading Time: 5 minutes
In Part 1, we talked about one of the hardest things that Jesus said: Don’t worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will take care of itself. We continue in this part expanding on what he said.
Let’s go back to the Gospel of Matthew chapter 6 verse 25 and notice the background leading up to verse 34. Notice how our Lord prepared us for this hardest of all commandments, by giving us these words:
For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life. As to what you will eat, or what you will drink, nor for your body as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow nor reap nor gather away into barns, yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow, they do not toil, nor do they spin, and yet I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today, and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will he not much more clothe you of little faith?
Do not worry then, saying what will we eat or what will we drink or what will we wear for clothing? For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.
So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
The Right Priority in Life
Notice there that the Lord gave a series of logical arguments. He told us correctly that life is more than just eating and drinking and putting on clothes. I guess there are some people who are caught up in eating only gourmet food and eating at the finest restaurants and maybe drinking only bottled water or other specialty drinks like that.
The Lord said life is more than that. It’s more than the food we eat or the water we drink. It is more than just wearing clothes with designer labels on them and making sure the clothing is of the latest fashion. The Lord is saying that life is more than these things. Therefore, stop worrying about the food and what you drink and about the clothing.
Jesus said, “But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
And Jesus talks about the birds. God takes care of the birds of the air. We know that God has furnished these good-tasting worms for the birds to eat. And he has even made us feel sorry for the birds. Have you ever known of a bird that committed suicide because the stock market crashed? Have you ever known of a bird that had ulcers because of worrying about the future? Have you ever known of a bird that died of a heart attack?
The Lord is saying here that God loves the animals. God made the animals. He made them entertaining to us. He made them funny to watch, and instructive and educational. God is taking care of the animals. The point, though, is not about the animals—the point is, aren’t we worth a lot more than the animals?
In other words, in the order of creation, which would rate closer to the top, humankind or birds? Well, humankind rates at the top—if God takes care of the birds, he will also supply those needs that we have. It is as David said in Psalm 37:25, “I have been young and now I am old and yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or His descendants begging bread.”
We Cannot Change Anything by Worrying
Jesus asks what good does it do to worry anyway? As he says here, who can worry himself into living longer? In other words, if we see death approaching, can we worry to the point that we will extend our lives an hour? Of course not. If a person is short and wants to be taller, can he worry to the point that he can grow an extra few inches? No, worry does not accomplish anything good like that.
The Lord also spoke of the lilies and the grass that grew in that part of the world. Grass left without any attention—no-one to weed or clean up the day lilies that grew. Who takes care of them? Nobody except God. Nobody goes in there and trims around them. Nobody fertilises or waters those day lilies. God is supplying what they need. They are beautiful flowers—and that is what the Lord is talking about here. The lilies and the grass of the field depend upon God for their sustenance.
Based on all those arguments, Jesus said, in verse 34, do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Just for a moment, can you think of in your mind, as I think in mine, of all of the terrible things that might happen tomorrow? Think of the worst things—all kinds of ‘what ifs’—that could possibly take place tomorrow:
- Maybe an asteroid could hit the Earth, just like in the movies.
- There could be financial troubles or family issues.
- What if there is trouble at work?
- What if there is trouble with the traffic tomorrow?
- What if there is a war that starts tomorrow?
- What if we are rejected by our friends tomorrow?
- What if our enemies attacked us?
- What if the weather suddenly turned sour?
- What if schedules in our life suddenly become too much?
On and on it goes—all of the ‘what ifs’ that could take place tomorrow. I am reminded of one lady who said, “I always feel bad even when I feel good, because when I feel good I know it will not be long until I feel bad again.”
A lot of people unfortunately think like that. We need to allow God to say, Settle down, I have some good news for you. We know that we can trust God for our ‘tomorrows’. Let’s pray that he helps us put it into practice.