“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” . . . “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:25, 33, ESV)
We worry, worry, worry and it is so unnecessary. Here Jesus indicates that true citizens of the Kingdom should not worry. Is this realistic? Think about it. We live in uncertain times. We have no idea what tomorrow will bring.
I remember in 1987, I had just completed the manufacturing and shipping of some equipment for an installation in France. The company had communicated to me that I would travel to France for the installation. However, that very day, my employer sat down in a chair in front of my desk to tell me that the company had eliminated my position. I was out of work. Life is uncertain. We do not know what tomorrow shall bring. It is in this backdrop that Jesus tells us, “do not be anxious about” our lives.
Yes, Jesus’ teaching here may not seem realistic considering the uncertainties of life. However, Jesus’ teaching is realistic if we understand the source of anxiety and the antidotal priority.
The problem is not the uncertainties of life, but the priorities that we establish in it. Unless we become omniscient, life will always carry uncertainty. Jesus gave the solution to the problem of anxiety in life’s uncertainties when He stated.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33, ESV)
The reason we are anxious is that we seek the wrong things.
Anytime our priorities of life revolve around the physical realm in which we live, we will be anxious. The reason is that this priority focuses upon the work of man. Jesus tells us that true citizens of the Kingdom shift their priorities to the Kingdom and the King. Their focus is upon the realities of heaven, the purposes of God and His righteousness. Jesus further tells us that when we seek these things first, we will realize that God gives us everything we need. When we realize that He meets every need, we will not be anxious.
As a corollary, we should not worry so about tomorrow. Now this does not mean that we fail to exercise diligence in life. It does not mean that we should forget about tomorrow and planning. The Lord expects us to exercise godly wisdom in all things. Yet, this does mean that in all, we are to have our priorities right. These priorities are His Kingdom, His purposes, and His righteousness. Seek these first and anxiety will fade.
Renewing the Heart 