Bite sized lessons
This week's study is on Matthew 6:33-34:
These verses are part of a collection of things Jesus said about Christian living. He was addressing worrying, and striving, and our tendency to get caught up in trying to figure out our life's story on Earth. People were worrying about all of the things they worry about today: finances, health, career, marriage, impending wars, fashion, entertainment, etc. On top of that, they were under military occupation by a foreign superpower and some of their own people were collaborators with them.
It's easy to worry about tomorrow. "What if this happens, or this other thing, or that person does this or that?" How will I make rent? What if I get fired? What if I don't meet someone before I'm too old to have kids? What if I never get better? What if I get sued? Or deported? What if the market crashes and I can't afford to retire in a few years? What if my brother in law never pays me back what I loaned him? We could spend all day worrying about it, but we don't know what will happen.
The same goes for boasting about tomorrow. "When I grow up I am going to be an astronaut. When I retire I will buy a vineyard and spend my days painting masterpieces. I will write the next great novel." We imagine ourselves as well off as we are today. We picture our friends still being there. Our family is still on good terms with us. Borders are in the same places as they are today. The demographics of our neighborhood are the same. In our future, our standard of living is as good or better than today. And yet we have no idea what will happen.
We can't plan for everything, and even what we do plan for can disappear overnight. That's not to say that we shouldn't plan or try to think ahead, but that we don't have absolute power over our destiny. Terrible things happen, as do wonderful surprises. So what do we do? How do we invest our time and mental resources?
Jesus says to seek righteousness and God's kingdom first. We don't even know we will be alive tomorrow. But we do know that we will be with God, not just tomorrow, but for every tomorrow that will ever happen. It is a good investment to spend time with God and to learn to live in the way he wants us to live.
Jesus says that today has enough trouble of its own. I picture that almost as a video game where each day is one level. One day, your challenge might be to not be a jerk to people you meet. One day it might be to pray instead of venting. Another it might be to take good care of yourself and help others to make good decisions. On still another, it might be to do a good job at work when your heart just isn't in it. Each day is custom made by God to challenge you and give you chances to learn more about who you are, and who he is, and to improve in the process.
Only by seeking God's kingdom and the righteousness given to us by Jesus's grace can we know what our challenges will be, and be able to overcome them. Tomorrow will worry about itself. You're not there yet. Meanwhile, you've got plenty to worry about in today's course of events. Between now and when we go to bed, what pain and suffering will we endure? What hardships and sacrifices? Which annoying people will God send into our lives for us to bless and not curse? We can't play tomorrow's game today, but we can be ready for what pops up at us right now.
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.
These verses are part of a collection of things Jesus said about Christian living. He was addressing worrying, and striving, and our tendency to get caught up in trying to figure out our life's story on Earth. People were worrying about all of the things they worry about today: finances, health, career, marriage, impending wars, fashion, entertainment, etc. On top of that, they were under military occupation by a foreign superpower and some of their own people were collaborators with them.
It's easy to worry about tomorrow. "What if this happens, or this other thing, or that person does this or that?" How will I make rent? What if I get fired? What if I don't meet someone before I'm too old to have kids? What if I never get better? What if I get sued? Or deported? What if the market crashes and I can't afford to retire in a few years? What if my brother in law never pays me back what I loaned him? We could spend all day worrying about it, but we don't know what will happen.
The same goes for boasting about tomorrow. "When I grow up I am going to be an astronaut. When I retire I will buy a vineyard and spend my days painting masterpieces. I will write the next great novel." We imagine ourselves as well off as we are today. We picture our friends still being there. Our family is still on good terms with us. Borders are in the same places as they are today. The demographics of our neighborhood are the same. In our future, our standard of living is as good or better than today. And yet we have no idea what will happen.
We can't plan for everything, and even what we do plan for can disappear overnight. That's not to say that we shouldn't plan or try to think ahead, but that we don't have absolute power over our destiny. Terrible things happen, as do wonderful surprises. So what do we do? How do we invest our time and mental resources?
Jesus says to seek righteousness and God's kingdom first. We don't even know we will be alive tomorrow. But we do know that we will be with God, not just tomorrow, but for every tomorrow that will ever happen. It is a good investment to spend time with God and to learn to live in the way he wants us to live.
Jesus says that today has enough trouble of its own. I picture that almost as a video game where each day is one level. One day, your challenge might be to not be a jerk to people you meet. One day it might be to pray instead of venting. Another it might be to take good care of yourself and help others to make good decisions. On still another, it might be to do a good job at work when your heart just isn't in it. Each day is custom made by God to challenge you and give you chances to learn more about who you are, and who he is, and to improve in the process.
Only by seeking God's kingdom and the righteousness given to us by Jesus's grace can we know what our challenges will be, and be able to overcome them. Tomorrow will worry about itself. You're not there yet. Meanwhile, you've got plenty to worry about in today's course of events. Between now and when we go to bed, what pain and suffering will we endure? What hardships and sacrifices? Which annoying people will God send into our lives for us to bless and not curse? We can't play tomorrow's game today, but we can be ready for what pops up at us right now.
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