Matthew 6:25-34

Matthew 6:25-34
"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 not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? [26] "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? [27] "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? [28] "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, [29] yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. [30] "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? You of little faith! [31] "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' [32] "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. [33] "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. [34] "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

In yesterday's newspaper it was reported that several hundred people will be laid off in our community in the near future. Such unsettling economic news has become commonplace in the Fox Valley and across the nation. Everywhere you go you hear people's anxiety. Many are worried about their personal futures and the American economy. It appears that the god of prosperity is proving himself to be nothing more than a figment of the American imagination. That's a good thing! Maybe we will turn back to the God of the Bible.

The God of the Bible has an answer. The God of the Bible promises to meet the physical and spiritual needs of His children. He says in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. When the God of the Bible makes a promise He always keeps it. You cannot say that about corporate America. Who are you trusting?

Folks, our spiritual needs are far more important than our physical needs. So often, God uses our physical needs to gain our attention and draw us to Himself. Our lives are marked by sinful rebellion and by nature we do not seek after God. Praise God that He comes looking for us. He is far more concerned about our eternal destiny than our present comfort. From His perspective it is better that we lose all our earthly possessions than to throw away the possibility of eternal life, especially when those possessions have become our own modern day idols.

Finally, let me ask you a simple question. Do you have what you need today? Then quit worrying about tomorrow! God has promised to meet your needs today. In God's kingdom we must learn to take one day at a time.