Tuesday 3rd September
Read Matthew 6:31-33
“So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (NIVUK)
We live in a world riddled with stress and worry, it may not be the stress and worry of those who struggle to feed themselves each day, but stress and worry still consume many. There are any number of challenging truths Jesus confronts us with in the Sermon on the Mount. One of them involves the way we should approach life itself. In the face of stress and worry Jesus argues for distinction. There should be obvious differences between the way those who follow Him respond and those who don’t. If we look like those around us in every way – Jesus says we are rather lacking in faith. Those who live in God’s kingdom look different.
Don Carson’s, admittedly older now, commentary on the Sermon on the Mount makes this observation about Jesus’ words here, echoing the disgruntled words of an early Roman Emperor, Julian the Apostate, who was complaining about the lack of charity in the empire. “Would it not be wonderful if some world leader were forced to say today, “We ought to be ashamed. Not a worrier is to be found among those fanatics who call themselves Christians. They cope not only with the pressures faced by other men, but the pressures we put on them as well. And then they go and give comfort to some of us when we worry, whereas our people are constantly gulping down tranquilizers, visiting assorted counsellors and mass-producing overweight ulcers.”
How distinctive are we really?
