Friday 6th September
Read Matthew 6:31-34
“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. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (NIVUK)
Jesus has a simple, but incredibly difficult to grasp, solution to worry. Don’t seek after security in food and drink and clothes, seek security in God. The solution is simple because it directs us to look in only one place for all of our needs. God. It is challenging because it is so difficult to look beyond our immediate earthly needs.
Jesus is a master teacher. The constant distraction of our own needs is captured in the insistent questions that arise in our minds, the scurrying pursuit. The solution is stated triply also, like those questions. ‘But’ – stop and consider what you are seeking. ‘Seek’ – chase after earnestly, like all the things others pursue. ‘First’ – as the main priority, at the expense of everything else, value it the most. Over and over again, Jesus wants us to realise that only one thing is needed, and everything else will follow – despite what the world’s scurrying signifies.
All Jesus is doing is spelling out exactly what He has taught us to pray – Your kingdom come, your will be done…
