Matthew 6:27-34 New International Version (NIV)

27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 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.

The world is filled with uncertainty. Near record levels of unemployment, forced quarantines, sickness, riots in the streets and loss of livelihoods, have caused many to be understandably filled with worry and fear about the future. Some may even be questioning their worth as a person. Does this sound like you?

If you don’t know who you are, it’s easy to let others define you. But the truth is that God has created you for His glory. You are unique, special, cherished and deeply loved by the Father. Your worth is not found in your occupation, how much money you make, whether or not you have a job, what the color of your skin is, or any other measures that the world uses to establish worth and status. You have worth simply because you were created by Him and for Him (Col. 1:16).

The lilies of the field in this passage are beautiful not because of anything they do or provide, but simply because they are what they were created to be. They receive the water, sunlight and nutrients from the soil without working or earning. As wise and rich as King Solomon was, he could not clothe himself by earthly means with more beauty than what the flowers had naturally from their Creator. How awesome it is to know that a child of God that is rooted in the soil of the Word can count on the daily provision of the Father!

The key that unlocks the blessing of the passage is to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Notice that the provision is secondary to the pursuit of God and righteousness. It’s such an assurance that Jesus speaks of it as if it were almost insignificant in comparison. To draw an analogy, if you were to plug a power strip into the wall, it would provide power for everything plugged into the strip. But if the power strip is never plugged into the outlet, it doesn’t matter how many things are plugged into the strip. There is no power.

Each day provides us opportunities to put our trust in the Lord, whether it be for finances, unexpected illness, or anything else that happens in this life. The promise of provision from God  is a precious promise that is available to all who have put their hope and trust in Jesus. For those in Christ there is no reason to fear for the future because we are plugged into the source of all power, Jesus Christ.

Will you trust Him today?

Jesus, I lay down my fears and worries at the foot of the cross and I ask You to be my source. I know that You can supply all of my needs according to the riches of Your Kingdom so I trust You now. Help me to see myself as You see me. Forgive me for putting my faith in worldly things. Help me to walk in faith. From now on I want to put my trust only in You.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Scott Schneider