Today is Palm Sunday, but no one is at church…except a handful of leaders who met to livestream music and a sermon for us to watch on YouTube. Why? Because this is 2020…the year of the COVID 19 pandemic. And I thought this warranted being written down and remembered. But what I would like for us to remember is not the people fighting for the last roll of toilet paper or package of beans, it is that God made a promise to us a long time ago…and we need to think on that.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life.” Matt. 6:25-27
For years, people have been curious about my tendency not to worry about my cancer. God has gifted me with the ability to relax and live in peace through this journey. It has been the same for me during this pandemic. I don’t really get worked up by all of this. Prepare and protect, yes. Worked up and worry, no. Why? See above!
This morning, our pastor spoke on this passage as God redirected his heart this week. What a perfect word to bring to a worried world.
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you than not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 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? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after (frantically seek) after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” vv.28-32
Who does this sound like? The phrase “run after” actually means “frantically seek.” That is exactly what everyone has been doing! Frantically seeking all the things that they think they need to exist. BUT GOD! God knows what we need. He made us in the first place. The food and drink are pictures of necessity. The flowers of the field are a picture of how we look…even to the point of job promotion, getting into the right college, etc. He is quite aware of all of this. But what does He say next?
“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.” vv. 33-34
It’s all about getting OUR priorities straight. Seek HIS kingdom, HIS righteousness, HIS people, HIS goals, HIS word…and He will make a way. There was a song back in the ‘90’s that we used to sing with the youth group that talked about Jesus being the Way Maker…He’ll make a way for you.
“When our situation is uncharted, WORRY prevents us from recognizing what’s really important.” Bobby Martin
“…do not worry about your life…but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matt. 6:25a/33
