For August 19, 2021 Live@5
Matthew 6:19–34 (NKJV, also appearing in Luke 11:34-36, 12:22-34)
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Several of the verses in this passage of Scripture begin with an admonition: “Do not….” This first section speaks to one’s dependence on riches or wealth for one’s security. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasure…” speaks to an individual’s idea that storing wealth or amassing assets will provide for them security. Jesus, though, makes it clear that the wealth in which men or women trust may be here today and gone tomorrow. Should Christians be wise stewards of the resources God has provided? Yes, of course! Is money evil in and of itself? No, it is not. However, do not serve wealth as a master. Instead, master your goods and use them for God’s glory. In so doing, you will please God.
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, 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, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
In a general sense, Jesus tells his disciples not to worry about possessions again in this latter half of today’s passage. However, He addresses two particular classes of possessions, beginning with food in this verse. God is the provider. He supplies food to the animals and grows plants that can feed anyone. Why worry about food? This does not mean we should all move to the Brook Cherith and wait for the ravens to feed us, but it does mean that we should not worry so much about food!
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
The Lord addresses clothing in this verse. Clothing is necessary in that it covers one’s body and provides modesty. However, expensive clothing is not the goal. Ostentatious outfits do not satisfy God’s purpose. And–definitely–worrying about what you wear does not glorify God. Nature, supplied its fur and plumage and skin, it far more beautiful than the most dapper man or most fashionable woman. Don’t let clothing worry you!
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
So, do not worry about these basic issues of provision, because God is the supplier and the source. He is the one who makes a way. He knows what you need. So, seek Him and not the things. Seek God fully and His kingdom and His righteousness. The stuff you need will be supplied. Work hard, be responsible, don’t blow what God gives you frivilously, pay tithes, etc. But also, don’t worry about stuff. Chase after God! He already has the stuff anyway.
Artwork from:
Devoted To You 
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