From Christ’s Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 6:25-34
"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
I must say that I have fought through the sin of perfectionism for most of my life. I worried that if I could not get an A in a course or perform to the highest standards at all times in a corporate career, then perhaps I would become destitute and not be accepted by men. This prideful disposition is highly grievous to our Lord as it displays the presence of self-reliance and a desire for independence from Him.
You see, there is a difference between performance anxiety and doing all things to the glory of God. When we do things for His glory, the focus is on Him. When driven by personal ambition and inward achievement standards, we focus on ourselves and the world. Like a domino, fear-driven performance becomes destructive in our lives; beyond our offense to God, it can ruin our relationships with others.
But Matthew 6:25-34 is a soothing reminder of our Lord’s love and His care for us. Christ’s words remind us to employ faith and seek God’s kingdom above all things. Seeking the Kingdom of God is not futile, and it bears temporal and eternal fruit. Worrying about the troubles or obstacles in life only leads to dismay and fruitlessness as a Christian.
In Matthew 6:26-27, Christ states, "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” This statement is so true, God has provisions that are accesible to us. Further, we must understand that Jesus is not promoting idleness; birds are not idle but have access to the food God provides. The Lord wants us to know that He is the sovereign Provider.
When we gaze upon Christ and focus on Him, inward troubles and selfishness disappear. Faith in Yahweh allows us to focus on Him even in the worst of tribulations. Likewise, as Christians, we may face the severest forms of persecution from the world at any time, but we must always trust in the Lord and His control of all things.
I often remember Peter exiting the boat in a storm and gazing upon Christ. The disciple lost his inner fear as his focus was set upon the Lord only for a few seconds, but he began to sink when he saw the wind and feared for himself (Matthew 14:28-31). May we gaze at Christ without glancing at the world's pit as we walk through its valley.
Ultimately, the children of God have a Savior who will always look out for our good. His sovereignty supersedes everything that occurs in this life. Faith in His name and character brings us peace and contentment in all circumstances. It breaks the chains of self-reliance and pride.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Matthew 14:28-31
Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Matthew 18:2-3
And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."
John 16:33
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Peter 5:6-10
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
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