Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 5 of “Fan or Follower – Invest Wisely” (LISTEN HERE).
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” (Matthew 6:25)
Easy for you to say.
I don’t know if I’ll have my job tomorrow.
I don’t know if my retirement income will be enough.
I don’t know how I am going to pay for college?
I don’t know how I am going to buy groceries.
What if inflation continues to rise?
What if the economy crashes?
And the list goes on.
What are your worries today? Are they as Bobby McFerrin sang about in his 1988 hit, “Don’t worry. Be happy”?
Ain’t got no place to lay your head
Somebody came and took your bed
Don’t worry, be happy
The landlord say your rent is late
He may have to litigate
Don’t worry, be happy
(For a little fun for your morning – here’s the link to the music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU)
Is the answer to worry simply to be happy? Perhaps.
The answer to worry really starts with Jesus’ word, “Therefore…” These verses in Matthew 6:25 and following come after Jesus teaching on storing up treasures in heaven and making the clear statement, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Worry comes when we are trusting and loving material things more than God…or trusting anything or anyone more than God.
Is worry a litmus test to where our heart is? Probably. It is a window to at least ask the question when I am worried about something to ask, “Am I trusting God? Or trusting myself? Or trusting the Government? Or what am I trusting?”
This week’s spiritual battle pits “Team Worry” against “Team Trust.” As with all the matchups in this series, the challenge comes when we are on the field and seeking to faithfully follow the Lord. Jesus knows our hearts are vulnerable to worry. He knows we live in a material world and there are situations beyond our control that lead us to worry about how to fix them, how to provide for them, or how to change them.
There may be something you can do. There may be something you have to change. There may be actions you have to take.
However, the premise is, “Don’t worry.”
What is it based on?
Matthew 6:25-26 Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 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?
You are valuable to your heavenly Father. Because he loves us and cares for us, we can trust him with each of our days…and don’t have to worry.
Apply: What worries are on your mind today? Knowing your heavenly Father loves you, in prayer give them to your Father in heaven to deal with today.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for worrying today. Lead me to remember that you find me more valuable than any part of your creation. Because you love and value you, I know you will care for me and I don’t have to worry. AMEN.