David Bahn – Reflections

Matthew 6:25-34

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious 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: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁸And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

³⁴ “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Gentiles Seek after food, clothing and drink. To that end we who mark ourselves as Christians must check our hearts to make certain that we have not given our hearts to such pursuits. Jesus knows we all need food and drink, clothing and shelter. He has promised, furthermore, that our heavenly Father knows that we need them all. But the issue of pursuit is the point of Jesus’ teaching here. Anxiety about the things of this world is not to mark the hearts and lives of Jesus’ followers.

To make his point Jesus uses the illustrations of the birds of the air and lilies of the field. It is interesting that he identifies these as he does. Jesus is making a point beyond the beauty of birds and lilies. These each have place where they are found: in the air and in the fields. Jesus also speaks of reaping and sowing, gathering in barns, toiling and spinning. God cares for his creation, Jesus says. We are of more value than the birds; he will provide for our needs. He will even clothe us in a glory greater than Solomon and the most beautiful field of flowers.

It is very easy to be distracted from seeking God’s kingdom first. People all around us are gathering their riches, and experiencing every Epicurean delight imaginable. Whether it is the beauty of designer clothes, the finest steak or award-winning bottle of wine, we often succumb to the allure of this world’s offerings. But let’s raise our sights a bit. God has a garment of salvation in store for us. We will One Day feast at a wedding banquet of delight and celebration of unimaginable proportions.

Those are the garments, food and drink we are to seek. God will see to it that all other things necessary for our life here and now are provided to us.