Don't worry, seek first God's kingdom!
There are several commands given by Jesus in Matthew 6:19-34: store up treasures in heaven, do not worry, and seek first God’s kingdom. But alongside these high callings, Jesus gives several things to enable kingdom focused living that isn’t hindered by the anxieties of this world.
So, when worry strikes your soul or you need encouragement to invest into eternity, remember these things.
1. There is more to life than physical things
"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?" (Matthew 6:25).
God created and provides for our complex bodies and lives. Surely, you can trust him to take care of the basic things in life. Also, the point here is don’t just get caught by food and clothes (the physical), there is so much more to the body and life. We have a soul, we as God’s children will have eternal life, and bodies raised to life.
2. We have a heavenly father (v26)
"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?" (Matthew 6:26).
God cares for this world and even more so you! This world is fathered by our all-powerful, gracious God! WOW!
3. Worrying does nothing good for our lives
"And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?" (Matthew 6:27).
We worry, draining ourselves as we think about so many things, but it does nothing. May God free us from this vain activity. When worry strikes, say this, “Will, what you are doing is going to achieve nothing! Worry only ruins yourself and those around you.”
4. God cares for us… more than beautiful flowers
"And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But 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?" (Matthew 6:28-30).
God is not distant, but cares for this world with a fatherly care.
5. God knows our needs
"Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all" (Matthew 6:31-32).
He knows everything and he cares. He does what is best in the right time!
6. All will be added to those who seek God’s kingdom
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).
Instead of worrying, store up treasures in heaven. When we worry we aren’t able to seek first God’s kingdom. God needs to strip worry from us so that he has useful and bold servants for his kingdom. Do not get caught worrying about the things of life that you can’t control. Instead be free to seek first God’s kingdom.
7. Each day has enough trouble
"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34).
Realise that each day has enough of its own troubles that will come up, let alone if you worry about future ones. God gives what we need in the moment we need it. We need to trust him and not want future provision for future trouble or try to sort something out when we haven’t yet reached it. Remember God won’t test us beyond what we can bear (1 Cor 10:13, Lam 3:22-23, 2 Cor 9:8).
Battle unbelief with these promises
So, we have these promises to battle unbelief. To battle the unbelief that says you need to worry and that you won’t make it. To battle unbelief that says you can’t afford to invest into God’s kingdom.
Trust in God, the treasure that He is and the riches of what you have in Jesus. And because of this, be free to not worry and instead seek first His kingdom.