This morning I was doing my Bible study, and the last thing I did today was read “Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers for May 18. The title for today was “Living Simply – Yet Focused.” The reference verses were Matthew 6:26, 28.
Matthew 6:26,28 (LSB)
26 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?
28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,
These two verses come from a passage in Matthew 6 titled “Do Not Worry” in my translation. It struck me because I had been talking to others about this issue of worry and focus for some time, and today’s devotional inspired me to take a closer look. Chambers’ close to the devotional was the prompt that gave me that nudge to dig deeper
“If you want to be of use to God, maintain the proper relationship with Jesus Christ by staying focused on Him, and He will make use of you every minute you live— yet you will be unaware, on the conscious level of your life, that you are being used of Him.”
Oswald Chambers, “Utmost for His Highest”
The First Twist
Before, during, and after I read the devotional, I went to Matthew 6 and read verses 25-34. It opens with, “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.” That is pretty straightforward, but the “this reason”part of verse 25 was bugging me, and after a couple of times through the text, I saw it. The opening of the passage was, “For this reason I say to you,” and that is the twist. Jesus was referring back to the previous text. I had never noticed that reference before. So the verse that precedes “Do Not Worry” was a wake-up for me.
Matthew 6:24-34 (LSB Strong’s)
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
Now that set me on my heels. That verse is close to Jesus’ discussion of treasures in Heaven.
Treasures in Heaven
Treasures in Heaven amediatly preceeded the “Do Not Worry” passage, but I went back to the beginning of chapter 6, but after looking at all of the sections leading up to “Do Not Worry” it was clear that verse twenty-five,(for this reason), was referring to the whole of chapter six. Verses one through five speak of how to give to the poor. Six through fifteen speak of proper prayer. Sixteen through eighteen discuss fasting, and lastly, verses nineteen through twenty-four speak to treasure and a single master.
Looking at these passages, I realized that I could not do any of these things if my focus were on worry or, said, another way: on myself. So the only way I could accomplish any of chapter six in Matthew was to be free of worry and place my trust in Jesus and Him alone.
Focus
In verses one through twenty-four, Jesus explains that our attention should not be self-centered but God-centered. If we humble ourselves and turn toward Heaven, our needs will be met and rewarded for our faithfulness in Heaven.
Do Not Worry
When I got through all verse twenty-three, It was clear that God was providing all these things for me so that I need not worry but focus first and foremost on Him.
Matthew 6:24-34 (LSB)
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
Do Not Worry
25 “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? 26 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? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single cubit to his life span? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 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! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Jesus said we could not serve both God and wealth in verse twenty-four. There is more to wealth than money. Celebrity is also a big part of wealth: fine clothes, notoriety, and even suffering if it brings attention. Jesus warned His followers not to draw attention to themselves but to do all things to NOT draw privately. “Do Not Worry.” part is so important because it means we must lean on God and not on our own understanding. It requires selflessness and surrender. It requires trust in our Heavenly Father.
Other Stuff
This whole chapter was pretty amazing as I meditated on it. Ultimately our trust MUST be in God. He is our source of all things. This puts me in mind of Matthew 14: 28-32. That is when Jesus approaches the disciples walking on water, and Peter cries out to him
Matthew 14:28-32 (LSB)
28 And Peter answered and said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 And He said, “Come!” And getting out of the boat, Peter walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand, took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind stopped.
Peter sank when he changed his focus from Jesus to the circumstances, but even then, he knew that Jesus could save him.
Paul preached the same thing to the Philippians as well.
Philippians 4:6-7 (LSB)
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Ultimately our hope rests in Jesus.
Closing Thoughts
Looking at chapter six of Matthew for the first time, I think I see that every section is built on the next, which Jesus defined as not worrying about anything. If we think about that for a second or two, isn’t that how we should place our trust in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? I like the way Micah says it.
Micah 6:8 (LSB)
8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does Yahweh require of you
But to do justice, to love lovingkindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?
It is the same story.
Oh Lord, I praise you and thank you for your blessed Word and the Holy Spirit to bring me a new understanding daily.