1-2-14 “Everyday Life Everyday”
Matthew 6:19-21
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
Ever since Y2K I feel the need to panic on December 31st and load up on water bottles, canned food, and make sure the gas tank in the car is full. Just in case the world ends, I want to be heavily supplied! “Experts” tell us that if you live in California you should have a month’s supply of stuff on hand all the time because of earthquakes. Have you ever built up a supply of stuff? You have to use it and replace it in the event the “big one” doesn’t hit because it will all go bad. Water bottles get stale, canned food expires, candles melt where I would store them, and batteries leak battery acid. Sounds like “moth” and “rust” destroying something I’ve stored, things I’ve stored from a heart of worry, panic, and “worldly wisdom.”
I’m not saying people should live irresponsibly, but I need to believe first and foremost in my heart that should a disaster strike, it is God who will provide and sustain me and my family. It’s hard to trust God will always provide and care for me and my family while simultaneously developing contingency plans. We give him the credit for providing for us now in days absent of disaster, why would it all of a sudden be up to me and my forethought to “save our skins?” I find that to trust God more means that I have to do less.
Jesus goes on to say in Matthew 6...
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” (v.25-27)
I notice that when I go grocery shopping and fill the cart with extra stuff so that I have it “just in case,” or so I won’t have to go to the store again for a while that it’s stressful. Where am I gonna store this? Look at this grocery bill! I have found it to be better for my heart to simply go to the store when I need something and not store up a storehouse in my house. Since the desire of my heart is to rely on God all the time, I should do exactly that.
Dear God,
You are right! Worry doesn’t add a single day to my life. I am more valuable to you than any other creature you made who doesn’t even ask you for provision. Things I’ve stored up for myself have gone to waste or created financial burdens. There really is no reason to worry about every day life because you take care of my life every day! I love you and praise you and pray in your Son’s name, according to your good will. Amen.
Matthew 6:19-21
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
Ever since Y2K I feel the need to panic on December 31st and load up on water bottles, canned food, and make sure the gas tank in the car is full. Just in case the world ends, I want to be heavily supplied! “Experts” tell us that if you live in California you should have a month’s supply of stuff on hand all the time because of earthquakes. Have you ever built up a supply of stuff? You have to use it and replace it in the event the “big one” doesn’t hit because it will all go bad. Water bottles get stale, canned food expires, candles melt where I would store them, and batteries leak battery acid. Sounds like “moth” and “rust” destroying something I’ve stored, things I’ve stored from a heart of worry, panic, and “worldly wisdom.”
I’m not saying people should live irresponsibly, but I need to believe first and foremost in my heart that should a disaster strike, it is God who will provide and sustain me and my family. It’s hard to trust God will always provide and care for me and my family while simultaneously developing contingency plans. We give him the credit for providing for us now in days absent of disaster, why would it all of a sudden be up to me and my forethought to “save our skins?” I find that to trust God more means that I have to do less.
Jesus goes on to say in Matthew 6...
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” (v.25-27)
I notice that when I go grocery shopping and fill the cart with extra stuff so that I have it “just in case,” or so I won’t have to go to the store again for a while that it’s stressful. Where am I gonna store this? Look at this grocery bill! I have found it to be better for my heart to simply go to the store when I need something and not store up a storehouse in my house. Since the desire of my heart is to rely on God all the time, I should do exactly that.
Dear God,
You are right! Worry doesn’t add a single day to my life. I am more valuable to you than any other creature you made who doesn’t even ask you for provision. Things I’ve stored up for myself have gone to waste or created financial burdens. There really is no reason to worry about every day life because you take care of my life every day! I love you and praise you and pray in your Son’s name, according to your good will. Amen.
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