Matthew 6:25-34 “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? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
I had an amazing class in my Eight grade of school. Every day that semester, the teacher would shine a light into the darkness of public manipulation and teach his students about the “tricks of the trade” being used in life by groups and individuals in order to cause the masses to behave in a desired manner, or explain how government and businesses use natural greed and fears of people to draw and steer them. Now, that I have been trained to see the tricks, I am aware, so lured in and faked out much less.
Our teacher told us that our local, national and world news has been labeled “the bad news”. The reason why is because people tend to want to see and hear about dramatically bad things that are happening in their area, nation and world. The saying goes: “If it bleeds, it leads!”, meaning negative news is always the leading story. There once was a test where only good positive news was broadcast, but the public turned it off and the ratings plummeted, so the outlet went back to reporting bad news to their audience. It is like we want fear for some reason.
Worried about getting the best burger or pizza in town. We have dozens of eateries that make that claim here, and I bet you have too. Our teacher explained that the restaurant’s claim is to draw you to their establishment, but not everyone of them can be the best. But, the term “the best” is subjective. This phrase is elliptical (defective and deceptive), and may be variously interpreted. You may feel that one place has the best, but I may feel that another is the best; it’s a matter of personal preference, so they all can claim to be “the best”. Tricky how trend-setters use words!
Fear, whether perceived or actual, can be a great motivator for the “fearmongers” who create anxiety and spread alarming fright in order to get people to think a certain way, move in a particular direction or stop them in their tracks. We live in a fallen world, but there is “Good News”. It comes down to where do you put your trust, who do you trust, and how big is your God? Have you heard the news today? Jehovah Jireh is all-powerful, all-seeing, all-knowing, ever-present and in control. Oh boy!
Philippians 4:6-9 instructs us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Peace in Christ, Brian
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