Matthew 6 | Semi-Seasonal

Sometimes you need to slow down, relax, and see the world from the view point of the dog.

They’ve really got the right idea when you think about it. Dogs don’t worry about where their next meal is coming from…

Where they’ll lay their head down for that next “cat” nap…

Nor do they worry about what they’ll wear or how they look…

The canine species is completely and utterly non-materialistic nor vain. They don’t care if you’re wearing last years fashions or if you’ve even showered, actually the smellier you are the better in the dogs humble opinion.

The dog is a non-worrier, they rely on their master to provide for their every need. That’s really a lesson we can learn from our canine companions. In fact, in an oft quoted exert from Matthew 6, we are instructed not to worry:

²⁵“Therefore I say to you, do not worry 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? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

²⁸“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

³¹“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:25-34 (NKJV)

Now if the birds of the air and the grass of the field aren’t worried, then why are we so worried? Our Master will supply for our every need.

He even takes us on daily walks, we just have to trust Him to hold the other end of the leash.

I’ve been reading through Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost for His Highest”, recently, it’s been such a blessing to me. Everyday it seems that the Lord uses these old devotions to speak to me. Today’s entry was of particular interest, Mr. Chambers referenced one of my favorite and most often read passages:

“Do not worry about your life . . .” —Matthew 6:25

Here’s what Oswald had to say about it:

“A warning which needs to be repeated is that “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches,” and the lust for other things, will choke out the life of God in us (Matthew 13:22). We are never free from the recurring waves of this invasion. If the frontline of attack is not about clothes and food, it may be about money or the lack of money; or friends or lack of friends; or the line may be drawn over difficult circumstances. It is one steady invasion, and these things will come in like a flood, unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the banner against it.

“I say to you, do not worry about your life . . . .” Our Lord says to be careful only about one thing-our relationship to Him. But our common sense shouts loudly and says, “That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, and I must consider what I am going to eat and drink.” Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing yourself to think that He says this while not understanding your circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life. Whenever there are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always put your relationship to God first.

“Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). How much trouble has begun to threaten you today? What kind of mean little demons have been looking into your life and saying, “What are your plans for next month— or next summer?” Jesus tells us not to worry about any of these things. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the “much more” of your heavenly Father (Matthew 6:30).”

Are you being invaded by worry? As Chambers says, the Lord only asks us to be concerned with our relationship to Him, everything else is secondary. But Common sense tells us that is silly and absurd, how could we not be concerned with our basic needs of food, shelter, and love? We must remember, that Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves. So He knows our needs before we are even aware of them. In fact the Lord already has a plan to supply for these needs that we don’t even know exist yet. How wonderful is that thought? That He knows us so well, and loves us so much that He’s already supplied for every need? The only thing we have to do is follow Him.

What can we add to circumstances by worrying about something that has already been taken care of?