21. Don't Worry, Be Happy

Matthew 6:24-34

This is a big chunk of scripture, but it is all getting at the same point. Do not worry. We are slaves to that which we give our attention. You cannot serve two masters.

Let’s take the Questions one at a time.

Verse 25 “…Is not the life more than meat, and body than raiment?” Jesus exhorts us to “take no thought for your life, what you will eat, or drink,” or what you will wear.

This is a hard saying for us Americans. Our culture seems to focus on what we will eat, drink and wear! Nearly everywhere you look you are confronted with commercials for these popular things. Yet Jesus tells us here not to be worried about these things.

We converse about these things. We fret over these things. We despair over these things (and we are not in a day of famine or drought!) In Philippians 3:18-19 tells us that talking like this, acting like this, we become “enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.”

Instead, Jesus has us looking at LIFE as more than Tommy Hilfiger, Paninis, or Mocha Lattes. We would prefer these things instead of looking at LIFE. They are easier to do. They are so much more appealing, and we can have an opinion about them.

So, what about life do we focus on? Verse 26 says “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”

Little birds seem to flit about and have no agenda. They are not under heavy schedules, deadlines, or slavery. They do find food as they need it. They make nests, when its time but not before, utilizing things they find around them. God provides for them as they trust Him for necessities. They have no worries.

Now aren’t you worth more than a bird? You are made in God’s image, fashioned by His hands, He has more thoughts toward you than the sands of the shore, why should you worry about your necessities? He is never late; He is always on time with these.

In the next verse is our third question. “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” Jesus wants us to know the control we think we have is all in our heads! How can you make yourself taller? That has been an issue for many people over the centuries. There have been many attempts to do this.

I had to look it up to see if people can make themselves taller. And they can! At a cost of about $85,000. you can add about 6 inches to your height. Wow! But this happens by more than “taking thought.” There’s a lot of planning, paying $$$ and pain involved. Also, time to heal from the invasive surgeries. Which master do you think this person is serving to do this?

What if we could by a thought add a cubit to our height? What problems to you foresee with this? I see a very tall society, that tries to outdo each other in height. There would be BIG problems there. Aren’t you glad God didn’t give us this kind of control? (Sounds like a great idea for a children’s book.)

“And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”

Why do we worry about having the right outfit? This is particularly hard question for us today. Where “Influencers” abound on social media, having this kind of control over us, we, like sheep, follow them where ever they tell us to go.

Mark Twain said “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” While this is a fun saying on the one side, it is not true on the other side. God makes the man! And according to this scripture passage, He clothes them too!

I have recently had God give me a whole new outfit. It was very unexpected and extremely sweet of the person He used to do it through. It was New Year’s Eve. We were going to a friend’s house for a party. I had not been shopping in a long time, and from the healthy anti-cancer diet, I’ve lost at least 20 lbs. So, most of my clothes are a little bit big for me. Just so you know, my skinniest jeans are baggie on me.

My daughters used to work at a local dress shop and the owner called them this day and wanted to give them a bonus from working this past year for her. They came back with a gift bag with a complete outfit for me! And it fit perfectly! And I wore it that night to the party we were going to. I got complements! That’s how God dresses you! I was so amazed that He surprised me like that! But that’s our Father! Every good and perfect gift comes from Him. And I get no glory for picking out the outfit!!! He gets all the glory. But I got the compliments!

I was not fretting over my closet that afternoon. I was not even thinking about what to wear that night. I spent my afternoon with Jesus that day. To be sure, our Father is amazing! It is so humbling to share this. Because He is so great, so good and kind. I don’t know why He did this, except that I could share this story here with you : )

Let’s just finish out with the rest of the passage: Verse 30-34

Wherefore, If God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? Or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (for after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Would you be willing not to worry about what you are going to wear, eat or drink for one day? One week? One month? This does not mean no meal planning or shopping for groceries, especially if you have a family depending on you; but to only not worry over the meals, or liquids you will consume. Or even what you will wear, but instead covenant to spend time with Jesus every day in place of that worry. Will you serve the master of fashion or your belly? Or will you serve the One Who knows your needs, and can provide all you need?

Thank You God! Your mercy endures forever!

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