Worry comes all too easily and naturally to most of us, especially as it regards financial matters. You hear a rumor that layoffs are imminent, and you wonder whether you could get a new job at your age. When money is already tight, your daughter needs orthodontic work and your car requires a new transmission. Your credit cards are already near their limit. You can barely afford the payments on your student debt. You want to be a stay-at-home wife and mother, but you worry whether your husband has the skills and motivation to enable your dreams to come true. You have been saving for many years but fear that you will run out of money during retirement.
In Matthew 6, Jesus addresses the anxieties of His disciples:
“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. . . . 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? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? . . . You of little faith!”
(Matt. 6:25–27, 30 NASB)
First, He chides them because their worry is
- senseless: As we see how God cares for His lesser creation by giving animals and plants food and covering, we should trust that He will care all the more for us, His beloved children (see Matt. 6:25–26, 28–30).
- useless: Worry won’t make anything better. No one, by worrying, has added to his life span (see v. 27). In fact, worry takes away from our lives by draining us of time and energy that we could have devoted to addressing the problems at hand (see v. 34).
- faithless: Worry flows from a lack of trust in God (see v. 30). We are not ultimately dependent on others or even on ourselves. God is the one who feeds and clothes His servants.
Then Jesus goes on to offer positive encouragement by telling us how we can overcome worry. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (v. 33). We are to put off sinful anxiety and instead invest our time and energy into serving God. As we do so, we can trust that He will supply our needs.
There is an old story of a businessman who was asked to represent his monarch in a foreign land. The businessman expressed concern that his company would suffer in his absence. The monarch replied, “If you take care of my business, I will take care of your business.” Jesus says the same thing. As you devote yourself to His business, He will take care of your earthly business. When your life is focused on God’s kingdom, you will be able to trust in His provision, and He will give you peace.
___
Reflect: What are your biggest financial worries at this present time?
Reflect: Is there ever a time when worry or concern is appropriate? (See Matt. 6:34 and 2 Cor. 11:28–29.) How can one distinguish between appropriate and sinful concern?
Act: The disciples had a clear calling from Jesus, which they were to pursue instead of worrying. How could you overcome worry by being more faithful in pursuing the work God has given you? Think of one or two kingdom-oriented things you can do, and ask God to give you the strength to pursue these things—and then wholeheartedly throw yourself into them.*
Hear more from Jim Newheiser on the topic of navigating emotions at this year’s Summer Institute in Riverside, CA. Tickets on sale now!
*Excerpted from Money: Seeking God’s Wisdom © 2019 by Jim Newheiser. Used with permission of P&R Publishing. May not be reproduced without prior written permission.
