Matthew Matthew 6:25-34

Close your eyes and imagine that you were one of those there the day Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. We see him sitting on a boulder teaching and the crowd sitting all around him. Suddenly, he gets up and points toward some small birds perched in a flowering shrub. All the while Jesus was teaching the Semon on the Mount, Matthew was recording the words of Jesus.

 Matthew 6:25-34 (CSB)

25 “Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? 27 Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 30 If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you ​— ​you of little faith? 31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat? ’ or ‘What will we drink? ’ or ‘What will we wear? ’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. -- Matthew 6:25-34 (CSB)

 Jesus' instruction in these verses highlights a foundational truth about trusting God's provision and casting aside worries. He begins by directly addressing common human anxieties about necessities, urging us not to ruled by them.

 Jesus uses birds and flowers, who are in many ways weak and perishable, to serve as an incredible reminder of God's attentive care for all His creations. God spoke everything into existence except humankind. God got down on His knees, formed and fashioned the first human out of clay, and breathed life into that lump of clay. Jesus points to the birds, “Don’t you see, Birds do not labor or store food, yet they are fed; flowers do not work or make their clothing, yet they are beautifully adorned.” Jesus reassures us that if God provides for them whom he spoke into existence, He will surely provide much more for us, who are of much greater value since he made us by his hands and gave us his breath.

 Jesus points out that worrying is ultimately futile—it cannot add even a single hour to our lives. Instead, He calls us to seek God's kingdom and righteousness first. When we prioritize our relationship with God and His purposes, everything else will fall into place according to His plan.

Jesus wants us to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." 

Who can forget Ethel Waters's or, more recently, Whitney Heuston’s rendition of “His Eye is on the Sparrow. 

Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely
And long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

Personal Applications

1.   Refocus on God’s Kingdom: Deliberately prioritize your spiritual growth and relationship with God. This might mean setting aside regular times for prayer, Bible study, and worship.

2.   Practice Daily Trust:  Whenever worry starts to creep in, remind yourself of God's promises and His faithfulness. Visualize handing your worries over to Him and resting in His care.

3.   Simplify Your Needs: Reflect on what you truly need versus what you want. By simplifying your desires, you can focus more on the essentials and less on material concerns.

4.   Cultivate Gratitude: Begin each day by acknowledging specific ways God has provided for you. Practice keeping a gratitude journal. This can help you stay focused on His blessings rather than your worries. 

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your unwavering provision and care. Help us to release our worries and place our trust fully in You. Teach us to seek Your kingdom and righteousness above all else, knowing that You will care for our needs. Fill our hearts with gratitude for Your daily blessings and strengthen our faith in Your promises. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.