“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. For this reason I say to you, 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. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" Matthew 6:24-25
Our Lord gives us a command here. He says, "Do not be worried about your life." He also gives us insight into why we ought not worry. When we worry, we are no longer serving God but wealth (or whatever else we put our hope in to alleviate our worry). Let's take Jesus' example of worrying about having enough food or drink or clothing. When we worry about these things, we start to believe, whether consciously or not, that "if I just had enough money to pay for food or whatever, I would be okay." Then what is our hope in? Not in God's loving provision for His children.
Jesus does not promise us a perfect life where we never have to worry because there is more than enough food and drink and clothing, instead He exhorts us not to worry. There will be temptations to worry. We will have times when we are tempted to worry that God will not come through, that there will not be enough food or enough money to pay the mortgage or whatever. But we are to know who God is, that He cares about us more than the birds and the lilies. We are to walk by faith and not by sight.
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33
So, we seek God's kingdom, His rule and reign in our hearts and on the earth, and His righteousness, and we trust that God will take care of our needs. We must always put our hope in God. Because in the end, what is going to matter? When this world passes away, what is going to be left? Jesus and His kingdom. And His bride who has made herself ready by learning to trust Him in impossible circumstances and always seeking His interests.
