S -
Matthew 6:25-34 (TLJ): "Look at the wildflowers in the field. See how they
grow. They don't work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even
Solomon, the great and rich king, was not dressed as beautifully as one of
these flowers. If God makes what grows
in the field so beautiful, what do you think he will do for you? It's just
grass--one day it's alive, and the next day someone throws it into a fire. But
God cares enough to make it beautiful. Surely he will do much more for you. Your
faith is so small! Don't worry and say, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we
drink?' or 'What will we wear?' That's what those people who don't know God are
always thinking about. Don't worry, because your Father in heaven knows that
you need all these things. What you should want most is God's kingdom and doing
what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these others things you
need. So don’t worry about tomorrow.
Each day has enough trouble of its own. Tomorrow will have its own
worries."
O - The
trouble with this teaching is multifaceted. First of all, culture (secular and
religious) teaches, insists, affirms, threatens and punishes all based on
worrying about all the things Jesus says to not worry about. It's discovered it
can, all on its own, TAKE the things Jesus says the Father is very willing to
give. Secondly, worry-inspired thinking
and living can accumulate these things in vast quantities and even claim God's
blessing and help in such undertakings.
Jesus, on the other hand, says that's exactly how people who don't
know God act. The issue is ultimately NOT one of provision but of loyalty and
devotion. He begins these observations with the truth (Matthew 6:24): "You
cannot serve two masters at the same time. You will hate one and love the
other, or you will be loyal to one and not care about the other. You cannot
serve God and Money at the same time." Lastly, Jesus asks the question:
"what do you think he [God] will do for you?" The culture of worry
demands an uncompromising conclusion--nothing … God will not do for you what
you can do for yourself. The result? Not only do we worry, we teach and affirm
it; we don't want what God wants most and we deceive ourselves
that we really can ignore the words of Jesus and still be his followers.
A - In
my culture beautiful flowers are in attendance for both funerals and
weddings. The flowers are the same but
the occasions they mark are extremely different. One is death the other life. One is a conclusive conclusion while the
other is a hope-filled beginning. Jesus
identifies for me that each day is already occasioned with flowers from God …
and I choose the type of occasion the day will be. My living and worrying or not worrying (not
my talking and religious observances) reveal if my day (even amidst great
abundance) is a funeral or a wedding procession; if I will live out the fierce
personal loyalty God offers and deserves or if I will live out a diverted and
perverted devotion. I really can't serve God and what I eat, wear or store up.
Today, I am going to trust (fierce personal loyalty); engage the work of
believing, the focus of following and the joy of a wedding procession.
P - Lord
who makes all things beautiful,
Today I want to thank you for
sending flowers … and for letting me choose their place in the procession of
this day. Lord, I choose life and wedding according to your greatness and
grace. Today I want to live out loud the fierce personal loyalty you deserve;
to refuse the worry my world insists I accept and to accept the joy of your
will on earth like it happens in heaven … unto undivided devotion to you and
daily bread. Cause your life,
irrepressible and vibrant, to come into and out of me. Please let me be a reason another might
believe.
Loving you back and thinking
about all you will do,
Steve
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