5 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will
eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than
food and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds in the sky; they do
not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds
them. Are not you more important than they? 27Can any of you by worrying add a
single moment to your life-span? 28Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn
from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. 29But I tell you
that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. 30 If
God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the
oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
31So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or
‘What are we to wear?’ 32All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father
knows that you need them all. 33But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. 34Do not worry
about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its
own evil." (Matthew 6: 25- 34)
The above passage contains what I call crème de la crème of
the teaching of Jesus. We see here the
core of his message on Divine Providence.
Philosophers say that the universal application of divine providence in
creation is one of the proofs of the existence of God. Why then do we worry and fret about health,
family concerns, money, job, tools, food and the future? Do we not believe Jesus when He says that “Your
heavenly Father knows that you need them all”?
Perhaps faith is the core issue.
We can help ourselves by praying:
“Lord, strengthen my faith.” We can
also move from prayer to action by seeking first the kingdom of God and His
justice in everything and then challenge God to keep His promise. I am trying to do this in my life
today. I experience pleasant surprises every day.
