Tuesday, March 15
Scripture: Matthew 6:31-33, Luke 12:31-32

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

CONSIDER THE BIRDS

One early morning this past January, I stood at a window admiring the pristine stillness that follows an evening snowstorm.  A flock of birds flew quickly into view, and, beside me, my father wondered if the white ground and bare branches would have anything for them, before remembering aloud, “and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.”  After some searching, the birds seemed to have found a food source in a single dark patch on the ground, which, upon closer examination, we came to see was a nest that had fallen from a nearby tree.  The moment seemed a kind of parable of divine provision descending from above, with the nest, perhaps the very nest that had first sheltered those birds, pointing to God’s consistent care.

In Matthew 6, Jesus reasons with us through a number of evaluative comparisons in order to draw us into a proper perspective on our lives.  He reminds us that we are far more precious to God than the birds of the air or the lilies of the field for which he unfailingly and lavishly provides.  He also tells us that “life [is] more than food, and the body more than clothing.”  By distinguishing between life and food and the body and clothing, Jesus teaches that even when we worry about necessities such as food and clothing, we ought not to allow ourselves to believe that these things determine life.  Jesus’ emphasis of the transience of flowers and grass, which recalls a similar depiction of man’s fleeting nature—“Surely the people are grass.  The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever” (Is. 40:7-8)—suggests a third comparison.  While we may outlive the grass of the field, our physical life is no less ephemeral when compared to our eternal life with Christ, “the life that is truly life” (1 Tim. 6:19).

Having demonstrated that which is more important, Jesus calls us to replace our lesser worries with a greater concern: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.”  When we come to Christ, we not only exchange our sins for his righteousness, but we also trade our cares for his.  He unburdens us of our labor, as he calls us to his: “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:30).  Therefore, we cease our worrying, for the life we have surrendered to Christ is no longer ours to support, but rather God’s. 

Hannelieke van de Beek’s piece encourages us to “consider the lilies of the field” and to stand in faith amid the distractions and distortions of the world around us.  The beauty of creation attests to the creator’s love and assures us that he who made us will sustain us.  With full confidence that the God who promises us his kingdom will also supply all our other needs, let us joyfully cast our anxiety on him and seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.  And since we have received everything from our heavenly father, let us also be generous in giving so that we may be used by God to provide for the needs of others.

PRAYER

Lord you are my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  You make me lie down in green pastures, you lead me beside quiet waters, you restore my soul.  You guide me in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in your house, the house of the Lord forever. Amen.

- Psalm 23

Jane E. Kim, Assistant Professor of English, Torrey Honors Institute