Why Do You Worry?
Today's Reflection
THIS QUESTION reveals Jesus’ basic orientation to time. Jesus lives in the moment for the sake of what lasts forever; he invites us to focus on the now for the sake of the eternal. Focusing on everything else—all the tomorrows to come—only serves to get us lost in worry. As a result, we may be ready to answer Jesus’ question with a laundry list of reasons that we worry. For many of us, our worries are not nearly as fundamental as whether we will be able to eat or drink or have clothes to wear. Yet Jesus insists that God’s provision means that even when our future is uncertain with regard to these basic necessities, we still need not worry. The world may tell us that we must chase after everything we need and desire in life, but Jesus says that God already knows what we need and is ready to provide for us.
—Matthew Croasmun
Let Me Ask You a Question: Conversations with Jesus (Upper Room Books, 2018)
Today's Question
What things do you worry about the most?
Today's Scripture
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"
—Matthew 6:25 (NRSV)
Prayer for the Week
Lord, help me know the difference between what you ask of me and what the world asks of me. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room or share it in the comment section.
Something More
As Christians, we hunger to know and live out God's purposes for our lives. But how do we know for certain that our choices are moving us in the right direction? Learn more about Which Way, Lord ? – a 6-session churchwide or small-group study that will help you understand God's desire for your life.
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
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