Matthew 6:28-34 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Can I tell you how hard this text is hitting me right now? Can I get really real with y’all?
For the past couple of months I have been worried, fretting about my financial situation. You see, I’m a shopaholic. I absolutely love browsing the shelves and racks for new clothes, new foods, new shoes, new furniture. The shopping doesn’t even have to be for me! I love buying people presents, little or big things I see to show my affection for them. In fact, I love shopping so much that my profession is shopping!
Shopping is just my favorite hobby – but it’s one that has gotten me into a lot of trouble financially. And what does that bring? Worry, fear, doubt and maybe some “little faith”.
When I saw this text though, in the midst of my own personal issues, it really has new light to me. You know how you can read and re-read and re-read a passage and the depth of it doesn’t hit you until you experience something that makes you see the words in a new way? That’s this text for me. God is really opening up my eyes to His desires for me and my life and not my desires for new/bigger/better things (all in my opinion!). He desires a grander life for me, a better well-being for me than I could ever imagine. And that is worth more to me than all the latest and greatest trends this world has to offer.
One of the things that Pastor mentioned on Sunday was a line he and a young man prayed “I have a Father in Heaven who loves me very much”! I have found myself using that line as my tool when I’ve had a desire to go spend frivolously. I don’t need all these things when I realize I have a love that is the most precious thing in the world, which was bought with the most precious blood. Money can never buy that, but God already did. It’s the One thing that I want, the One thing that I need in my life and it is a GIFT.
I encourage you to try saying that line over and over when you have a temptation rise up. Just close your eyes, take a deep breath and say out loud “I have a Father in Heaven who loves me very much, I have a Father in Heaven who loves me very much, I have a Father in Heaven who loves me very much”.
Let me know if that helps you the way it’s helped me!
Father, thank you for your unconditional love. Thank you for all of the gifts you give your children, especially the greatest gift of all, Your Son, Jesus. Thank you for loving me when I find it hard to, when I’ve disappointed myself so much that I cannot fathom how You can love me through it, and yet You do. I love you, Father. Amen.
Toni
I wanted to also include the Message version of this text. The words may impact you a little more clearly as they did for me:
27-29 “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
30-33 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
34 “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.