Scripture

“Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Observation

We should not worry about food and drink or clothes. Life is more than the physical body. The birds don’t plant or harvest, but they have enough to eat.

The wildflowers are closed more gloriously than Solomon was. They don’t work or make clothes, but God cares for them beautifully.

We should not worry about our physical needs. Instead we should seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness as our first priority. Then God will give us everything we need.

Application

We live in live in an age of anxiety. When people try to live their own lives and strive to provide for themselves everything they need, the result is is anxiety, stress, burnout.

We were not created to be self-sufficient, but to live in partnership with our Creator. When we stand proudly on our own two feet and declare, “I can I can do it myself “, then we set ourselves up for fear and anxiety.

This also this also brings a wrong focus in our lives. Rather than living at peace with God, and our neighbour, life becomes a competitive striving for survival.

Jesus tells jus to focus on what God wants from us. That will probably involve work of some sort, but it is living in confident assurance that God will provide abundantly for us.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for this for this reminder of your goodness. Please help me to trust you for all that I need all that I need. Amen

Scripture
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steel.”

Observation
When we fast, we should not make it obvious that we are fasting. This is for the admiration of people. We should look normal and not tell anyone so that we can receive a reward from our Father in heaven.

We must not store up treasures for ourselves on earth where they can easily be stolen or degraded. Rather, we should store up treasure in heaven where they will last forever.

Application
The world is constantly pressuring us to spend more and more and to invest wisely for the future.

In a culture that has abandoned God, the only thing to focus on is the physical world; there is no sense of eternity or life continuing after death.

People are consumed by endless acquisition of possessions, as if that is their sole reason for living. Jesus points us to our real destiny in heaven and a radical reordering of our priorities on earth.

When we give to the poor or give generously to support the kingdom of God, then we are storing up treasures in heaven. Being generous and considering the needs of others create a healthy environment for our soul.

Prayer
Thank you Lord for the abundant wealth you have blessed me with. Please help me to store up treasures in heaven and not just on earth. Amen