FUGGEDABOUTIT!

Sermon on the Mount (pt. 15)

One of the basic principles of biblical understanding is that whenever you see a “therefore,” find out what it’s there for.

“Therefore” is used to introduce a concluding thought, a consequence of what has gone before.

Immediately following Jesus’ statement that we “cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt. 6:24), He says “therefore.”

Therefore, sit up and take notice. Something important is about to follow.

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take you thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matt. 6:25-34)

Three times in this section He tells us to “take no thought.” Forget about it.

Fuggedaboutit!

Jesus compares you to meat and clothing. He compares you to the birds. He compares you to flowers. And then He states the obvious—you are much better than all that.

You are worth far more to the Father than any of these things.

The Father takes care of the flowers and the birds and the grass without their worry.

Don’t you think He will take care of you?

If you believe that, then why are you scurrying about trying to ensure that you have all these things?

Could it be that there is some sort of a disconnect between our belief and our practice?

Say it ain’t so, Joe!

Of course, if our “needs” are at the level of a new car every couple of years, dinner out three times a week, the latest fashion by designer whosywhatsit, and a new address every five years, then you will probably need to scurry.

This is not to say that the children of the heavenly Father will be dressed in rags. Far from it.

But, if it is something that you require, then you have to provide it.

Contentment is a very large bank account in the kingdom of heaven. (1Ti. 6:6) You may withdraw from its stores much more than anyone can draw from the "needs" account.

Jesus, therefore, makes it surprisingly simple by taking the worry and concern off our shoulders and places them squarely on the Father’s.

But, He does require an exchange of energy for this benefit:

Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Mat 6:33)

Pursue the things of the kingdom, which are not found in earthly material things, but are found in the very things you think materiality will provide (Rom. 14:17)

Besides, He says, tomorrow will have enough problems of its own without your adding to it with your worry. (v. 34)

Somehow, someday, at some point, each of us will come face to face with the reality and truth of these words of Jesus—either through choice or through calamity.

You get to choose which.

Choose wisely.

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