All These Things

Throughout Christian history, there have been many sects who have taken this verse to its extreme and eschewed any planning for the future or even work, choosing instead to simply live lives of extreme monasticism. Their interpretation of, “seek first the kingdom,” is to seek only after God to the exclusion of all other things. Without fail, these groups end up one of two ways. They either fall apart, as the inertia of needs (physical, financial and otherwise) exert inexorable influence; or they end up in tragic death and desiccation, as fasting and denial of basic needs wreak havoc on their physical bodies.

The crying shame of these situations is that simply taking scripture as a whole (“line-upon-line and precept-upon-precept”) would clearly show that was not what Jesus meant. The whole of scripture, especially the Proverbs, makes it clear that God expects His people to be diligent and to exercise diligence. A simple search of those two terms shows multiple references (as applies to work) in both Old and New Testament. Planning for the future and executing a plan with faithfulness is clearly expected.

What is out of bounds per our Savior is worry, anxiety or fretfulness. It is against these things He spoke in this passage. As He concludes in this chapter, “Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Verse 34) This is not a, “Don’t worry, be happy,” kind of mindless confidence. It is based on the promises of the God who was, who is and who is to come. We can affirm, as David did,

“I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

Time and again Jesus told His disciples, “Peace be with you,” or, “Let not your heart be troubled.” As we seek His kingdom (read that His will and His ways), we will have what we need. God will take care of you. Trust Him.