This past week I had the opportunity to make the drive from
Chattanooga to Nashville. It's
a beautiful drive anytime, but this time of year is particularly wonderful as
the forests lining the interstate explode with vibrant oranges, reds, yellows,
greens, and everything in between.
As I was driving, I had this week's scripture passage from Matthew
6:25-34 in mind. Jesus tells his
disciples not to worry about what they will eat, or what they will drink, or
what they will wear and goes on to offer up the birds of the air and the lilies
of the field as prime examples of beauty that has been provided by God. I'd like to think that if Jesus had
lived in middle Tennessee, he would have mentioned the fall foliage as
well. There's beauty all around
us, and not just when the leaves change color, and yet so often we miss that
beauty because our hearts and minds are focused on things that aren't so
beautiful. We stress over what
outfit to wear, or that exam coming up next week, or how our actions will look
to the people around us. Jesus
invites us to let go of worry and to place our primary focus on the kingdom of
God and God's righteousness.
I've heard people use this passage to paint Jesus as somebody who was out of touch with the realities of those who are hungry, thirsty, or naked. I don't see that. I hear Jesus speaking directly to those people. He offers words of hope for being fed and clothed. I think Jesus knew that, as human beings, we sometimes focus on the negative aspects of life and fail to take notice of the positive things. He seemed to know that a mindset of scarcity will consume a person if they worry too much. Jesus calls us to view the world through the lens of abundance, offering those birds and lilies as examples of God's abundant provision. Are we to sit idly by and wait for food to appear? I don't think so, but to spend our days worrying about food is not faithful.
This
week in worship we'll explore the difference between giving something attention
and worrying about it. How would you desribe the difference?
In what areas of your life do you see abundance?
In what areas of your life do you see scarcity?
What examples would you use to illustrate God's abundant provision?
As you go through your week, may you see the beauty of God all around you.
1 comments:
I think a lot of times Vanderbilt students are caught up in the worry over schoolwork. It's so easy to focus on all the different papers and tests, and all the extracurricular events to be at, and to lose yourself in the worry of getting it all done. While I was super worried about an exam I was about to walk into last week, a friend quoted Philippians 4:6-7 for me, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hears and your minds in Christ Jesus." This, I think, is hard to do in a culture of being perfect, having the right grades, being everywhere you need to be, looking like you have it all together. But it's necessary. We can't do it all, we can't handle it all, without trusting that God's going to take care of it. I try and remind myself that God's not going to care whether you got an A or a C on that paper, but rather to whom you gave your time in love. I think that's what Matthew is saying too, the food and water will happen, but showing love is what we need to work on.
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