“Zoned out”—he was thinking about that board meeting at the office. Flustered, he paces around the room. Anxious, he cannot concentrate on his child’s conversation. Angry, he cannot be in two places at one time. Worried, whether he would have enough for tomorrow. And the mind keeps buzzing with worry. This is the story of many today. Always tensed, always anxious and always thinking about tomorrow forgetting to live a little today.
Jesus says in Matthew 6:26, 31-33,
26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Now, this is no excuse to be lazy. This is a sobering warning to those who might be tempted towards greed or materialism. Nowadays, it is all about stockpiling wealth for many. But the worry factor is more for those who do not know where the money for food, drink and clothing comes from—they can get overly concerned about material things.
Christ takes the example of the birds to teach us how to not live in anxiety about the basic needs of life. He emphasises on how life is more than just food and clothing—how there is meaning and purpose for life. To live in worry about the money we don’t have is living caged in the fear of poverty, rather than living the freedom and joy of Christ. Seeking God also means trusting Him to provide what is needed, and being in complete peace that God will give us what we need, just in time—a life without fear and anxiety. So, like the birds, spread out your wings, live in the freedom and joy that God has given us, and submit everything else in His hands.