Don't worry - be happy! (Conclusion)

Happy.....
In our focus passage this week, Jesus next draws our attention to the lilies, the flowers in the fields. I always love to see the wildflowers in our pastures; there's such a wealth of color and beauty there. The flowers nod and sway, and the butterflies happily swoop about - even the honeybees sound happy as they visit each bloom!
God made all that beauty possible; he designed them to look like that -- they didn't do it themselves, no matter what some people may say! (Grin) They didn't accomplish it on their own, and it didn't happen by chance, or a random process. The richest king of the world in his time, Solomon would have had the most beautiful and fanciful clothes ever -- and his designers' and tailors' work couldn't compare with the flowers in the fields.
God uses his flowers to clothe the meadows and the pastures of this world.....do we really need to worry about whether we will have clothing to wear? (Or food, or whatever.)  ......then Jesus adds, "oh you of little faith.....
Now, He is not referring to their (our) trust in Him as their Savior. He doesn't mean our faith in Him as their Redeemer. He is talking about our faith that God will look after our needs in our lifetime here on earth. So often we are guilty of being people of so little faith.

We trust God to save us from our sins and guilt through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross -- but do we trust His Providence? His ways of working out things in the areas that we cannot control? Now, He may or may not work things out in the way we think that He should.....we have to remember that He is all knowing, and we are not....and He knows the ultimate end of each pathway or decision, and we do not! When we do not trust in Him, and give our worries over to Him, we are revealing that we are "of little faith."

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. (v 31-32)

In verses 31 and 32, we see people who are in a panic. They are "running after" the things they need. The picture that Jesus paints for His listeners is that of a believer who doesn't need to run after the things needed; he or she is able to be calm and at peace, assured of the loving Providence of the heavenly Father. Unbelievers may think that their future is in the hands of fate; they may only think about "karma." Believers know that our future is in the hands of God!

Then Jesus tells us what we should do:

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (v 33-34)

After we receive the righteousness that He provides, we can seek to glorify God in every aspect of our lives. Try to glorify God in our relationships with other people. Seek to act and react according to the way Christ would wish for us to. Try to glorify God in our work as we do it as unto God, not trying to please other people. If we seek Him in all of the different areas of our lives, we will allow Him to rule and reign, and He will be the main focus of our minds. Then worry will take care of itself; it will fade away because we are trusting Him to take care of our needs.

Lastly, Jesus tells us to make sure we don't allow the struggles of today to make us worry about tomorrow. God will give us grace for each day.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,    for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;    great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

There is no guarantee that we won't have problems tomorrow. But when we live one day at a time, we are trusting Him to keep each day in His all powerful hands. We can rest in the fact that He cares about us, and that fact will help us avoid worry. We can make sure that God is first in our lives, and that focus will crowd out worry. We can deal with the struggles of life one day at a time, and know that God's grace is available to us.....

All of these truths will help us to not worry.....and be happy!