Don’t be Anxious
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Matthew 6:24-25 ESV
Today was the first time I made the connection between these verses and 1 Timothy 6:6-8, “6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content,” which I wrote about a few days ago.
First let’s take a look at Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” When it comes to God and money Jesus is clear that we have to choose, and this verse gives it to us in a pretty black and white manner. As a Christian God should always be primary; never money. Whereas for many in this world, rich and poor, money is their God.
Now verses 25-34, “25 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Both 1 Timothy 6 and Matthew 6 mention food and clothing. In 1 Timothy 6 we’re told to be content if we have food and clothing. In Matthew 6 we’re told that life is about more than food and clothing. In 1 Timothy 6 we’re told to prioritize godliness. In Matthew 6 we’re also told to prioritize godliness. Why? Because it is God who actually provides for all of our needs, not money; and it is only in Him that we can find true contentment (anxiety free).