Daily Devotion, January 27, 2020

Devotion:

Read Matthew 6:31-33.

These verses come at the conclusion of Jesus’ teaching about not worrying. When he told his original audience not to worry about what they would eat, drink, or wear, their tendency to worry about those things was more warranted than ours. Many who heard this teaching worked for daily wages and ate and drank only if they were hired for the day. Some days, they and their families simply went hungry. And when their shoes or clothes began to wear out, they would naturally begin to wonder, if not worry, about how they could ever afford new ones.

In contrast, I am ashamed that I “worry” about where we are going to eat out tonight and whether I should dress up or go casually. While our budgets may not allow us to eat whatever expensive food we might want or have the finest of clothing, most of us do not need to think twice about having enough to eat, drink, or wear. So we have a tendency to worry about “wants” instead of needs. The danger in this is we begin to seek things -- more things and better things. Jesus reminds us to seek Kingdom things and right relationship with God. When our focus shifts to Kingdom things, God provides for our needs, and we may even become more content with and thankful for our simpler lives.

Personal Worship Option:

Pray today for things you really need -- food, clothing, and shelter. Pray for contentment with your needs being met. Think about some of your wants and whether some of those are getting in the way of your seeking God’s kingdom and your relationship with God. Pray now for freedom from worry about needs and wants.