What Does Matthew 6:26 Mean?

"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

Matthew 6:26(NASB)

Verse of the Day

This is a verse about the foolishness of worry and the faithfulness of God as our gracious Provider, but too often we worry about the things in this life. We can be anxious about the future and we can fret about the past. We can worry about our finances, our families, and our futures, our reputation, and our relationships, and yet the Lord points out the futility of worry – for if He provides for the little birds, how much more will He provide for those that are His children?

Some people quite like to have something to fret about and are even worried if they find they have nothing to worry them! But there is a serious side to worrying about the needs and necessities of our everyday life, for in God's economy worry is a sin – the sin of unbelief. Worry can morph in to dissatisfaction and discontent, and can even develop into murmuring complaints against the Lord.

We certainly live in a world of trials and tribulations, but as God's own blood-bought children we do not have to fall into the world's way of worrying, for Christ has instructed us to cast all our cares and worries upon His shoulders. But this comes back to trust. Do we really trust God to keep His promises to us? He has undertaken to be our Provider and Comforter, our Advocate and our Help in time of trouble.

His ways are not our ways - and His answers to our worries often differ from the way we would have solved them. But surely the Creator of the world knows the absolute best for His children. Don't forget that He "is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think," and all His ways are just, and all His paths are peace if we would but trust Him.

So let us take the Lord at His Word and trust Him. When we are faced with a 'worry' let us simply claim His promises of provision, His support, and sufficiency, for all His promises are 'yes' and 'amen' in Christ Jesus our Lord.

My Prayer

Loving Father, I confess that I find it quite easy to worry but I realise this is foolishness and a demonstration of my lack of faith in Your great and precious promises. Thank You for giving me the example of the little birds who simply rely on Your loving provision and protection. May I rest in Your love, knowing that You will provide for all my needs according to Your riches in glory. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.

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