What Does Matthew 6:31 Mean?

"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?'

Matthew 6:31(NASB)

Verse of the Day

How easy it is to start to worry about the necessities of life and to become anxious when we see that food is getting scarce, clothing is getting worn, the rent is overdue, or when we have to face the loss of a job or a home.

All such things are considered to be the basic needs and necessities of life, and how easy it is to find our heart racing and our minds spinning when we lack the basics that sustain our mortal life. But worry is an expression of unbelief in the Father-heart of God, for we are told that God knows all our needs, and to trust Him in all things.

To adopt a heart of worry when we are faced with lack, is to step into the realm of the unbeliever, for Scripture reminds us that in the world system it is the unbelievers, the Gentiles, the pagans that fret over the basics of life and adopt an attitude of anxiety.

It is a pagan mind-set that has overtaken society today, an intellectual perception which has eliminated the truth that God is our provider, a worldview that has excluded God from the equation of life and adopted an attitude of self-sufficiency instead of God-sufficiency.

It is when Christ has been placed at the centre of our lives and we trust Him to be our all-sufficient saviour that faith in Him matures. As trust in Him increases, so worry and fear decline.

Numerous times throughout Scripture, the Lord tells us to "fear not." What a comfort to our hearts to read these Scriptures, to let the words bring reassurance and solace to our aching souls. 

"I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.'"

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

When our heart is trusting Him in all things and Christ is in the centre of our lives, we will find that anxiety has no place in our thinking and faith in His Word will increase, despite life's circumstances, until we come to know Him as our all-sufficient Provider as well as our all-sufficient Saviour.

My Prayer

Loving Heavenly Father, I know that when I worry, I have moved away from trusting You and all that Your Word has promised. Help me to be centered on Christ, rather than centered on self. Thank You that You are sufficient to provide all I need, just when I need it. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.

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