“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? 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? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 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? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:25-34
Health and wellness are two of today’s culture’s great idols.
Millions live enslaved to worry about whether they’re eating well enough, absorbing too many toxins while cleaning the kitchen, getting vaccinations that may kill their children, or not getting vaccinated and therefore killing other people’s children, washing our hands enough, and a thousand other variables that feed into being all-natural, organic, additive free, and therefore “healthy”.
Apologies for being a bit snarky there, but, seriously. We live in an age where health is a religion of its own.
A couple weeks ago I wrote a post about Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25-35 and how they’ve become so valuable to me over the last several months when thinking about finances. But, as always, the truths in these verses apply much more widely.
First world problems
In Matthew 6 Jesus is telling his disciples not to worry about whether they’ll have food, clothing, and the other basic needs for life. Theirs was a subsistence culture. The daily worries they had were for practical things, so Jesus addressed those worries directly. In contrast, those of us in the modern western world generally aren’t worried about what we’ll wear or eat tomorrow. Odds are you have a closet that’s more than full of clothing options, and a grocery store a couple miles away equally full with eating options.
Ours is not a subsistence culture. Our core worries have moved to “higher” things. Things like health and wellness and social responsibility.
The fact that scientific research has given us a wealth of knowledge about what is good for us is a powerful thing. But when healthy living starts controlling our money and lifting our anxiety that should be a warning to us that it may be becoming an idol rather than simply helpful knowledge.
Do Not Be Anxious
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 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? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
If Jesus was speaking to modern American culture when he said the words above, I don’t think he would focus on having clothes or food to eat. Instead he would admonish us not to be anxious about whether what we’re eating is healthy enough or whether your laundry detergent has toxins in it.
Consider the lilies of the field. Consider the last several generations of humanity. God has cared for them and given them life and health in good measure. Oh yes, be wise about what you eat and intentional about caring for the body that God has given you. Just don’t let your search for wellness lead to worry and anxiety. If it’s leading you there it is probably becoming an idol and taking precedence over your focus on Jesus and his Kingdom.
Seek the Kingdom First
Jesus’ driving point in these verses is that the focus of our lives should be God’s kingdom and faithfully following his commands. We must seek God’s kingdom with more passion than we seek our own health. Our wellness must take second place to delight in Christ.
Fear, anxiety, and worry have terrible power to distract us from the Kingdom of God. His is a Kingdom founded on faith, hope, and love. As the Apostle says, “true love casts out fear.”
Unbelievers (gentiles, as Jesus says in this passage) seek and are anxious about things such as what to wear, wellness, eating only the healthiest of diets, and avoiding sickness.
Oh you of little faith, why do you fear? Why are you anxious about whether your life is healthy enough? Why do you spend hours researching the least toxic carpet cleaner and mere minutes soaking in Jesus’ presence? Why do you invest hundreds in essential oils and only cents on giving generously? Why do you frantically sanitize your hands and wear your facemasks and become blind to faith, hope, and love?
Seek first the kingdom of God and all the things you need will be added to you. Your Father in heaven knows and gives what is good to his children. Trust him with your health.
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