We all worry about something, whether it’s finances, health, family, work, or the future. These can easily consume our thoughts. In fact, a significant number of Australians report worrying about things that haven’t even happened yet and feeling overwhelmed with fear.
Then we meet Jesus, who challenges us in His Sermon on the Mount:
Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? (Mat 6:27)
Jesus is not dismissing legitimate concerns or anxiety disorders. He is exposing something far deeper. Earlier in the same chapter, He warns us against the danger of a divided heart. People who think they can have it both ways (serving God and wealth) are deceiving themselves. “No one can serve two masters … You cannot serve God and money” (Mat 6:24).
Jesus is against the kind of worry that flows from a divided heart: a heart that claims to trust God but lives as though He is absent from our everyday concerns.
Instead, Jesus calls us to live for Him wholeheartedly. He calls us to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mat 6:33). When we make His kingdom our priority and trust our heavenly Father’s care, we find the strength to face uncertain tomorrows without being ruled by them.
Reflection:
- What would it look like to seek God’s kingdom first in that situation today?
- What worry has been consuming your mind lately?
This devotion is sent weekly to staff during school terms. It has been lightly edited for a general audience.
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