(Be anxious of nothing)
In Matthew 6:25, we read:
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry 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?”
“For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
(Matthew 6:32-33).
We are commanded not to be anxious about our life. This does not mean that we should not work to meet our needs. This passage establishes a nomenclature of what should be our priority – life itself. The expression “do not be anxious” is found nineteen times in the New Testament. Some versions of the Bible have the word “worry” instead of “anxious”, from the Greek word ‘merimnaō’. It means to expand careful thought, to concern one’s self, to have the thoughts occupied with [something], to feel an interest in, to worry, to have anxiety or to be concerned.
The Bible warns specifically against the risk of entertaining anxiety. In fact, Proverbs 12: 25 says: “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad”. The word of God makes the heart glad when the Lord makes us lie in the green pastures. His word is able to divide between soul and spirit and to restore our soul. Anxieties are a human reality, which destroy us slowly but certainly. We need to make them known unto the Lord who is able to restore peace and health in us. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7). We should work and ask the Lord to bless the works of our hand but we should avoid covetousness and be content with such things as we have while trusting that Yahweh Yireh will supply all our needs, according to His riches in glory. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 says: ”Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows".
It is self-delusional to think that if one becomes rich, then all of the problems would instantly disappear. In fact, wealth brings its own set of anxieties, such as fear of theft and loss which can rob a rich person of sleep and peace. But the one who is sustained with daily bread from the Lord rests in the comfort of knowing that God meets all of his needs. This is “contentment with godliness”. Therefore, we should praise our gracious God each day, for He sustains us and our families. We should be grateful and thankful for His daily care and the sufficient provision, which is always enough. We take comfort in His faithfulness, and we take shelter in the shadow of His wing. May He grow us in “contentment with godliness”, and a greater realisation that His grace is always sufficient for us.
Let’s remind ourselves that Yahwe-Yireh in Hebrew means “the Lord will provide”. This name appears in the Bible for the first time in Genesis 22:13-14.
Further suggested reading for personal Bible meditation:
Psalm 94:19; Psalm 127:1-2; 1 Timothy 6:10-11 and Ecclesiastes 5:12.
To God be the glory!
Guy