Between Earthly Worries and Trust in the Lord

6:31 - 34

Summary: 1. Question. 2. Contrast examples. 3. Jesus does not say “no worries at all”. 4. Yet, in this life between earthly worries and trust in the Lord, the voice of latter has to be kept, and it has to be given priority.

Start with the specific question: how is it possible to reconcile on one hand the presence of the worries for the usual things on one hand and the trust in the Lord on the other?

Scripture often offers the contrast behaviors: wide and narrow gates, wise and foolish maidens, those who multiplied the talents and the one who hid it. In this case there is a contrast between two verbs: to be anxious on one hand and to seek on the other. To worry about what to eat, drink and put on, and to seek the kingdom and his righteousness. So to trust in the Lord, to rely on him, does not mean to have a passive behaviour, but to seek. The antithesis to “be anxious” is not to sit, but to seek. The verb “to seek” is important in the Scripture. The verb “to seek” has two objects: to seek the kingdom of God and to seek the righteousness, which is a metaphor to to living in the way the Lord requires. It is a sort of lifestyle of disciples. The disciple’s deepest wish and resolve must be to live in God’s way.[1]

[1] France, R. T. (2007). The Gospel of Matthew (p. 271). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publication Co.

Jesus Christ does not say that we do not need those things, inviting to live in a sort of ascetical way of life. Indeed, we read: “your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” and “and all these things will be given to you as well”

Humanly speaking, it is impossible probably to not have worries at all. The life of Christian is somewhere in the middle, between earthly worries and trust in the Lord.

Righteousness. We have already seen “righteousness” used several times for living in the way God requires (see p. 119, n. 15) … In 5:10, 20 it represents the distinctive lifestyle of disciples.

Conclusion. If the voice of the Lord is not always recognizable, and if his will is sometimes hard to understand, what a faithful can do is to seek his kingdom and righteousness. This passage is about putting the things in a proper order? I seek the righteousness, the Lord provides

Conclusion. There is also God behind all this, and he knows what we strive for

Conclusion. I will continue to seek for my right path, maybe it is this way?