I didn’t grow up in a poor household. We definitely didn’t have very much that would be considered extravagant. But I never went without food or clothing. My siblings and I always had the things that we needed. I realize now that I took that for granted. It didn’t just “happen”. My mom and dad worked hard everyday to provide for us. They actually went without sometimes so that we wouldn’t have to.
It wasn’t until I got married and had children that I actually felt the weight of providing for someone besides me. As most people back then, we struggled. We didn’t have much. I would look at the checkbook balance, (back when people actually wrote checks!) and compare it with the bills that had to be paid. I would work extra jobs to earn more money. The stress of being responsible for the financial stability of a family was intense.
I was talking one day with a man named Jim that attended our church about money and I actually asked him how he was able to not let the pressure get to him. He basically said to me, “Because it’s not my job to worry about it. That’s God’s job! My responsibility is to work hard and to be a good steward of what He gives to me. He’s promised to take it from there!”
There’s a popular passage of Scripture that I love to return to every now and then to get good perspective back. In Matthew 6 Jesus is talking about how He cares for the sparrows and will provide for them. So if He provides for birds, He really will provide for us! He promises to provide food and clothing for us.
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:33,34
There are 2 things to learn from this.
The first is 1) Don’t worry. As Jim said to me, “There’s nothing positive that comes from worrying about it! That’s God’s job to take care of it!”
2) Seek God. Press into Him and work on your relationship with Him and He will take care of what you need.
Do you worry over the things that God has promised to provide for you? Does that stress and anxiety overshadow your trust in God? This year try to give those things to Him and let Him do what He does!
SOAP Scripture: Matthew 6:33,34
S: (scripture)
Read the above passage and underline, highlight, or write down passages that stand out to you. Maybe re-read it a few times if that’s helpful.
O: (observation)
Write down things you observe about the passage. Maybe it’s a word that stood out to you, something the passage made you think about, or a question that you have.
A: (application)
Write down some ways that the passage applies to your life. Make it personal.
P: (prayer)
Take a moment and pray. Ask God to make the passage practical to your everyday life.
