Peace Over Anxiety :: Deeper Devotion

Peace Over Anxiety

November 16, 2008

By Glenn Ansley

Matthew 6:25
For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?

My struggle to depend on God for all of my needs isn’t because I think I can provide for myself, but because I refuse to bow to His Lordship over my life. This passage used to look very different to me than it does today. In the past, I enjoyed turning to Matthew 6 whenever life got crazy and it was obvious that I needed my Savior’s help. It’s comforting to read, “But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith?” (Verse 30).

We must realize though, that as comforting and true as verse 30 remains, it is not the main point of Jesus’ teaching. It is but a reward for obeying His will and for committing your every action to His glory. Verse 25 begins, “For this reason I say to you…” We have to read the first part of the chapter to understand the “For this reason” that He’s referring to. Verse 24 says, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [bread].”

The point of Jesus’ message is that those who worry about their problems are focusing on the bread more than the one who made the bread. The reason you worry isn’t due to a lack of faith, but a lack of service to God. Anxiety is the natural outcome of loving your sinful desires more than your God. Peace is the natural outcome of loving your God more than your sinful desires. I challenge you to exam the priority in your life. Will you spend more time getting dressed or reading your Bible this morning? Your anxiety is directly related to your decision.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).