Consider the Most Important Things

I recently read some statistics that stated 65% of Canadians are losing sleep over finances and 34% have no confidence concerning any aspect of their financial situation. So, there appears to be quite a few stressed out Canadians walking about. Now, I have to be honest, there have been times when I have been stressed out about finances and material needs as well. What about you? In fact, I’m probably the perfect candidate to wear the label of, “worry wart.” The sad thing is that’s not a label God wants me to wear.

In Matthew 6:25 Jesus has instructed me to, “Take no thought” (don’t live in anxiety) about such things as food, clothing, and other necessities. What?! Don’t worry about those things?! Doesn’t Jesus know how important food, clothing, and shelter are? Well, actually He does because in verse 32 He told me God knows I need those very things to exist. So how could He tell me not to worry about material things? Well, I’ll let you investigate the passage and discover for yourself the reasons Jesus gave to not worry or panic. It’s found in Matthew 6:19-34.

What I’m really mulling over at this moment is the thought-provoking question Christ asked in those verses. Here it is. Are you ready? He asked, “Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” In other words, “Isn’t there more to life than simply eating food and wearing clothes (raiment)?” Or another way to ask the question is, “Don’t you need more than just food and clothing in life?” By way of a question Jesus was attempting to divert the attention of His listeners from their material needs to their spiritual needs.

Because I live in a material world so much of my attention can be devoted to material needs. Let’s face it, they will only take real loonies and toonies at the Superstore and only real food will fill my empty stomach. So I have real legitimate material needs. However, Jesus wants me to consider my real spiritual needs, which are the most important necessities in life.

For example, my body does need to be nourished with food but my soul needs the nourishment of God’s Word every day (Matthew 4:4). You see, I could feast at a King’s table every day of my life and still be unsatisfied, because there is more to life than simply enjoying a delicious meal. I could be decked out in the latest and snazziest fashions, but what good would that do if I wasn’t clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22). Wow, that is definitely more important because one day I will stand before God the judge of all the world, and “the fashion police” will not be present. I’m thankful for the roof over my head that protects me from rain and other elements of the weather. However, that roof could sag, crumble, and leak, but what kind of danger would I be in were it not for God’s eternal protection (John 10:27-30)?

So, as I close I do so having come to one conclusion… there is more to life than just food and clothing. I do have more important needs then simply material things. I have some very important spiritual needs as well and I would be wise to stop and consider those spiritual needs on a daily basis.

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