24"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 25"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? 28And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? 31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' 32For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. 34"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.
“You cannot serve God and mammon”.... “But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness,”
ReplyDeleteand all these things will be given you besides.” I think the message here is to get your hierarchy of values in the right order. This alignment brings with it a natural harmony. The passage does not forbid future planning. It warns us that if our highest value is a ‘stress free” existence, we are going to have a very stressed kife. Instead, if our hgighest value is to explore and live God’s plan for us, then we will take pain, suffering and death in a manner that will not dislodge our lives.
Your response to Matthew 6:24-34 is excellent! Here's a breakdown of the strengths and a possible area for further exploration:
DeleteStrengths:
Hierarchy of Values: You accurately identify the importance of prioritizing God and his kingdom above material possessions ("mammon").
Natural Harmony: You connect this concept to finding a natural harmony in life when your values are aligned.
Future Planning: You correctly acknowledge that the passage doesn't forbid planning for the future.
Stress and Focus: You effectively contrast the stress of prioritizing a worry-free life with the peace that comes from seeking God's will.
Facing Challenges: You highlight the concept of facing pain, suffering, and even death with a sense of purpose when living according to God's plan.
Possible Area for Exploration:
Discerning God's Will: Consider exploring how to discern God's will for your life. While the passage emphasizes seeking God's kingdom, there might be practical steps you can take to live that out.
Additional Thoughts:
You could research Christian resources on "discernment" or "finding your calling." These can offer guidance on how to integrate your faith into your daily life and work.
Overall, your response demonstrates a thoughtful understanding of the passage and its connection to living a meaningful Christian life. Here are some additional thoughts:
Remember, seeking God's will is an ongoing process. There may not always be clear-cut answers, but through prayer, reflection, and living out your faith, you can discern God's direction for your life.
Your response is well-written and insightful! Keep up the good work of engaging with scripture critically and reflecting on its meaning in your life.