Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Trust in the Providence of God
St. Mathew 6:19-34This passage is part of the teachings of the Messiah to his disciples: the Sermon on the Mount. A collection of short sayings and arguments are united by the theme of possessions. While materialistic pleasures occupy our minds most of the time, Jesus calls upon us to put God first by trusting in him to meet our requirements here on earth.
Jesus’ concern about wealth and materialism
In the first part of today’s passage, Jesus warns about wealth and materialism. A treasure is that which has value and is worth something to someone. Where is our heart, focused on earth or focused on heaven? Jesus’ concern is that we guard against centering our lives around houses, furnishings, cars, lands, buildings, stocks-all the things that makeup security and wealth on this earth. The reason is simply understood: nothing on this earth is secure and lasting. It is all corruptible and temporal. Jesus wants us to center our lives on Him and heaven which is permanent and eternal.
Jesus says the Kingdom of God is within you. You can’t find it unless you take away the deposit on earth. We have built our own kingdom around us. It is only when this worldly kingdom breaks, the Kingdom of God arises. A Kingdom where rust and vermin have nothing to destroy, and thieves have nothing to steal. This kingdom is not physical, it is spiritual. Only the soul is immortal, so invest wisely.
The light of the body is the eye
So then, if your eye is generous, the whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is grudging, your whole body will be in the dark. If, then, the light which is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness (v.22, 23). What we need is not just eyes, but eyes to see the true meaning. Then God is called father, neighbor is called brother.
No one can serve two masters (6:24)
Better translation is “No man can be a slave to two owners”. God’s slave is free. Mammon’s slave is in bondage. God’s slave is led to life. Mammon’s slave is led to death. God’s slave experiences bliss, whereas mammon’s slave experiences only physical pleasure. The one who loves God hates mammon and the one who loves mammon hates God.
God’s providence- do not worry
Today’s theme “Trust in the Providence of God” is directly derived from the next section of the passage i.e. Mt. 6:25-34. Here Jesus teaches the supreme life philosophy and life management. This counsel meets one of the greatest needs of men, the need to be delivered from worry and anxiety. Do not worry about necessities (v.25) like your life and body (v.25), food and shelter (v.26), your life (v. 27), and clothing (v. 28, 30, 32). Jesus is not suggesting that a man must not prepare for life-that he be lazy, shiftless, and thoughtless with a no-care attitude. Being preoccupied with the material possessions of life causes anxiety and mental stress and also we forget eternity. The most precious gift of God is our body and life, so He will provide for the needs of it to sustain. By worrying we can’t extend our life but only shorten it. The value of life is not merely based on wealth. Live one day at a time and take it as it is. So “seek first His kingdom and righteousness”. Material things can only make a person comfortable. They are external and outside man. We need things that are inwardly and spiritually satisfying. Worry ends where trust begins. Our God is enough and sufficient for us to provide for our needs and make us satisfied.
Let me share an experience with you all:
The Lord led us to start a mission at a place called Beohari, an interior village in the state of Madya Pradesh. A purely local place with no Malayalees or even Christians. We arrived there on September 1st, 1995. People had a very hostile attitude towards outsiders due to which we couldn’t even find a house to stay in. Castism was strong in these areas and doing missionary work in such an environment was actually threatening and dangerous. We had nowhere to go or no one who would give us a rented house. To our surprise, a person approached us saying there is an outsider staying nearby, maybe he is a Christian. We went in search of him and found that he was a Christian from Bihar working there. When we approached him, he exclaimed, “God sent you as an answer to my prayers, you may stay with me”. Those were the moments when we realized that no matter how hard or lost one may be, God has always ways arranged for us to move ahead in life. We believe that we were brought into the life of that Christian brother because both of us needed each other's support. Our Lord works mysteriously and is enough and sufficient for us.
Jesus’ concern about wealth and materialism
In the first part of today’s passage, Jesus warns about wealth and materialism. A treasure is that which has value and is worth something to someone. Where is our heart, focused on earth or focused on heaven? Jesus’ concern is that we guard against centering our lives around houses, furnishings, cars, lands, buildings, stocks-all the things that makeup security and wealth on this earth. The reason is simply understood: nothing on this earth is secure and lasting. It is all corruptible and temporal. Jesus wants us to center our lives on Him and heaven which is permanent and eternal.
Jesus says the Kingdom of God is within you. You can’t find it unless you take away the deposit on earth. We have built our own kingdom around us. It is only when this worldly kingdom breaks, the Kingdom of God arises. A Kingdom where rust and vermin have nothing to destroy, and thieves have nothing to steal. This kingdom is not physical, it is spiritual. Only the soul is immortal, so invest wisely.
The light of the body is the eye
So then, if your eye is generous, the whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is grudging, your whole body will be in the dark. If, then, the light which is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness (v.22, 23). What we need is not just eyes, but eyes to see the true meaning. Then God is called father, neighbor is called brother.
No one can serve two masters (6:24)
Better translation is “No man can be a slave to two owners”. God’s slave is free. Mammon’s slave is in bondage. God’s slave is led to life. Mammon’s slave is led to death. God’s slave experiences bliss, whereas mammon’s slave experiences only physical pleasure. The one who loves God hates mammon and the one who loves mammon hates God.
God’s providence- do not worry
Today’s theme “Trust in the Providence of God” is directly derived from the next section of the passage i.e. Mt. 6:25-34. Here Jesus teaches the supreme life philosophy and life management. This counsel meets one of the greatest needs of men, the need to be delivered from worry and anxiety. Do not worry about necessities (v.25) like your life and body (v.25), food and shelter (v.26), your life (v. 27), and clothing (v. 28, 30, 32). Jesus is not suggesting that a man must not prepare for life-that he be lazy, shiftless, and thoughtless with a no-care attitude. Being preoccupied with the material possessions of life causes anxiety and mental stress and also we forget eternity. The most precious gift of God is our body and life, so He will provide for the needs of it to sustain. By worrying we can’t extend our life but only shorten it. The value of life is not merely based on wealth. Live one day at a time and take it as it is. So “seek first His kingdom and righteousness”. Material things can only make a person comfortable. They are external and outside man. We need things that are inwardly and spiritually satisfying. Worry ends where trust begins. Our God is enough and sufficient for us to provide for our needs and make us satisfied.
Let me share an experience with you all:
The Lord led us to start a mission at a place called Beohari, an interior village in the state of Madya Pradesh. A purely local place with no Malayalees or even Christians. We arrived there on September 1st, 1995. People had a very hostile attitude towards outsiders due to which we couldn’t even find a house to stay in. Castism was strong in these areas and doing missionary work in such an environment was actually threatening and dangerous. We had nowhere to go or no one who would give us a rented house. To our surprise, a person approached us saying there is an outsider staying nearby, maybe he is a Christian. We went in search of him and found that he was a Christian from Bihar working there. When we approached him, he exclaimed, “God sent you as an answer to my prayers, you may stay with me”. Those were the moments when we realized that no matter how hard or lost one may be, God has always ways arranged for us to move ahead in life. We believe that we were brought into the life of that Christian brother because both of us needed each other's support. Our Lord works mysteriously and is enough and sufficient for us.
Prayer
O Lord, you are our creator and sustainer. Help us to understand your care, love, and providence for us. Thank you for your faithfulness. Amen.
Rev. M. C. Varghese
St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Variyapuram
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church
St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Variyapuram