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Response
Matthew 6:34 is a part of the Sermon on the Mount, a profound collection of teachings where Jesus addresses various topics such as prayer, forgiveness, blessings in the kingdom, and worry. The verse itself reads, “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” The statement “tomorrow will worry about itself” illustrates the pointlessness of losing sleep over tomorrow’s problems, especially when we already have challenges for today.
Many of us tend to focus on the future, imagining potential horrors that trigger anxiety about things beyond our control. However, tomorrow is beyond our reach; the only time we truly own is the present. Instead of pondering how we will handle tomorrow, we should embrace a “one day at a time” mindset. Excessive concern about the future indicates a lack of trust in the One who holds tomorrow in His hands. Even if an unforeseen tragedy occurs tomorrow, worrying will not prevent it; such matters are in God’s hands.
As Eugene Peterson aptly conveys in his Message paraphrase of Matthew 6:34, “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”
It is important to note that Jesus’ teaching does not discourage planning and prudent resource management; nor does He promote a hedonistic, YOLO lifestyle devoid of concern for the future. Wisdom dictates that we manage our resources as responsible stewards, as stated in Proverbs 21:7, and righteous living opposes hedonism. There is a clear distinction between planning and worrying. While we acknowledge that our actions hold eternal significance.In significance, disciples of Christ are called to live for God today. If God hasn’t called us home tomorrow, we embark on another day dedicated to Him.
Furthermore, Jesus’ broader teachings on worry emphasize the matter of priority. Using God’s care for birds and flowers as an example, Jesus reassures His followers that the Father knows their needs. Therefore, our primary concern should be “God’s kingdom and His righteousness” «But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. », (Matthew 6:33). We achieve this by first accepting God’s offer of forgiveness and His gift of righteousness (Romans 3:22-24). Subsequently, we live each day according to the King’s principles, empowered by the Holy Spirit. As we do, God promises to meet our needs, understanding our needs better than we do.
In addition to being futile, worry has many detrimental physical effects, including dizziness, breathing difficulties, panic attacks, and an increase in blood pressure (www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/effects-on-body#how-does-it-feel, accessed 9/25/23). All of God’s commands are for our benefit, including the directive not to worry (see Deuteronomy 10:12-13;Psalm 19:7-8).
So, how do we allow tomorrow to worry about itself? We accomplish this by relying on God to meet our needs, by prioritizing His values, and by living lives characterized by thanksgiving and contentment.
