Jump Start # 775

Matthew 6:34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

One of the great lessons Jesus teaches us is how to view the day. Matthew six is a powerful series of principles against being anxious or worrying. Several times, Jesus plainly says, “Do not worry.” God takes care of the flowers and the birds, Jesus reminds the disciples. You are of more value than those. He will take care of you. Worry closes our eyes to blessings. Worry is faithless. Worry is not productive and generally makes things worse in our minds than what they actually are.

One cause of our worry is tomorrow. Our verse tells us not to worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow represents the unknown. We worry about the school test we have to take. We worry about the surgery we are going to have. We worry about what someone may say. We worry if we will run out of money in the future. Those fears build up inside of us. They rob our sleep and steal our appetites. We are a miserable wreck because of our worries.

For many people, guilt over the past and fear over the future destroys the peace that they ought to have for today. One of the great paradoxes is how Jesus wants us to view the calendar. Indeed, we are not to worry about tomorrow. That could lead us to the conclusion that we live for today and only today. That doesn’t work either. That narrow sightedness will catch up with us. The foolish virgins were not ready nor alert. Jesus’ stern warning, “You do not know the day nor the hour,” teaches that living for the moment, living with no thought about tomorrow is not the answer.

There are two considerations. First, the disciple of Jesus must give thought to tomorrow. Our life, our coming judgment, Heaven, are all future. We must make choices today that will affect our future. We must see beyond the moment.

However, in doing all this, we must not worry about tomorrow. We make plans and choices that will affect our tomorrow, but we must live today. That is the contrast. We understand this financially. A person who lives paycheck to paycheck is going to be in trouble some day. Not planning for a retirement will catch up with him and he will be in want. The wise person saves. He invests. He makes choices that will affect his future. He understands that what he does today will affect his tomorrow. He doesn’t know what tomorrow will bring. He can’t worry about that now.

Jesus said, “each day has enough trouble of it’s own.” Boy, that’s the truth. There is enough bad news today, that I don’t need to borrow tomorrow’s or dip back into yesterday’s. There are enough things to be done today. There are plenty of things to pray about today. There are  enough concerns today to keep us busy. There is no need to worry what’s coming around the bend, focus on where your boat is now.

It seems that some do all of this better than others. Some really get worked up about the unknown and what could happen tomorrow. They invent fears. They see things that aren’t there. In doing all this, they most likely miss out on opportunities today that would ease those fears about tomorrow. Our kids bring a lot of these worries and fears. Who they hang out with, how they do in school, the type of jobs they get and how they spend money can drive mom and dad crazy. The wise parent instructs today, knowing that the lessons today will affect tomorrow. A teenager who is irresponsible about money can’t see past Friday and going to a movie with friends. Warning him about how he will make it when he’s married and has a mortgage is way beyond his thinking. His mind is filled with what kind of pizza to eat. He doesn’t even think about life beyond high school. Parents do. They get worked up about these things. We try to pound life lessons into their heads and it doesn’t seem to get anywhere. They are so focused on today that they can’t see tomorrow and parents can be so focused on tomorrow that they don’t see today.

Jesus’ words help. We don’t forget about tomorrow. We don’t ignore tomorrow. However, we live today. There is enough to do today. Make today a good day. Make today a trophy day to give to God. We live today as if one foot is already in Heaven! This day, I will give to the Lord!

Roger