Matthew 6:34 (NKJV) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Both wealth and poverty can cause anxiety. The sudden downturn of the stock market can wipe millions if not billions off the rich and cause them to have sleepless nights, while the low-income workers who struggle with the ability to provide for their families especially during these past 2-3 years of Covid management have anxiety as well. Unfortunately, worrying doesn’t help us to resolve or overcome the challenges that we are facing today. In fact, worrying wears us down and drains us emotionally but achieves nothing. Therefore, Jesus is encouraging us not to worry about tomorrow because there is already enough trouble for today.
Every one of us has various worries in the different seasons of our lives. Some people are worried that they will not find a Christian life partner for marriage. Some are concerned that their children’s international school has a lack of qualified teachers. Many are worried that the economy is affecting their businesses badly. Some of us are concerned that there might be a downsizing in the company. Others are concerned that China will never be the same again. While it is within our abilities to make changes to some of the concerns that we have, other worrisome issues are simply beyond the control of the individual.
For those who are single and have high expectations of a Christian marriage partner, perhaps the answer is to adjust their standards slightly. If we are concerned about the quality of the teachers in our children’s school, then we should pray for good teachers to be recruited and do some homework regarding what other schools are offering. If there is a possible downsizing in the company, we should be thankful that God has provided well for us these past years to prepare us for the difficult years ahead. We need to pray for another job opening but also be open to God’s leading. We also need to spend time praying for the leadership of the nation, and to for us to have the wisdom to know how to adjust our business strategy if our business is suffering under the current policies.
Jesus gave us a way out of the worries, which is to have faith in God. He encourages us to put our priorities in the right order when we are worried, because He knows that there is a tendency for us to deal with the situation based on our own strength and drift away from Him.
Matthew 6:25-27 (NKJV) “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
Sermon Series: Having Trouble
不要忧虑….要有信心
马太福音6:34所以不要为 明天忧虑，因为明天自有明天的忧虑，一天的难处一天当就够了。
财富和贫穷都给我们带来焦虑。 股市的突然下跌可能会让富人失去数百万甚至数十亿的金钱，并导致他们彻夜难眠。 而那些低收入的工人，还在为养家糊口而挣扎，尤其是在这 2-3 年的新冠疫情管控期间，也会产生焦虑。不幸的是，忧虑并不能帮助我们解决或克服我们今天面临的挑战。 事实上，忧虑使我们疲惫不堪，心力交瘁，却一事无成。 因此，耶稣鼓励我们不要为明天忧虑，因为一天的难处一天当就够了。
我们每个人在我们生命的不同季节都有各种忧虑。有些人担心他们找不到基督徒成为婚姻的终生伴侣。有些人担心他们孩子的国际学校缺乏合格的教师。有许多人担心经济正在严重影响他们的业务。有许多人担心公司可能会裁员。还有一些人担心中国将永远不再一样。虽然我们有能力改变我们所关注的一些问题，但其他令人担忧的问题超出了个人的控制范围。
那些单身且对基督徒终生婚姻伴侣寄予厚望的人，也许答案是稍微调整他们的标准。如果我们关心学校教师的素质，那么我们需要为招聘到好的教师祷告，并且做做功课看看其他学校是否有更好的供给。如果公司可能裁员，那么我们需要感谢上帝在过去的几年里为我们提供了良好的条件，让我们为以后的艰难岁月做好准备。我们需要为另一个职位空缺祷告，同时对上帝的带领持开放态度。我们也需要花时间为这个国家的领导祈祷。如果我们的业务因当前政策而受到影响，我们祷告有智慧知道如何调整我们的业务战略。
耶稣给了我们一个摆脱忧虑的方法。 就是对上帝有信心。 当我们忧虑时，祂鼓励我们将优先事项放在正确的位置，因为祂知道我们倾向于依靠自己的力量来处理情况，而远离祂。
马太福音6:25-27所以我告诉你们，不要为生命忧虑吃什么，喝什么。为身体忧虑穿什么。生命不胜于饮食吗？身体不胜于衣裳吗？你们看那天上的飞鸟，也不种，也不收，也不积蓄在仓里，你们的天父尚且养活它。你们不比飞鸟贵重得多吗？你们哪一个能用思虑使它寿数多家一刻呢？（或作使身量多加一肘呢）
讲章系列：你是不是正在经历挑战？
Image Source：pixabay.com