Tuesday, August 2nd, 2022

As evidenced by political polls, the state of the economy is the top issue on the minds of people in this country. We’ve all lived through times in the last two years that most of us never dreamed we’d see, and many of us have experienced loss. Now that we seem to be facing an uncertain time again, many of us remember God’s promises to give us a hope and a future and for all things to work together for good. I want to remind us all of another promise: Proverbs says, “The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.” Jesus echoed this in Matthew when he taught to seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you — and if we look at that verse in context — Jesus is directly addressing mankind’s fears over what they will find to eat next and what clothes they will have on their backs! What we can learn from this teaching, in this time, is that if we seek first the Kingdom of God, God will provide us what we need in our mission. So, rather than fret over what may happen — or what already has happened — seek the Kingdom of God first. Provide for the needy in spite of not knowing where our next meal comes from. Spread the Good News no matter how it may be received. Give thanks for what God gives each of us, trusting in the hand that provided it. Do all this in the name of Jesus Christ, the one who has overcome this world.

“The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.” — Proverbs 10:3

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.“ — Matthew 6: 25-34