how to live

In Matthew 5, 6 & 7 is Matthew's account of a significant talk that Jesus gave to a very large crowd.

This talk is called the Sermon on the Mount because He gave it while stand on the side of a large mountain.

We could all spend a lot of time just reading these 3 chapters – they hold that much stuff about what Jesus wanted people to know about God & living here on earth.

Here's a section that seems appropriate today.

We live in a VERY precarious time, both within America & in the extended world outside our borders.

It seems the world has gone crazy – crazier than usual.

And yet, if we believe Jesus & what He says, He wants us to not worry so much about things & trust Him & His Father more, even in the face of uncertainty.

This passage challenges me far, far more than it may challenge you. Read it slowly, read it again, & try to wrap your brain around what Jesus is saying here.

Matthew 6

19 "Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.

20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.

21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

  22 "Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body.

When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.

23 But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness.

And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
  

24 "No one can serve two masters.

For you will hate one and love the other;

you will be devoted to one and despise the other.

You cannot serve both God and money.

  25 "That is why I tell you do not worry about everyday life;

whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear.

Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing?

26 Look at the birds.

They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them.

And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?

27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
  

28 "And why worry about your clothing?

Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow.

They don't work or make their clothing,

29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.

Why do you have so little faith?

  31 "So don't worry about these things, saying,

'What will we eat?

What will we drink?

What will we wear?'

32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers,

but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else,

and live righteously,

and he will give you everything you need.

  34 "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.

Today's trouble is enough for today.