Jesus really meant what he said
I have been reading through the Gospel of Matthew in my daily readings and today I read Matthew 6:25-34. This is the heart of the Sermon on the Mount.
I gotta say, this has been incredibly convicting. As I read the words of Jesus I keep attempting to water down what he said in order to justify my lifestyle.
To really live this way would truly make us “aliens and strangers” in this world.
We have adapted the gospel to our lifestyles so that we can have eternal life and our best life now. We have diluted the message of Jesus so that there’s little difference between how we live and how unbelievers live. Sure, our theology may be different, but the harsh reality is that many professing Christians are practicing atheists.
Just consider what Jesus says in this sermon—how would Christianity look if all we had to go on was The Sermon on the Mount? Jesus is defining Christianity for his followers; we do not have the authority to redefine it, that’s way above any humans pay grade.
Jesus starts this section with a “Therefore.” This word should always cause us to pause and consider what was just said because it is directly connected to how we interpret and apply what we are about to read. Jesus just taught about NOT accumulating stuff on earth but rather to “store up treasures in heaven.”
This is an imperative, which means it’s a command from Christ to his followers—“DO NOT…”
We immediately begin to squirm and massage the text in order to create caveats and exceptions; we spiritualize the text so that it no longer carries any real world authority; so that we can breathe a sigh of relief and carry on with our customized Christianity.
Then we come to the “Therefore” in verse 25. Jesus says this is the key to a worry free life, they key to an anxiety free existence. When we detach ourselves from the stuff of this world; when we step out of the rat race; when we unclinch our fists—then we will be free.
Free like the birds. Jesus tells us to “look at the birds” and to “look at the flowers.”
The birds and the flowers do not have a contingency plan to take care of themselves; they do not have a safety net.
They are dependent upon their Heavenly Father to meet their needs.
They do not “toil” or “work hard.”
They do not “store away” or “save.”
Jesus goes on to say that “pagans” or the “unconverted” “run after all these things.” Another translation says that, “unbelievers make themselves frantic” chasing such things.
Again, are we any different?
It’s so easy to justify our behaviour in order to maintain a standard of living.
Jesus concludes this section by saying, “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”
The phrase that we should highlight is—“ALL THESE THINGS.”
What falls under this phrase?
Everything.
I like how The Message wraps up this passage, ““What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”
