Every day this week, I have heard about someone receiving lay off notices from their work because of this crisis. I was laid off in a previous job. It is a jarring experience. You have to process your emotions and communicate with your family. Then you begin to apply for unemployment insurance. You take a careful look at your budget and pull back on spending. Each day is a battle to look for work or occupy time with something worthwhile.
Yet, like everything else in life, God is right there with us through layoffs and unemployment. Matthew 6:25-34 is great passage to ponder in times like these. It’s part of Jesus’ message called the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV) Do Not Be Anxious
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious 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? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
I notice some comforting realities from Jesus’ words.
First, Jesus commands us not to be anxious about the necessities of life – food, drink and clothes. Times like these strip the extras from our lives. We’re brought back to our basic needs. Jesus does not promise that we will get everything we want. But He does promise provision of basic needs.
Second, God has provided visual reminders in His creation of His providing love. The birds of the air continue to get food. We still have snow on the ground where I live. It’s still quite cold at night. But there are birds that stay here all winter in our harsh climate. They find food and survive. Flowers and plants also remind us of God’s provision. We don’t have any lilies in our fields yet. But soon buds will start and bulbs will push through the soil to remind us of God’s continuing provision for them.
So when you get out for those family walks today, listen for the birds and look at how they still find food. Look for the flowers or plants and see how God clothes them. Then rest in His loving provision for you. I will pick up some more observations from this text tomorrow.
"Heavenly Father, thank you for these words of encouragement from Jesus. Help us to see your provision for birds and flowers today. Then remind us of your ongoing care for us - one day at a time."