More To Life (Matthew 6:25)

 


Tuesday, 23 September, 2025


Psalms 54; 55:1-12

1 Kings 13:20-34

Matthew 6:25-7:5


More To Life (Matthew 6:25)


[Jesus said] “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?”


There is a certain saying, “if you are a capitalist when you are young you have no heart; if you are a communist when you are old you have no brain”. As a reformed political agnostic, I love this saying, because it offends everyone and no-one, and is perfect for the court jester among us. But I think there is some truth to this, in that when we are young, probably around the age of puberty, we get a rude shock when we discover the world is not up to our standard. I have heard a theory that suggests that this is a good instinct for Christians to have, that we should take that youthful aspiration and use it in the pursuit of blessing our fellow man.


It is wonderful that our Lord admits openly that there is more to life. There is more to life than a nice meal, or a well-cut suit. There is more to life. It reminds me of the Teacher in Ecclesiastes when he observes that God has made us with an awareness of eternity, but hasn’t filled in the details (Ecclesiastes 3:11).


Jesus wants us to lift our minds from the distractions of the ordinary, but he also wants us to pay attention to the ordinary. Sufficient is the day for its own trouble, and so by releasing ourselves of petty concerns we can do God’s work in approaching the troubles of the day. There is more to life than food and clothes; there is our eternal soul, and all the eternal souls we will share the day with.


What is bogging you down at the moment? How could you cut through the noise and focus on loving the Lord and loving your neighbour?


Lord of life, who calls us from the petty concerns of the world so as to be the enfleshed spirits you have made us to be: give us hearts to seek first your kingdom, so that you can supply all our needs, as we focus on growing into your love.

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