MATTHEW 6:34 – “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
THEME OF THE DAY: LEAVE TOMORROW ALONE. Today’s scripture is the conclusion of a lengthy portion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount dealing with the topic of anxiety. If you fight against this mental, emotional, and spiritual “beast” that seeks to control your life, spend time alone with the Lord in this section beginning in verse twenty-five.
As Jesus preaches on anxiety, He brings His words to an end with the application to basically just leave tomorrow alone – “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow”. For many of us, our battles with anxiety come from thinking, even being consumed with, the “what ifs” in a not promised tomorrow. Who has not been kept awake at night worried about something that might happen, not has happened, but looms in the future and we are convinced it will happen? It is like we claim sovereignty over our future and believe the negative “what ifs” are certainties. Well, Jesus has a couple of things to tell us about this type of thinking and living.
First, our Lord gives a command, not a suggestion to ponder, but a command not to worry about tomorrow – “Therefore do not worry about a tomorrow”. Obedience to this command is not easy. In fact, in and of ourselves, it is impossible. But remember, ALL OF GOD’S COMMANDS are impossible. We need not only saving grace. We need obeying grace which means God giving us the strength to obey His commands. So, don’t focus so much on how challenging it is to not worry. Instead start praising the Lord for giving us the power to not worry. Accept by faith that the power is there, and start doing battle against worry by refusing to allow it to grip our hearts by relying upon God’s grace to grip our hearts.
Another important truth Jesus would have us to learn and live in battling the anxiety that comes with dwelling on the “what ifs” of tomorrow is simply leave tomorrow alone – “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble”. There are enough battles to fight today; enough trials to endure today; enough temptations to defeat today; and if we attempt to bring all of tomorrow’s cares, trials, and temptations into today, we only exhaust ourselves and experience defeat today. Charles Spurgeon once said, “Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.” Yes, we must leave tomorrow alone because we are not promised it will even come!
Jesus would not be the only Person giving us advice on living life just today. James weighs in with good words to heed as well – “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:13-17).
So, keep life simple. Just today. Live it just today. Leave tomorrow alone. The grace of God that gets us through today will greet us tomorrow morning if tomorrow comes!
PRAYER: Father, help me to live the Christian life as You ordained – just one moment at a time.
REFLECTION: God’s grace is sufficient for today, just now, so don’t worry about tomorrow. Grace is there too!