"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:31-34
This passage ends with the word “Therefore,” indicating a conclusion to what has been said (in v.19-30). The action required has been more than hinted at—but in case anyone missed it, “Do not worry!”
Do not worry about the things the godless worry about. Why? Because believers are cared for by God in a special way. And being God, He knows what we need before we do, and prior to when we start worrying (v.32).
In (v.33) Jesus utters these famous words: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness first does not mean make this the first item on our to-do lists, and then get busy with the rest of our lives. It means seek God first in all things. And yes, God does care about all the other things in our lives. When we seek God first, we receive more of Him, and everything else. When we seek everything else we are likely to receive neither.
Jesus ends this section about worry in the Sermon on the Mount by restating the summary conclusion, “Do not worry,” adding a specific warning about worrying about the future, since none of us knows precisely what the future may bring.
God help we who are prone to worry, to turn worry into prayer, trusting in You for our every need. Amen.