Recent surveys reveal that most people worry about certain day-to-day matters in their lives. High up on the lists of common worries are: money & debt;
worries about employment, housing, ageing, health, appearance and relationships, while being separated from a mobile phone is a growing worry for
many. When it comes to worrying, we are no different from those who lived generations ago, even though our lifestyles now are vastly different from those of
our forebears.
2000 years ago, the people of Galilee had worries of their own. The region of Galilee was the place where God chose to intervene in a sinful world that had
lost its direction. Towards the end of his discourse recorded in Matthew 6, Jesus told the large crowds of people not to worry about the things that were
dominating their thoughts. He said: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes – your heavenly Father knows what you need”. Jesus went on to say “Seek first the
Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”.
So when Jesus told them not to worry about day-to-day matters, He wanted them to lift their eyes away from their worrying circumstances, and to see the much bigger picture of God’s Kingdom; to seek after it, to find it and to enter into the righteousness of God, as a first priority. The message Jesus gave to the Galilean population was just the start of an earth shattering intervention by God when many miraculous signs were seen. This authenticated the deity of Jesus and culminated in His death at the hands of his enemies on the first ‘Good Friday’. After three days God demonstrated his resurrection power when He raised Jesus from the dead; an event that changed history because it means that with Jesus there is life after physical death.
Since that time many millions of people throughout the world have responded to the words of Jesus and have entered into God’s amazing Kingdom. Why not take a break from your worries; seek and find the Kingdom of God, where you will find hope for today and for eternity.
Geoff Duncombe
The Gateway Church, King’s Lynn
19 October 2015