What a fine, gentle rain this morning. Started with just a very slightly felt drizzle that ended with a shower that dusted off the trees and made the colors shine brightly again. The day ahead promises to be sort of cloudy. No, just now the sun is breaking through.
But what of the day. The Lord tells us, “Give your entire attention to what the Lord is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” Matthew 6,34. (MSG)
That verse is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, in which the Lord is teaching about the tendency of people to strive always for more. He points out that the flowers of the field are more colorful than “Solomon in his glory (who) was not dressed like one of them”. If God takes care of that, don’t you think He will and does take care of your needs. And if this is so, then spend time “Seeking first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you “. V.33.
A truth we tend to ignore. Put yourself in Moses’ shoes. He’s in charge! How am I going to feed this crowd? What about tomorrow? Etc. etc. But He found that God supplied, and just enough every morning for that day. Check Exodus 16,4. If they tried to save it for tomorrow, it decayed. BUT, on the 6th day they took in enough for two days and that did not decay! God’s providence.
The Book of Ecclesiastes, follows Psalms and Proverbs, is famous for exposing man’s futility. It exposes our total incapacity to find meaning and fulfillment in our lives on our own.
Understand me, it doesn’t mean we should not work hard at what lies at hand to do. We are to do our best, but never with an eye always on ‘getting ahead’, but in doing what we do to ‘please God’ as Peter and Paul suggest. It’s the conniving and effort to undermine another that is condemned. “Better is a handful of quietness than two hands striving after the wind.” Eccl.4,6. Proverbs has this word: “Better is a little with fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith” 15,6. And also: “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right”. 16,8.
Ah, to be content. St. Paul writes, and we might say it after him, “I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content”. Phil 4,11. Isn’t that enough? “And be content with such things as you have, for HE hath said, I will never leave you, or forsake you”. Heb. 13,5.
With such promises to live with, the kind of day it might turn out to be really doesn’t make any difference, does it, my Christian friend?
GPD 10/7/08
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