You don’t need me to list more statistics or site situations to prove that our society lives with financial pressures. You and I both know that is a given. Our text this week in worship (Matthew 6:24-33) offers some choice ideas to live through such pressure. The part I’m finding really helpful these days is the idea about noticing the natural world. I’ve always believed that we humans were the highest species, certainly higher than plant life and even higher than any other animal. But, looking in the rearview mirror of my life, that may not be accurate. Jesus prods me here. Who has more anxiety: the average plant, the average bird, my average horse or the average Steve Moore? That isn’t such a fun question to answer, but that’s the one Jesus has come up with this time. What is the root of that pressure? What circumstances are most likely to create that pressure?
Here are several ideas that Jesus offers so I can live with the tranquility of a flower, bird or my horses:
1) Get it straight that God is my master and not me.
2) Live generously, so that I own my stuff instead of my stuff owning me.
3) Take time to notice the wonder of the natural world and remember Who has the power to make it and sustain it.
4) Remember (not arrogantly) that God cares more about me, my family, friends and church more than He does about the rest of His creation.
5) Live so that I will find satisfaction in the events of every day.
6) Make it my life goal to keep God on the throne of my heart so that His integrity and compassion are fleshed out in my actions.
7) Acknowledge that the things which created financial pressure in the past either soon will not matter, or God will provide them.
