You cannot serve God and mammon.
Maybe if we realize the degree to which we are serving mammon rather than it serving us we will be motivated to free ourselves of its tyranny. If there is a empty vacuum where the true King and master is meant to be in our lives we will find mammon eager to fill that void. Earthly treasure, in whatever fashion it appeals to us, pride, comfort, excitement, and pleasure, among its forms, will have nothing to keep it in check and prevent it from running amok in our lives. We begin to imagine that it is such things that can fundamentally make us happy, and then, shortly, that we can't be happy without such things. Before long we are unwilling to compromise on them even if it seems God would have us do so. We discern by our base priorities that such a call couldn't be from God if it conflicts with what we ourselves desire.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink,
or about your body, what you will wear.
Even the most fundamental of our desires, of concern for the most basic of necessities, will end up doing more harm than good if they exist without reference to God. If food and drink and clothing come first the only way to really ensure that we always have enough is for us to run the entire universe in its every aspect and control perfectly all events of history. By contrast, if God himself comes first we can know that the our "heavenly Father knows" that what we need, and not only knows, but cares. We can enter into a calm and a peace so great that from a selfish mammon-ruled paradigm it seems irresponsible.
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
We are not told not to plan, nor not to take prudent actions to prepare. We are told rather not to worrying, which is a feeling that pretends to be planning but does nothing productive. It is actually a paralysis of analysis wherein we spend time in loops of thought that we pretend somehow of themselves can change our situation. When instead God is on the throne we use the gift of discernment, make decisions, and trust God. We are open to being redirected by him if things change. When the Kingdom comes first we are not only allowed but called to cast our cares on the God who cares for us (see First Peter 5:7). We are called to not allow our hearts to be troubled or afraid (see John 14:1). One reason for this is because we are more open and receptive to the voice of God when we can hear him over our own fears and doubts.
Learn from the way the wild flowers grow.
As Christians we can be content with a simplicity that seems naïve to a secular world. We can live in the confidence that our Father knows what we need. We do not have to act like it is all up, whereas there is nothing for the pagans but to do just that.
Is worry a problem for us? Let us lean more into seeking first the Kingdom. When we seek first the Kingdom trust in the King becomes more of a reality for us. He becomes for us someone who genuinely desires that we cast our cares upon him. We are then open to receive the gift of the word of peace that he himself gives, the gift that can finally conquer the fear in our hearts.
Aside from seeking the Kingdom and its King there is nothing else that works or even helps. The more we try taking things into our own hands, and attempt to perfectly guarantee our own futures, the more we will find that those things have become idols that rule us and eventually ruin us. The initial tribute they demand is worry. But they are not worthy of tribute. Let us throw off our idols and serve the true King.
God says, ‘Why are you transgressing the LORD’s commands,
so that you cannot prosper?
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