Sunday 9 Feb 2014

Sunday Reading: Matthew 6:28-34

Key Verse: Matthew 6:32
For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

Devotion:
If you are a student, how hard do you work to make sure that you will pass your finals? How much do you think about what it is you need to achieve in order to get on in life? Are you worried about the state of the economy? And if you work, how hard do you work in order to have food on the table? Do you work extra hours so that you can have what you want? Do you just work all the time to get by?

I know that is over simplifying life but we do have to stop and think where we are aiming in life. Are we aiming for what the world can give us or what God can give us? It is a very difficult decision to make for many people; should I work and live well so that I can help others, or do I help others and see what happens?

God has given us clear instruction that we ought to love one another and that does not mean loving yourself so that you can love others afterward. It means being content with what you are and who you are so that you can help others when they need it and not when you can afford to do it. Love does not wait for you to be in the right place before it will be required; love means giving right now what you can. God does not want us to have to line up everything in a nice neat row before we start the ball rolling. If we tried to do that, I’m sure Satan would disrupt our plans before we could get started!

Instead God asks us to trust Him and to rely on Him. That is hard for someone who has made a living out of doing it yourself! When we have always had to care for ourselves we tend not to give that trust away lightly. I do not speak of myself here because I have always had many loving people around me who are willing to help; but are we willing to allow God to help as well? Are we willing to ask God for that help? I’m not talking about that one cry of “God please help me in this fine mess!” but being willing to ask Him daily for everything.

Points to Ponder:
Are you self-sufficient?

Do you rely on God?