God’s Care

Background Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34
Lesson Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Introduction

A certain child worried about what he was costing his parents in food and clothing and asked his father if he should get a job. His father told him his job was to go to school and learn, and he would take care of him until he was old enough to care for himself.

Our heavenly Father’s care is even better; we are under his care forever. However, we have a responsibility. Like a child’s obligation to learn at school, God asks us to seek his kingdom and his righteousness. The rest of our needs will be supplied. As we study this lesson, let us seek to understand our responsibility and what to leave to God.

Key Verse

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you (1 Pet. 5:7).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

Jesus taught people who were hungry to know spiritual truth. He spoke of breaking free from the world’s system of desiring tangible things. His prescription was to seek things of eternal value.

In the midst of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses cares. The futility of worry and how God cares for the entire world, including birds and flowers, were examples of how we should order our life. Let God care for these things, and let us pursue his kingdom and righteousness. As the future is beyond our control, He invites us to only resolve issues that involve our own will and choice.

Practical Truths for Today

In the kingdom of God, Jesus is acknowledged as king. Declaring ourselves to be part of the kingdom of God does not automatically make us belong. The Scripture is plain that we must seek, which means to give it more than just casual attention. Jesus likens searching to a man who loses one sheep and goes to find it (Luke 15:4-7) or a woman who sweeps and searches for her lost coin (Luke 15:8-9). The amount of effort put into belonging to the kingdom and securing Christ’s righteousness is indicative of how much a person prizes its value.

God’s righteousness belongs to Him. Since we cannot claim it on our own merit, we must follow Christ’s directions to where it can be found. Abram found God’s righteousness by believing the Lord. Believing denotes action, leaving the comfort of self-sufficiency for that which is untried and unknown. For Abram, it meant leaving home and all that was familiar to wander in a land that was promised to him and his children sometime in the future. Likewise, each of us will have to abandon ourselves, trusting God and his great plan for us.

Citizens in a natural kingdom are under the protection of its king. The general welfare of the domain, the administration of justice, and ensuring peace and tranquility are the responsibilities of the king. Much as underage children do not provide their own clothing or food in their parent’s home, citizens are not expected to provide their own security in the place they reside. That does not relieve the citizenry of all duties and obligations, but it does free them from some very large responsibilities. They are free to contribute to the good of society. Spiritually, much of this parallels the kingdom of God. There are no slaves in this kingdom, only willing citizens.

Because the kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom that prepares us for eternal life, it focuses on the inner man. Material things will eventually be of little value to us. We will leave them at the end of our lives here on earth. Whatever we treasure here will meet us in eternity, either as heavenly riches or the lack thereof. Worldly garments and corrupted provisions will not enter heaven. God will not be fooled like the children of Israel were fooled by the Gibeonites in Joshua 9.

God knows us by name; he formed us and oversaw our development (Ps. 139:1-5, 13-16). He understands our needs and has a plan for each of us. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jer. 29:11). Often, his plan is not what we would have planned. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9). Because God is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (everywhere at the same time), and omnipotent (all-powerful), He is best able to know how to care for us. Our limited knowledge and power places us at a disadvantage when confronted by our powerful enemy, Satan.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9). We frequently fail to understand ourselves without outside help. We feel ourselves capable, and this causes confusion because we want to trust ourselves before we trust anyone else. Most young children are not often consulted about when to eat or sleep. They simply need to go along with what parents set in order for their good and the good of the family. God similarly puts order and authorities in place that work for our good.

God’s care over us enables us to care for others, especially those put under our care. “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Tim. 5:8). However, we must keep seeking the kingdom first. Providing for those under our care could consume much of our efforts, leaving little time or energy for the kingdom of God. The world around us strives to gain houses, lands, vehicles, and education while providing for the retirement years. Some of these things will be necessary for us also. Plans do need to be made, but the flexibility to adapt to changes and the ability to surrender our wishes will be necessary. The anxious, consuming care of worrying over material assets is what Jesus warned about. We are not to be overwrought about food, drink, and clothes.

“Feed me with food convenient for me” (Prov. 30:8). That which we are able to gather as the result of honest effort should be gratefully received. It may not be what everyone else has, but modesty, economy, and simplicity should shine through our endeavors in providing the needs of daily living. Sometimes we may need to accept help from our brethren. This help could be in managing our lives or finances; it may also be material aid. Circumstances of life can alter our ability to provide for ourselves, and sickness, accidents, economic downturns, and disasters of all types can alter what we can accomplish. Accepting limitations and exercising the abilities we do have are required in order to fulfill our responsibilities. Unable to see the future, we cannot assume ownership of the next day or any kind of success.

Since God’s care is much better than we can provide, let us cast all our cares on Him. Then we can joyfully shoulder the tasks He gives us and leave the outcome to God.

Questions

1. How can we know where our treasures are laid up? See Matthew 6:21.
2. How do we know when we have not done enough, or too much, to provide for the needs of life and family?
3. When God provided manna for the Israelites in the wilderness, some gathered much and some gathered little (Exod. 16:16-21). Leftovers decayed. Can this be applied to our own material efforts?
4. Unsubscribe

Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).