by Anatoli Bogatov — Ukraine

Take no thought

Jesus, instructing the hungry people and further introducing Himself to His disciples, said, "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things" (Matthew 6:31, 32). What a precious promise! Every believing Christian can be sure that he is not an orphan in this raging, turbulent world. He has a loving and compassionate Father that knows His children’s every need. This is a great source of happiness—to find your loving Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ is still calling today. Amid the cares of this life He tells us, "Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?" (Matthew 6:26). Here Jesus explains that the Father cares for us and we can do nothing without Him, even in this temporal life. The Lord further assures that He knows everything about us, confirming that "the very hairs of your head are all numbered" (Matthew 10:30). He bids us to not be afraid to trust Him. As we read the history of when Christ looked upon His estranged people with compassion and tears in His eyes, His declaration resounds, "How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matthew 23:37, last part). The merciful Lord has not changed His tender regard toward us, His people, from then until now. He is still inviting us to come under His soft, warm wings. And when we do not wish to respond to this invitation for His protection He is saddened. Oh, how great and inexhaustible is the love of God for us sinners!

Actively seeking the kingdom of God

Jesus urges us to put all our cares and burdens at His feet. From the same lips of the great Teacher, our Lord Jesus Christ, we also hear, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). God calls us to seek His kingdom. A person that is looking for something is not idle—he is active. We are to seek the kingdom of God that has been lost by mankind, and this kingdom cannot come to us of its own. We must seek it. But how can we find the kingdom of God in this sinful world? Turning to the Scriptures, which is a light that shines in a dark place, we read, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2).

We read here that the kingdom of heaven—or of God—is at hand, or has drawn near through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is very close to us. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20). We do not need to make a long pilgrimage to look for Christ. He has come to us Himself and is knocking at the door of each of our sinful hearts with an invitation to come with Him to His heavenly kingdom. What will be your response—my response? If I don’t let Him in, He will go away, and I will be lost.

Let us carefully consider the Lord’s instructions. Jesus states clearly that we cannot obtain the kingdom of God by our own strength. "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). To enter into the kingdom of Christ we must cooperate with the Master’s will and bear the citizenship of that better land. For this, we need Christ dwelling in our hearts, we must abide in Him moment by moment. Without the exercise of care, labor and earnest struggle, we will not obtain the traits of Christ’s character. "Give all diligence" (2 Peter 1:5). The apostle Peter explains that we cannot be partakers of the divine nature if we have a slothful, careless experience void of diligence.

The Spirit of Prophecy says:

"Some, I saw, did not participate in this work of agonizing and pleading. They seemed indifferent and careless. They were not resisting the darkness around them, and it shut them in like a thick cloud. The angels of God left these and went to the aid of the earnest, praying ones. I saw angels of God hasten to the assistance of all who were struggling with all their power to resist the evil angels and trying to help themselves by calling upon God with perseverance. But His angels left those who made no effort to help themselves, and I lost sight of them." 1

Joseph, Daniel, and Esther—what did they care for?

Can we understand the words of Christ literally: "Take no thought," to mean, "Do not care"? Circumstances in our life often change. But we need to be loyal to God all the time. If we keep His commandments only when it is convenient to us or under favorable circumstances, then we cannot count on eternal life. Believers living in many countries in the world today enjoy freedom of religion, but does this mean we can live a careless life? Let us remember the experience of Christ’s disciples. "Tarry ye here, and watch with me" (Matthew 26:38). The disciples could not even imagine how their faith was to be severely tested that night. The same it is with us. The Lord calls us today, in this favorable time, to watch with Him. We, as the people of God, chosen by His mercy, should consider deeply whether we are true, wholehearted Christians—and whether we can stand in the time of temptation and trial. When severely tempted, will we be able to say as Joseph did: "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9).

"This temptation, so sudden, so strong, so seductive—how should it be met? Joseph knew well what would be the consequence of resistance. On the one hand were concealment, favor, and rewards; on the other, disgrace, imprisonment, perhaps death. His whole future life depended upon the decision of the moment. Would principle triumph? Would Joseph still be true to God? With inexpressible anxiety, angels looked upon the scene.

"Joseph’s answer reveals the power of religious principle. He would not betray the confidence of his master on earth, and, whatever the consequences, he would be true to his Master in heaven." 2

Will we be able to do as Daniel did? "Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself" (Daniel 1:8). Daniel, being in Babylonian captivity, was anxious that the requirements of the king of Babylon, to which he was exposed, might not separate him from God. He thought over this matter and came to the conclusion that it was time to act. Young Daniel approached Melzar with the request to give him food designed by God Himself for men: "Let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink" (Daniel 1:12). Daniel and his companions were full of anxiety. Those days were not carefree or indifferent. They were days of struggle and anguish. But the results were obvious. The Word of God says of Daniel that he was a man greatly beloved. Daniel 10:11. He was a man of victory. He had heavenly citizenship, and he did not obtain it by careless living.

Let us see the life of Esther. What a test befell her! This God-fearing woman did not spend her days in ease even though her royal position could certainly have been conducive to that. When the crisis came, she might have stood back in passive resignation and done nothing for the salvation of her people—the people of God, when they were exposed to great danger. Mordecai confirmed to her, however, "For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14).

The heart of Esther was touched to do her utmost to save the people of Israel, and after a short consideration she made her decision: "Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish" (Esther 4:15, 16). She determined to enter the king’s chamber, which could have cost her life. But after days of fasting and praying she came boldly before the king with the thought: "If I perish, I perish." Once again, we see how much the life of a true child of God is far from being idle and careless.

In these three cases, as in so many other biblical examples, true believers showed self-sacrificing efforts in behalf of the cause of God. They had the fear of God that in due time they were to stand before Him in judgment, and that the Omnipotent Judge would ask them about every act committed in their life. Everyone will give an account of how he has fulfilled his duty.

The lives of the heroes of the Bible were not free from cares and anxiety. Studying their lives we see that they were seeking "first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). We can only be astonished by their self-sacrifice and loyalty in the cause of God, and their wisdom and courage. The apostle Paul writes, "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" (1 Corinthians 10:11). To be called by Christ in name only means nothing.

New Testament examples

Here we find some poor, simple, lowly women. They were not queens, but their God-fearing lives made them worthy to be mentioned on the sacred pages. One woman’s act in particular sets an example for us: "There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat" (Matthew 26:7).

This woman was drawn by the love of Christ. She was not careless or indifferent to the work of God and to the Lord Jesus Himself. She was burdened with the question: What shall I render unto the Lord for His love? In her meager life she found what to bring unto the Lord. Christ was deeply moved by her act, and He highly esteems similar deeds today.

Another bright example—the life of Dorcas. How did she serve the Lord? Was she preaching eloquent sermons, or was she rather spending her time serving the needy in her meekness? "All the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them" (Acts 9:39). The widows were not just telling Peter about her good works, they actually showed the items she had made, testifying of her kindness and care for others. Let us take this into serious consideration: What will people say about us? What testimony will we receive at the judgment? What have we done for the Lord? Dear friends, a careless life is not a Christlike life.

Does the gospel teach a carefree life at home and church?

As we seek to let the light of Christ shine in our lives, our family life will reflect the bright beams of heavenly glory. Jesus through the apostle Paul gives straight instruction to those who genuinely desire to bring the message of salvation to others, "One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?" (1 Timothy 3:4, 5).

Even the blessings to be found within the family circle come as a direct result of the care exercised among family members. In order to be prosperous, each member of the family needs to show care and diligence. "Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work" (Exodus 20:9). It is written for the head of the family: "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread" (Genesis 3:19). And about his helper, the wife, it is written: "She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens" (Proverbs 31:14, 15). Thus teaches the Word of God.

Paul says: "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth" (Ephesians 4:28). Here it says plainly that without the exercise of care we will not be able to make a living and help him that needeth. Some wrongly assume that the words of Jesus—"Take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?"—mean we do not need to put forth diligence to have all that is necessary for our life, that all those things shall be somehow provided by a divine miracle. This is a great deception.

"Thou hast blessed the work of his hands" (Job 1:10)—that is, "the work of his hands," and not their idleness. "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain" (Psalm 127:1). Therefore we should labor and build the house, and the Lord will help us. But if we do not build and do not labor, the Lord will not do the work for us either.

The apostle Paul says clearly that family happiness requires care and attention. And in order for a church to be prosperous there should be much more care for it also. The one who cannot care for his own family and provide for it will not be able to care for a new church and minister unto it. How and what will he teach others? The Word of God declares, "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 Timothy 5:8). This is a gospel requirement. It does not teach us anything unwise—rather it helps us to have a sound conception about life. To love your wife, husband, children, to honor your parents and care for them—these are God’s requirements. "And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing" (1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12).

A clear distinction

In Luke chapter 21, Jesus prophesied of the condition of things in the last days just before His return, explaining that "there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken" (Luke 21:25, 26). He follows with a specific warning to "take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares" (Luke 21:34). To what "cares" is He here referring? He distinctly calls them the cares "of this life"—in direct contrast to those cares pertaining to eternity. The apostle Paul describes, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:17, 18). By focusing on things eternal—caring for those matters which are of everlasting value—we comply with our Lord’s instruction. Yes, we will have troubles, but though "we are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh" (2 Corinthians 4:8–11).

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all" (Psalm 34:19).

Christian life includes cares, perplexities, and anxieties, but with our Lord we can cope with them and have a bright future, even eternal life. Amen. 

References:

1 Early Writings, p. 270.
2 Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 217.