Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Jesus is addressing worry in very practical terms. His original audience lived much closer to the natural world than we do. Birds, wildflowers, and field-grasses were not illustrations pulled from the margins of life. They were something that was a part of everyday survival. Hunger and clothing were real concerns, not abstract ones. Jesus does not deny those realities. Instead, he points out that worry does nothing to solve them. Trust in God is not presented as naïve optimism, but as the only response that actually makes sense in a world governed by a faithful Creator.
For me, the phrase “you of little faith” used to sound like a rebuke. Lately, I hear it differently. It may be less of an insult and more of an observation. My faith is often partial. I trust God, but I also hedge my bets with anxiety. The examples Jesus gives have no capacity for worry at all. Grass cannot relocate itself to better soil. Birds do not store away elaborate reserves. They exist within the limits God has given them, and they are sustained. Worry, on the other hand, adds nothing. As I once heard someone say, worrying about a problem is no more effective than trying to solve a math equation by chewing bubble gum.
What I need to do is hold planning and trust together without confusing them. God does not call me to be careless or irresponsible. Wisdom matters. Planning matters. But those things are not my safety net. God is. I do not have all the answers, resources, or ability to control outcomes. He does. Seeking his kingdom first puts everything else in the right order. When I remember who provides, I am freer to live faithfully instead of fearfully.