“Sufficient unto the Day”...the Wayfarer 11/16/13

“Sufficient unto the Day”

11/16/13

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself, Sufficient  unto the day is the evil thereof.”

(Matthew 6:34)

Once again we approach a busy time of the year, when the preparations for various Holidays seem to take precedence in just about all we do or have thought about.

As we rush about thinking about gifts to be purchased, meals to be planned, gatherings to be attended, our attention is diverted, once more, from the tasks of the here and now, the today that we must first face.

Others are absorbed in the remembrance of past years and the celebrations of those years, and the trials and tribulations that often occur with the passage of time.

Neither place, past, nor immediate future, will solve the problems and take care of the needs of the here and now.

Before getting back to Matthew, I would take you first to a passage written by Solomon found in the 7^th Chapter of Ecclesiastes:

“A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men: and the living will lay it to his heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

(Ecclesiastes 7:1-4)

As James told us, our lives are as vapors, and our plans should be made with the acceptance of the fact that they may only come to fruition if God wills it. Solomon also reminds us of the futility of searching only for a future that takes no account of the challenges to be faced within that future, and the eventual end of that future for each of us.

Solomon continues still farther with the following:

“It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

(Ecclesiastes 7:5-9)

As we pursue things we think will bring us joy, care needs to be taken to consider any and all unintended consequences, (a phrase that seems to be popular of late).

Things begun, and plans made often turn out far differently than we originally thought!

The laws of physics teach that for each action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This I find to be true of life itself. There is a balance that is required to root us in reality instead of blindly and blissfully ignoring the negatives that are invariably a continuance of the positives in life.

“Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? For thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

Consider the work of God: for who can make straight, which he hath made crooked?

In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

(Ecclesiastes 7:10-14)

Living in the past, despite the fond remembrances, provides no future, and is a complete waste of time. The past, while having provided experience has had its place, and must give way to the future, if that future is ever to exist.

The balance required must be faced each day, attended to each day, and properly approached continually remembering our real purpose for drawing each breath.

Of all the things we seek, seeking to live within God’s plan and will for us, is the only thing that brings a real reward that lasts beyond the grave, and far beyond the moment we attempt to live in.

“All things have I seen in the days of my vanity; there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.

Be not righteous over much: neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

Be not over much wicked, neither be foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God  shall come forth of them all.

Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. For there is not a just man upon earth that doth good, and sinneth not.

Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee.

For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou likewise hast cursed others.

All this have I proved by wisdom; I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me.

(Ecclesiastes 7:15-23)

Again, there is a balance that is required within God’s plan. That balance metes out lessons to be learned constantly, that are to be observed consistently, or consequences are to be paid!

Our God is still the God of both the just and the unjust. His plan is apparent only to Him, and ours is not to question the whys and wherefores!

Even our search for wisdom becomes vain, if pursued to the exclusion of all else!

“That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

 I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:

 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands; whoso pleaseth God  shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

Behold this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:

Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright: but they have sought out many inventions.”

(Ecclesiastes 7:24-29)

In seeking the comfort of physical things, in the planning for physical needs, the spiritual needs become ignored, and are in turn lost, turning any temporary joy to misery.

Our lives are full of distractions, and the aforementioned snares. We can only be consumed by these if we allow ourselves to be… that is a part of being the creature of choice we were made to be. It is however a choice to be carefully considered each step of the journey, and learned from along the way, never to be ignored, for that price is indeed far too steep!

That last verse sums up the state of mankind in general, both at the time of its writing, and still today.

We are made to be a far better creature than what we are, but by choosing the side paths and baubles along the way we fail to attain our very purpose!

Now let’s return, briefly to Matthew, and the guidance given by Jesus on how to approach the cares of yesterday, today, and tomorrow!

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body more than raiment?

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?

 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they sin:

 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore  if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

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): your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Take therefore no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

(Matthew 6:25-34)

Jesus tells us that worrying about physical comforts, and the things of this world should take a back seat and come not even distantly to mind, and that if we pursue the spiritual needs, God will take care of the things we so often occupy our concentration on.

As we approach this upcoming set of Holidays, or any other day of our lives, concern with meeting the requirements of the kingdom of God should take precedence in our plans for ourselves…and for our loved ones, if we are to truly define them as loved ones.

We need to live in the moment of His light, instead of in the darkness of the past… or fog of an uncertain future. If we concentrate on the true needs that cry out from within our soul for Spiritual growth and enlightenment the needs for the physical will be met, without our having to ask for them.

I close once more with the true and abiding love of my Savior, given to all willing to accept it with the reminder of His words as to what was and is important in our lives, yesterday, today and tomorrow:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

I remain as I must the same simple sinner saved by grace through faith in that Savior alone, not in any man… servant and soldier in His service until that service is finished.

2 Timothy 1:12 ¹²
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer