Coffee With The Lord

Anxiety is rampant! It is taking it’s toll on people… Political issues, health concerns – COVID-19 etc., employment, finances, family, and the list goes on… Plenty to worry about!

This is what I jotted in the margin of my Bible after reading Matthew 6:25-34 this morning during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” … “Say NO! to an anxiety driven life! Instead trust your Heavenly Father to provide for you! Instead ‘Seek the Kingdom of God first’ and He promises to provide everything else we need!”

Here are the words of Jesus recorded in the Bible for you… (Read them! Reflect on them!! Let HIM speak them to your anxiety!!!)

Jesus Himself speaking… “I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For people seek after all these things, but your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you!” (From Matthew 6:25–33 ESV)

One more time… I urge you, Say NO to an anxiety driven life! Instead trust your Heavenly Father! “Cast all your care upon Him – He cares for you!” (1 Peter 5:7)

“Digging Deeper” Discovery Bible Study” with Dr. LeRoy Bartel … Don’t miss it!!! Sponsored by the Bible Engagement Project.

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I say it sadly… I have friends – Christian friends – who are more personally preoccupied with money, investments, and possessions then they ought to be… No names!!! In fact, there are times when I’m more enamored with the “stuff” of this life then I ought to be!!!

This morning I read a passage that the Holy Spirit used to confront me on that subject… and He brought to mind those friends I care so much about that I referred to as well.

The passage? The words of Jesus in Matthew 6:19-21 and verse 24. It was the passage from the Gospels for today in the “Necessary Food” Bible reading plan (Matthew 6:19-24). I’m so glad the Holy Spirit used it to confront me (and “concern me” about those I care about)!

This is what Jesus warned His followers about… “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal! Instead lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also… No one can serve two masters! Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MONEY!”

A key issue for Christians – and by that, I mean “devoted, obedient, followers of Jesus” – is what they do with their money. Where and how do they invest? What are their priorities? How secure are their investments? What occupies their attention, their concern, their time – the cause of Christ, the Kingdom of God, the needs of others… or their own personal profit, their benefit, their “stuff?”

Don’t get me wrong, I want to wisely use principles and procedures for the management of resources God has entrusted to me – in other words I want to be a “wise steward! I do not want to waste resources in poor investments or on self-centered living. Instead, I want to prioritize the “cause of Christ” and the “Kingdom of Heaven” in any investment strategy.

I want this principle (and promise) to guide me (…just a few verses later) – I want to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (i.e. other things – essential “earthly” things) will be added to you!” (Matthew 6:33) We have His word on it!