https://odb.org/2026/09/18/seeking-gods-kingdom
Matthew 6:25–34 (NIV): 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
In Matthew 6, Jesus speaks straight to our struggle with worry about what we’ll eat and drink, about our body and what we’ll wear (v. 25). The Greek root of the word translated “worry” means to be torn in two directions—the direction of faith versus self-reliance. In verse 33, Jesus offers the solution to worry: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” It’s a challenge to us to choose and follow the one direction that leads straight to His heart. (Elisa Morgan, Our Daily Bread 18th September 2026)
In Matthew 6:25-33, Jesus used a principle for logic and interpretation sometimes called qal wahomer, Hebrew for “light and heavy.” It argues that if something is true for something less important (“light”), it’s also true for something more important (“heavy”). Christ used this principle to emphasize that if God cares for the birds and clothes the fields, how much more must He care for His beloved children (Matthew 6:26-30). When we trust God, we exchange our preoccupation on what’s less important for a devotion to what’s most important. Today, when we struggle with worry, God can help us focus on Him, knowing that He’ll take care of all our needs (v. 33). (Monica La Rose, Insight, Our Daily Bread 18th September 2026)
When I was growing up, my father kept a running account of our household expenses and I could see that we had just enough to live on. But as a child, I didn’t worry about where my next meal will come from as I always had something to eat at home. Putting food on the table I guess at that time was my dad’s worry. We seldom eat out as that’s a luxury those days. We adapted in life by having less things in terms of clothes, furniture and toys. I recall that my worry then was what will become of our lives if something were to happen to my dad as my mum was a stay home mum and was not earning an income. I also remember that we never had air conditioning at home and the telephone was only installed when I was older, likely a few years after I started schooling.
I believe every human adult worry about such things as the cost of living is not decreasing year in and year out. Inflation is real. Things are getting more expensive and as we grow older our needs increase, especially after marriage and with children. So we hope to earn more as we mature and become better at what we do for a living. As a safety net, experts advise us to have a parallel source of income so if we lose our day job, we have something else to hang on to. Nowadays, the younger ones are mostly into YouTubing, Insta and becoming somewhat an influencer and some even do that full-time.
As believers, one of the popular bible verse we place our hopes on is Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. It promises that if we pursue God and His Kingdom and His righteousness, we need not worry too much about what we will eat, wear or stay. Jesus taught this by asking us to look at the birds of the air. If they can live as provided by God through nature, what more us – His beloved children? Will God not take care of our needs since we are His precious children? Do we have to worry that we will go hungry and have nothing to wear or have a roof over our heads? So long as we hold a steady job and follow Him, our needs will be taken care of. We will surely progress in life and my own life is a living testimony of Matthew 6:33.
I have pursued God and His kingdom and righteousness for more than 40 years now since I accepted Christ and have seen how He has blessed me with a loving family, material wealth and good and steady jobs over the years. Worldly wealth is relative but I can safely say that I am able to enjoy a nice cup of gourmet Arabica coffee every working day without thinking too much! Of course with the profileration of coffee shops beyond the US-origin Starbucks and Coffee Bean, prices have become more reasonable nowadays!
Have a good weekend, everyone! May we all be recharged as we rest and worship Him on Sunday to go back to the world and earn our living next week and live out His promises for our lives!
Ronnie's Thoughts 