Running Late
So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:31-33
My wife hates to be late for work. In the early years in our marriage, she would literally not talk with me all day if I was the cause for her being tardy. As we have grown together, we have built our routine. She has time to get up to ensure she can have her coffee (don’t ask how she is when she does not have it 😊), and I know what time that I need to be up for her to make it there on time. Occasionally, someone may test the limits, resulting in timeliness becoming uncertainty and our communication becoming Morse code for the day. On one occasion, we were close to our destination and saw an elderly couple walking slowly across the street where we needed to go. At that moment, I wanted to accelerate to beat them to the intersection and in essence cut them off. That way, it would ensure a good day for both of us. But just then, my foot just pressed the brake, and I stopped. We both simply smiled at them as they slowly crossed our path delaying our arrival at our destination. As we arrived, my wife jumped out of the car rushing to make it in, and I went on my way to start the day. While I do not remember whether my wife was late or not, we knew that it was the right thing to do. It sounds minor, but we both do our best to ensure we make a choice that is considerate of others first.
This brings me to consider the times when we ourselves face challenges in making decisions based on our desires versus what God wants. Yes, it is relatively straightforward to follow a path that would push us to choose Him in minor situations, for example, allowing an elderly couple proceed before us. However, it becomes more daunting with more serious matters. What about committing to a weekly tithe despite financial constraints or struggling with addiction while resisting the idea or relinquishing control or put another way letting Jesus ‘take the wheel.’ How do we respond? The manner in which we navigate these scenarios is indicative of our level of spiritual maturity.
Spiritual maturity necessitates directing our attention towards God's Kingdom rather than concentrating on immediate concerns. Initially, upon examining today's verses, I believed they addressed our worries and anxieties. However, the concluding verse is more about our desires rather than just concerns. It is evident that when we worry, we focus on what actions we need to take. This focus, however, is centered on us and our desired outcomes. Consequently, worry can obstruct our alignment with God's will. It hinders our ability to logically prioritize matters that are significant to God above those driven by our own desires, which may sometimes conflict with His intentions.
These connections are not always easy to recognize in the moment. Therefore, cultivating healthy prayer habits that keep our focus on God can be immensely beneficial. The more we focus on God daily, and even hourly, the more likely we are to place His priorities above our immediate needs and desires. Whether it involves being courteous to others or turning away from sinful impulses, keeping God in our thoughts throughout the day significantly enhances our chances for success when crucial moments of truth arise.
Navigating life’s challenges often requires us to make decisions that align with God rather than our own immediate desires. Whether it is allowing an elderly couple to cross the street or dealing with finances, our choices reflect how influential God is in our life. Ideally, we will live by the words of Paul to the Philippians when he said, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” (Philippians 2:3-4) Let us keep that in mind in with each and every decision we make. What choices are you presented with today that you need to pray on? How can you better foster a Christ-like mindset in your daily life? My prayer is we are aligning our desires with God’s will seeking His Kingdom first even when we running late. Amen.