WORK
«A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man (Proverbs 23:33.34, NW).
I once heard someone suggest that Jesus taught vagrancy. He used the following verse to support his idea: «So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today» (Matthew 6:34, NRSV) Obviously the Lord isn’t promoting laziness because He promotes work and responsibility in other parts of Scripture (Exodus 20:8—11; Proverbs 6:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:10, 11). Instead, Jesus challenges his listeners to take care of relevant things in life, such as their relationship with God. Many people think that living means acquiring material possessions, that’s why the Lord asks, «Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?» (Matthew 6:25). That is, it’s essential is not to worry about surviving in a materialistic world, otherwise we’ll get into an endless spiral.
Millions of people suffer from anxiety disorders and complicate their lives with unnecessary worry. That’s why Jesus invites them to invest their time on what’s most important: «But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you» (Matthew 6:33). Human beings are spiritual by nature. We need God and His Word. Living a stressful life might lead to certain financial prosperity, however, at a high cost: health, emotional balance, family, faith.
Work is a divine commandment. It’s not bad to prosper financially. The dangerous thing is to start playing the consumerism game, believing that you have to have in order to be, and forgetting that the basis of happiness is God’s presence in our lives. Then, we’ll have what’s most important: the assurance of salvation.
As you see, the verse has nothing to do with vagrancy, but rather with absurd worries that come into our minds because of an emphasis on materialism. Vagrancy is typical of lazy people without goals in their lives. Individuals who live like «the chaff which the wind drives away» (Psalm 1:4), depending on the circumstances and being motivated by indolence.
Ask the Lord today to teach you to be a hard-working person.
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Take From: Daily Devotions for Youth 2020
«A New You»
From: Alejandro Medina Villareal
Collaborators: Gezer Noria & Misael Morillo
