It’s quite unnerving teaching your children how to drive. There is something strange about that moment. It seems like only yesterday you were driving them home from the hospital, and now they are sitting behind the wheel, driving you! Apparently, you are not allowed to show that you are scared or even grip the door handle in fear. You might not be allowed to show it, but it can be scary. It can be scary because we love being in control. When we hand the steering wheel over to someone else, we realise just how little control we actually have.
Perhaps that is one reason we worry about the future. We can prepare. We can work hard. We can study for our exams and do our past papers. However, we can never be completely in control of what tomorrow will bring. We are never truly behind the steering wheel. That is why Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 can sound so surprising:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…” (Matthew 6:25)
Is Jesus simply trying to make us feel better? Does he really understand the things we are facing? Keep listening because Jesus gives us a reason not to worry. He points us to the world around us. “Look at the birds,” he says. They do not store away food in barns, yet God feeds them. “Look at the flowers.” They do not work or make their own clothes, yet God beautifully provides for them. Then Jesus asks, if God provides so generously for birds and flowers, how much more will he care for you?
My mum worked for many years at AMP. She once had the job of carrying a cheque from AMP’s headquarters in Circular Quay to another bank in the city. When she looked at the cheque, she was confused by the number of zeros. She actually had to stop and count them! She had been entrusted with something of incredible value. How carefully did she carry the cheque? Very carefully! Did she make sure it arrived safely? Absolutely.
A God Who Knows Our Needs
The message of the Bible is that you are of immeasurably greater value to God. You have been made in his image, and Jesus gave his life for you on the cross. If God cares for birds and flowers, things of lesser value, how much more does he care for you?
Your future is not safe because you have planned perfectly, worked hard enough, or controlled everything. Your future is safe because it is held by a kind and generous God who has lavished his love upon us through Jesus. Jesus finishes with these words:
“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow.” (Matthew 6:33–34)
We may not know what tomorrow holds. But we do know that we are of immeasurable worth to the one who does hold tomorrow in his hand.