Chapter 17 - The Simplicity of the Carefree Life
Bonhoeffer- "Be not anxious for the morrow." This is not to be taken as a philosophy of life or a moral law: it is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and only so can it be understood. Only those who follow him and know him can receive this word as a promise of the love of his Father and as a deliverance from the thralldom of material things. It is not care that frees the disciples from care, but their faith in Jesus Christ. Only they know that we cannot be anxious (verse 27). The coming day, even the coming hour, are placed beyond our control. It is senseless to pretend that we can make provision because we cannot alter the circumstances of this world. Only God can take care, for it is he who rules the world. Since we cannot take care, since we are so completely powerless, we ought not to do it either. If we do, we are dethroning God and presuming to rule the world ourselves.
' But the Christian also knows that he not only cannot and dare not be anxious, but that there is also no need for him to be so. Neither anxiety nor work can secure his daily bread, for bread is the gift of the Father. The birds and lilies neither toil nor spin, yet both are fed and clothed and receive their daily portion without being anxious for them. They need earthly goods only for their daily sustenance, and they do not lay up a store for the future. This is the way they glorify their Creator, not by their industry, toil or care, but by a daily unquestioning acceptance of his gifts. Birds and lilies are an example for the followers of Christ. "Man-in-revolt" imagines that there is a relation of cause and effect between work and sustenance, but Jesus explodes that illusion. According to him, bread is not to be valued as the reward for work; he speaks instead of the carefree simplicity of the man who walks with him and accepts everything as it come form God.'
My thoughts-
The GOSPEL of Jesus Christ.
These are HIS words, HIS instructions for us in our lives. We ask for instructions, we say we want them and yet for some reason we don't particularly care too much for the instructions we are given. How can I say that? I say that because SO few among those who claim to be followers of Christ actually listen to His instructions and then follow them. That's one of the keys there- FOLLOWING the instructions. Many people listen to the Words of Christ, they listen and listen and do so all the time, constantly. They listen so often they can recite the words of our Savior. Many mistake this for following Christ, but the truth is, the majority of those who know Christ's words enough to recite them over and over, are but human recorders pressing the repeat button over and over. Their lives do not reflect the words of Christ coming out of their mouths. They do not LIVE Christ's words. They are not DOERS of Christ's word, but hearers only.
Jas_1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Doers of the word.
Christ Jesus tells us not to be anxious, do we obey? We hear those words, we hear them but now we need to obey them.
Don't worry about tomorrow.
Don't worry about what you're going to eat.
Don't worry about what you're going to drink.
Don't worry about what you're going to wear.
Take no thought for tomorrow.
So… do we listen?
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
We are told to SEEK first the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness- and all those things we worry about will be given to us.
The truth, we will be given all we need for salvation if we seek the kingdom of God- Our Savior.
And in seeking, we will find, and in finding we must hear, and when we hear we must obey.
Of course we could keep on worrying and trusting in ourselves if that's what we desire. Or we can hear the Gospel of the Kingdom and not only listen, but live the Gospel of the Kingdom.
ALL by the GRACE of GOD! All through HIS POWER!
May the Holy Spirit work in all of us!
Thank you LORD Jesus, thank YOU!
Bonhoeffer- "Be not anxious for the morrow." This is not to be taken as a philosophy of life or a moral law: it is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and only so can it be understood. Only those who follow him and know him can receive this word as a promise of the love of his Father and as a deliverance from the thralldom of material things. It is not care that frees the disciples from care, but their faith in Jesus Christ. Only they know that we cannot be anxious (verse 27). The coming day, even the coming hour, are placed beyond our control. It is senseless to pretend that we can make provision because we cannot alter the circumstances of this world. Only God can take care, for it is he who rules the world. Since we cannot take care, since we are so completely powerless, we ought not to do it either. If we do, we are dethroning God and presuming to rule the world ourselves.
' But the Christian also knows that he not only cannot and dare not be anxious, but that there is also no need for him to be so. Neither anxiety nor work can secure his daily bread, for bread is the gift of the Father. The birds and lilies neither toil nor spin, yet both are fed and clothed and receive their daily portion without being anxious for them. They need earthly goods only for their daily sustenance, and they do not lay up a store for the future. This is the way they glorify their Creator, not by their industry, toil or care, but by a daily unquestioning acceptance of his gifts. Birds and lilies are an example for the followers of Christ. "Man-in-revolt" imagines that there is a relation of cause and effect between work and sustenance, but Jesus explodes that illusion. According to him, bread is not to be valued as the reward for work; he speaks instead of the carefree simplicity of the man who walks with him and accepts everything as it come form God.'
My thoughts-
The GOSPEL of Jesus Christ.
These are HIS words, HIS instructions for us in our lives. We ask for instructions, we say we want them and yet for some reason we don't particularly care too much for the instructions we are given. How can I say that? I say that because SO few among those who claim to be followers of Christ actually listen to His instructions and then follow them. That's one of the keys there- FOLLOWING the instructions. Many people listen to the Words of Christ, they listen and listen and do so all the time, constantly. They listen so often they can recite the words of our Savior. Many mistake this for following Christ, but the truth is, the majority of those who know Christ's words enough to recite them over and over, are but human recorders pressing the repeat button over and over. Their lives do not reflect the words of Christ coming out of their mouths. They do not LIVE Christ's words. They are not DOERS of Christ's word, but hearers only.
Jas_1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Doers of the word.
Christ Jesus tells us not to be anxious, do we obey? We hear those words, we hear them but now we need to obey them.
Don't worry about tomorrow.
Don't worry about what you're going to eat.
Don't worry about what you're going to drink.
Don't worry about what you're going to wear.
Take no thought for tomorrow.
So… do we listen?
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
We are told to SEEK first the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness- and all those things we worry about will be given to us.
The truth, we will be given all we need for salvation if we seek the kingdom of God- Our Savior.
And in seeking, we will find, and in finding we must hear, and when we hear we must obey.
Of course we could keep on worrying and trusting in ourselves if that's what we desire. Or we can hear the Gospel of the Kingdom and not only listen, but live the Gospel of the Kingdom.
ALL by the GRACE of GOD! All through HIS POWER!
May the Holy Spirit work in all of us!
Thank you LORD Jesus, thank YOU!
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