Don’t worry
Here’s what you should do instead
In Matthew 6:25–33, Jesus was in Galilee. On the mountain, His disciples gathered around Him as He preached to the crowd. He pointed to the flowers — emphasizing how beautifully they are clothed — and to the birds, showing how they neither sow nor reap, yet are well-fed. This was a reminder that He cares for us even more than He does for the flowers, which do not lack beauty.
This passage raises an interesting question: Does Jesus’s teaching here negate the need for work, or does it simply emphasize the need not to worry? Or perhaps it’s both?
Jesus continues, saying, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” This implies that the message isn’t a dismissal of work. It is a call to shift our focus to something higher — seeking righteousness, which can be understood as embodying psychological integrity, moral responsibility, and a commitment to truth.
This emphasis on righteousness is echoed in Romans 14:17, which says that “the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Verse 20 reinforces this by stating, “Whoever serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God, and approved by men.”
Similarly, in the story of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38–42), we see this principle of prioritizing what matters most. Martha was anxious about her preparations for Jesus, while she viewed Mary as lax — Mary, who sat at Jesus’s feet, listening intently.
Was Mary behaving this way because she knew Martha would handle the practical details, or because she understood that Jesus could do without a meal (as He implied in Luke 4:4)?
I believe it was something more profound — Mary had a better sense of what to prioritize. Jesus Himself said that Mary had “chosen the good part,” one that would not be taken away from her (Luke 10:42). Mary had chosen to seek righteousness. And Jesus, described as “the way, the truth, and the life,” is the ultimate example of this pursuit.
His life exemplifies the values of the kingdom — integrity, truth, and love — that endure beyond time and circumstance. The Roman authority found no fault in Jesus. The term ‘Christians’ was originally coined by those who saw the disciples’ Christ-like behaviour. It’s a lifestyle that has proven to cultivate the best in people. This consistency makes His way the truth, for truth endures consistently, regardless of time, place, or circumstance.
As Romans 8:1 beautifully affirms:
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
