18. Feed and Clothe
Matthew 6:26, 30, 33
…feedeth them…clothe you…But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
This is a conditional promise that needs our attention to the condition as well as the promise. If you seek first the kingdom of God, then these things (food and clothing) shall be added to you. “Seeking first the kingdom” is the key thought: keep the things of God and His invisible kingdom prioritized as first in your thoughts and cares. Your connection to the kingdom needs to take precedence over anxieties and cares about what to eat and drink and wear. Food and clothing is essential to life and survival, but that is physical life only; living also includes the spiritual side of life wherein a created human connects with God and His life. “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” [v. 25].
Jesus is warning His believers not to become distracted by the things and cares of the world and not to let the worries and anxieties about physical life crowd out the attention that needs to be paid to God and His life and His reign. In place of worry seek the kingdom, that is, pray to God and listen to His Word: then the promise is that God will take of your needs (food and clothing) for physical life. This is a wonderful promise because it frees us from worry and anxiety; a life freed from worry is healthy for both body and mind. Let God hear your prayers and take care of your needs to provide everything vital for life and health. The added benefit is that we will feel better in every way by focusing on the Lord and His mercies; feeling good is not a sin: it is a blessing to be enjoyed and a promise to be believed.
When we seek first the kingdom of God He will see to it that everything else we need for this body and this life is provided. God is so gracious and merciful that He will add all these things for His children because He loves them; but our enjoyment of God’s life and blessing is greatly enhanced when anxious cares and nervous worries are removed from our thoughts. The child of God learns to turn worries into prayers; then he listens to God and watches what He is doing: the Lord provides. Life is good! Yes, but also it can be said: life is better.