Today Has Enough Problems
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6:34
There is an old saying that is very popular in self-help groups that many don’t realize the concept is borrowed from this passage. The saying is, “Live one day at a time.” The idea is that we need to live one day at a time and focus on what we must do today rather than get fixated on the future and worry about things that may never happen. Further, we can tell ourselves that we will never give in to this vice or that struggle and become overwhelmed with the prospect of going our entire life without ever giving in again. It can seem overwhelming.
All of this is true, of course, but Jesus is saying much more than that. First, remember the context of this passage. Jesus reminds us that we cannot serve two masters. We may think we can, but we are lying to ourselves. Our heart and mind are to be singularly devoted to Christ and his kingdom. Secondly, he tells us that we should not be anxious about our needs because we are of value to our Heavenly Father. If he takes care of the sparrows and the lilies of the field, he will certainly take care of us. Finally, he says the reason we can have this confidence is because we are his children by faith in Jesus Christ. We have trusted Christ for forgiveness of sins believing his death paid the full penalty and that God only deals with us in love. This Father is attentive to us and always knows exactly what we need.
Divorced from the spiritual reality of God being our Heavenly Father who loves us and cares for us, this saying just becomes a self-help mantra. Keep repeating it to yourself in hopes that you will eventually believe it and it will affect your emotions and attitude. If we think there is no God, why should we not be anxious about tomorrow? Honestly, if I was not a Christian, I think I’d have every reason to be anxious about tomorrow. If there is no God and no one is in control of the situations I face, life is a scary prospect. If there is no purpose to my suffering or reasons for my struggles, I have every reason to be anxious. If the non-Christian is honest with himself, he will realize that what he believes is that life is random and capricious. If there is no God, then ultimately life truly is meaningless, and chaos rules the day. You can tell yourself to live one day at a time, but if you don’t know God that day is filled with fear and anxiety.
Notice the first word in this verse, “Therefore.” Jesus is not telling us to psych ourselves up to channel our focus. He is not telling us to foolishly focus only on today. He is telling us to live by faith because we believe that he is the one who holds our future. He will give us the grace we need for today. Tomorrow, he will give us the grace we need for tomorrow. The Holy Spirit is living within us to empower us and work through us. Further, God’s hand of providence is guiding all things. He is sovereign as King, and he is in control of the details of our lives. He has promised that nothing will happen in the life of the believer that is not previewed and permitted by him. He has pledged to work out all things for his glory and our good. God may give us more than WE can handle, but he will never give us more than HE can handle. His grace is sufficient for the trouble of today.
