Stop Stealing From Yourself

Daily Devotional – Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:34 (NKJV)

Is it possible to steal from yourself? An excerpt from the Sermon on the Mount suggests so. In Matthew Chapter 6, while speaking to His disciples about worry, Jesus cited flower and birds as examples of God’s tender care for His creation. Then He asked His listeners, concerning birds, “Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Verse 27).

Do Not Be Anxious About Tomorrow

He proceeded to tell His disciples not to worry about their daily needs because God would take care of them. Of course, Jesus was not telling them not to work. He wanted them to prioritize God as they went about eking a living.

Here is the proof: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Verse 33). In essence, if we pursue righteousness, God will bless the works of our hands and we will not lack.

Stealing from the Present

Now, here is the stealing part. Jesus ended this part of His sermon by stating, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Verse 34).

According to Christ, while God takes care of our daily needs, every day has its fair share of troubles. Worrying is stealing from both today and tomorrow. We deny ourselves the joys of the present, which we can only experience once.

Robbing Tomorrow

Secondly, we steal the joys of tomorrow because we assume that the future will be bleak. Despite not having the ability to see the impending, we believe life will be difficult. Incidentally, some people worry so much about tomorrow that they do not live to experience what they fear.

Jesus wants you to trust Him with your present and future. He wants you to enjoy today despite its challenges. As for tomorrow, Christ desires that we trust that to Him. After all, we cannot change anything about it, and we are not even sure we will see it.

Stop Stealing From Yourself!

With such an assurance, it is time you stopped stealing from yourself. Enjoy today as if it were your last day on earth. Tomorrow belongs to God. Wait until it comes and face its challenges with the joy and peace that only God can give.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me not to steal from myself the joys of today by worrying about tomorrow.