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Dear All,
These are anxious times, aren't they? Not only are food, fuel and heating prices rising, but house prices are falling. What is more, surveys and predictions are mainly downwards and depressing at the moment. There seems a downward vicious spiral of gloom, since financial people are in effect betting on things getting worse, and then those "futures" acquisitions and the headlines that go with them lead to self fulfilling prophecies of higher prices and inflation. Then in the distance, looming like a great iceberg, are the threats posed by global warming and human exploitation of the world. In times such as these, what help is there from our Christian faith? What does the bible say to guide us? I believe the best passage is the following from Matthew chapter 6:
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
This passage reminds us about right priorities, and also sets us up with a positive attitude which is the best antidote to worry and panic. Jesus is realistic too, he doesn't imply that we won't have any difficulties, rather that we can trust God to be with us and get us through them. What we must do is focus on God's priorities and trust Him. One of those priorities has always been good governance of the world; we are called to take action to preserve and care for our wonderful world; so let our actions be based upon our trust in God and our faith that He will provide a way through for us.
Philip Brooks
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