Beginning with verse 25, Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,…” This is a consideration for the “greater gifts,” if you will. God has given me life! Will He not, then, give me food and clothing, which are the “lesser gifts,” to sustain life, which is the “greater gift?” We need to recognize more, and rely more upon the good providence of our loving Father. God is a kind Father Who will give us the things that we need.

Verse 26: Jesus says, “Look 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?” Here, God has even a consideration for the fowls, the animals of the field. And these smaller animals are fed by the Lord. Surely, then, God will take care of His children who are of so much more importance! What would you think of a father who fed his livestock, yet let his children starve? What sensible father would do such an irresponsible thing? We jump over to verse 11 of chapter 7 here in the book of Matthew, and Jesus says, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!”

Verse 27: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Jesus says worrying is useless. It has been said that “worry is the interest that we pay on a debt that we do not owe.” Suppose I went into the bank, and I said to the banker that I want to pay the interest on a note—a loan? And they search the records of the bank only to find out that I had not borrowed any money! And the banker says, “You don’t owe us anything. You haven’t borrowed any money from us.” But I say, “Yes, but I may borrow money from your bank someday!” Well, the banker may find some humor in my stupidity, but this, perhaps, demonstrates the picture of what we may appear to be as we spend our time in anxiety and worry.

Verses 28 through 30: Jesus says, “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If 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?” Here, God has a consideration even for the flowers. How beautiful is the lily! How beautiful are the flowers of the field! But compared to man, they are relatively unimportant. Today the lily is here, but tomorrow it will wither and die. So if God covers the flowers with so much glory, will He not care for His children who are so much more precious in His sight?

Continuing on in verses 31 and 32, Jesus continues to speak: “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” Having anxieties about the future is imitating the pagan or the heathen. If we concern ourselves with the necessities of life as if there is no such thing as the providence of God, if we show great concern about earthly enjoyments as if we expect none in eternity, if we never petition God for His help as if we do not need it, this is but to imitate the pagan, or the heathens. But anyone who does not recognize God, or God’s rich providence and grace, trusts in the “arm of flesh.” We have a God Who challenges us to do His Will, and He has promised that He will open the windows of heaven unto us. [Malachi 3:10, King James Version of the Bible: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10, New International Version of the Bible: “‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,’” says the LORD Almighty, “‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.’”]

Also, in verse 32, God knows our needs. We know the needs of our children, and no one needs to tell us about them. It is our duty as parents to provide those needs. Children do not worry about tomorrow and tomorrow’s needs because they have a Mom and a Dad to provide those things. More so, we as God’s children have a heavenly Father Who is daily concerned about our needs, and He promises to provide those things that we need for our lives.

Finally, verse 34: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Worry only makes us miserable. God alone can see the future. Therefore, we encroach on His right when we attempt to foresee what might happen to us. Why borrow trouble from tomorrow? We have our share of cares for today. We should live by the day and time, so Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” [Matthew 6:11; Luke 11:3].