9. What kinds of thing should the Christian not worry about? Matthew 6:31-32, first part.
NOTE: ‘“Do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” Matthew 6:25, RSV. He who has given you life knows your need of food to sustain it. He who created the body is not unmindful of your need of raiment. Will not He who has bestowed the greater gift bestow also what is needed to make it complete?’ Lift Him Up, page 73.
10. Why has the Christian no need to worry about food, drink or clothing? Matthew 6:32, last part. Compare Matthew 6:8.
NOTE: ‘The Sabbath, which makes known God as Creator, Preserver, and Redeemer (Ezekiel 20:12), teaches confidence in Him, for whoever becomes acquainted with God trusts Him. Psalm 9:10. Therefore the Sabbath takes from the poor man the heavy load of care and anxiety that he has borne so long, by introducing him to the Almighty Father, “in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:10. It is only when a man does not know the Sabbath and its Lord, that he says, “I couldn’t live if I served Him.” The one who knows the Lord will rather say, “I cannot live without Him.” Think a moment of the incongruity of the statement by a professed Christian, that he couldn’t live if he kept the Sabbath of the Lord; that he wouldn’t dare take the risk. But if he dare not trust the Lord for the life that now is, how dare he trust Him for the life to come? If the Lord cannot keep us alive for a few short years, what possible hope is there of eternal life? “Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” “Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” Matthew 6:32.’ E. J. Waggoner: Bible Echo & Signs of the Times, January 24, 1898.
11. Instead of being anxious about things like food and clothing, what does Jesus teach us to make the priority in our lives? Matthew 6:33. Consider Luke 10:39-42.
NOTE: ‘“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Often the follower of Christ is brought where he cannot serve God and carry forward his worldly enterprises. Perhaps it appears that obedience to some plain requirement of God will cut off his means of support. Satan would make him believe that he must sacrifice his conscientious convictions. But the only thing in our world upon which we can rely is the word of God. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33. Even in this life it is not for our good to depart from the will of our Father in heaven. When we learn the power of His word, we shall not follow the suggestions of Satan in order to obtain food or to save our lives. Our only questions will be, What is God’s command? and what is His promise? Knowing these, we shall obey the one, and trust the other.’ Desire of Ages, page 121.