Matthew 6:33-34 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Believers in Jesus are already members in God’s kingdom. When Jesus’ love for you at the cross overwhelmed your heart, and overcame your resistance, and convinced you that, “Yes, I don’t have to be afraid of God anymore. If he would give up his Son for me, if he himself would pay for the sins with which I had offended him, then he must truly love me and want only what is best for me,” then Jesus set up his wonderful rulership of grace and love in your heart. You came under the influence of his kingdom. You became a citizen living under his blessed rule.

Do you know what that means? As a member of his kingdom, all the treasures of heaven belong to you. In fact, everything that God rules, and that includes the whole universe, he controls for your benefit.

If you have that kingdom, then you truly have it all, don’t you? Jesus doesn’t say, “Seek first the kingdom, and then you can go and worry about finding your earthly needs.” No, if you have the kingdom, the rest of it comes along with, and vastly more than we would ever think to ask God for.

But we might be tempted to object, “Are you saying that no Christian will ever go hungry? None of them will ever lack clothing, or a place to stay, or other basic necessities of life?”

We must remember that even if God should let us starve to death, he has only brought us home to heaven sooner. We are worrying about losing our plastic beads when God is offering us diamond necklaces. We are concerned about trading our tar paper shacks for brick mansions. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” “Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Even if on earth I seem as miserable and destitute as Job, “my cup overflows.”

Finally, Jesus reminds us that today has enough with which to be concerned. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” In his wisdom, God has given us our lives one day at a time. Today is all that you or I have. Recovering alcoholics learn that they must face their addiction one day at a time, and not worry about how they will be doing a week, or a month, or a year from now.

That truth was not first discovered by AA. Jesus reveals it here for all of us, and God’s children will want to live their lives this way, too. While Jesus isn’t condemning planning, or saving, he is helping us to keep these things in perspective. Tomorrow I may leave this world for heaven. Tomorrow Jesus may return and bring our world to an end. Tomorrow may be filled with things, both good and bad, that I could never have anticipated. Tomorrow is in God’s hands, not mine. Today I will trust the One who has given me his kingdom and promises to give me everything else as well.