Seek only the kingdom of God.
📖 Luke 12:22–31
Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.” (22)
A theologian discovered a peculiar feature while studying early church documents. It was that a special prefix was attached to names, such as Titeios Thomas, Titeios Matthew, Titeios John, and Titeios Peter. “Titeios” means “one who does not worry.”
In other words, the saints of the early church described Christians as people who do not worry. A Christian is not someone without worry, but someone who does not worry. Jesus speaks to us, who live in anxiety, carrying the water jar of worry on our heads and the yoke of grief every day.
“Do not worry.” (22).
In the original biblical language, worry means “a restless mind.” The Chinese character meaning of worry is also “unable to let one’s mind rest.” Thus, worry is having one’s mind shaken by discomfort and anxiety. A wavering heart can never be a source of strength. On the contrary, worry prevents the Word of God from bearing fruit within us.
Pastor George Müller, known as the person who received the most answers to prayer in Christian history, left these words regarding worry:
“The beginning of worry is the end of faith. But the beginning of faith is the end of worry!”
Then, how can we become a person of faith who does not worry, and live a life of faith without worry? The secret is “seeking only the Kingdom of God.” 31)
Here, the conjunction “only” is used to mean “nevertheless,” “although,” or “however.” We worry about what to eat for our lives and what to wear for our bodies (22), but God already knows that we need these things (30). “Nevertheless” and “even so,” when we seek the Kingdom of God, He enables us to not worry. This fact is also revealed in the words God gave to the prophet Ezekiel when He promised to purify Israel.
“Nevertheless, the house of Israel must ask Me to do this for them (Ezekiel 36:37).”
We, too, earnestly hope to become people of true faith who do not worry by seeking only the Kingdom of God, and to live a life of true faith.
🙏 Lord, who knows all our needs, let us be released from the worries, anxieties, and concerns that bind our lives by seeking only the Kingdom of God. May we be recognized as true Christians—people who do not worry like the saints of the early church—and reveal Your name. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
🎼 People with Anxiety in Their Hearts
