Good Morning!

We were hit over the weekend by a marauding band of raccoons. They nearly wiped out our chickens. Not a fan, but that seems to be life of the farm. This hasn’t been the first time.

Here’s something nice from my bible plan over the weekend:

Psalm 127:1-2 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

That’s pretty cool. I remember, years ago, discussing the concept of business cycles at work. We were extremely goal-oriented but couldn’t help but be amazed how at times everything we touched turned to gold and yet other times everything turned to ash. Sometimes even a fool can make money; and at others, even the best managers struggle.

I wasn’t a believer then, but the concept of “beyond my control” was evident. Even though I attributed it to laws of economics, there was this sense that there was something more at play. That “something”, of course, is God. Jesus said so, himself.

Matthew 5:45b For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Now, that would seem to contradict the Psalm, but not really. The idea of “anxious toil” permeates our society. People spend years in college learning how to master the concept of how to make money. In fact, economics may be best defined as the study of the allocation of scarce resources. In other words, man believes that there simply isn’t enough to go around.

Yet, we see in scripture that God takes care of us, that we need not worry about scarcity. However, there is a caveat. We must seek the Lord and walk with him and obey his commands. Yes, it is true that the rain falls on everyone, but God goes beyond to promise more to those who seek his face. Let’s look at a few verses.

Matthew 6:25-34 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil or spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

So, my friends, seek God to build your house, to watch over your city, and to provide for your needs. He will not only provide, but he will give you sleep. How cool is that?

Father, your words are a soothing balm to a nervous soul. Grant me your peace and provide my rest. Amen.

Copyright © 2018 Scott Powers