All These Things

At the beginning of the first Star Wars movie (Episode 4, A New Hope), Luke Skywalker was a farm boy in a barren desert who would rather be anywhere else.  His eyes were on the stars and his heart drawn to serve in the rebellion against the empire.  He was not interested to drive around in his land speeder when he could be flying through space in a starfighter engaged in combat on an important mission.  It seemed he was going nowhere in Tatooine, and all the meaningful opportunities that could offer excitement and satisfaction were somewhere else in the galaxy.

The perspective of Luke on Tatooine is not uncommon among people today.  Whether it be a dead-end job, the drudgery of school, a health struggle or conflict due to relationships, we might want to be "anywhere but here."  Dissatisfied with where we are or by what we are obligated to do, we imagine there is something out there that will provide what we are looking or longing for.  In His wisdom, God created man needy with hunger and desires.  He designed us to have physical, emotional and spiritual needs only He can supply.  While it is natural for man to pursue what he needs and wants and worry when supplies run out, Jesus taught His disciples to trust God to provide all we need now and forever.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-34, "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  Jesus commanded His followers not to worry or be preoccupied, burdened with cares of their future.  Their eyes weren't to be focused on trying to find a better job, more money, a spouse or an open door to a mission field:  in seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all the things they needed would be added to them in due time.  In trusting and following Jesus Who is the Way, He would wisely lead them according to God's will step by step.  Instead of worrying about what is unknown or out of our control, there is rest in knowing God who rules over all.

Jesus is the Door to the kingdom of God open to all people by grace through faith in Him.  He is righteous, and by faith in Him God's righteousness is imputed to every believer.  Having received the Gospel, we are called to walk according to it.  Paul wrote in Romans 1:16-17, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."  Even as the righteousness and salvation of a Christian are gifts provided by faith in God, so is the food we eat, the water we drink, the clothes we wear, the job, shelter, relationships and ministry opportunities.  We need not be preoccupied with seeking open doors or worry we are missing out, for as we seek and follow Jesus He will open countless doors for us to enter no man can shut.  Righteousness and all we need for this life and that to come is abundantly supplied through Christ alone.