If Only.....

If only my baby would sleep through the night.  If only my child would behave at school.   If only my teenager would quit talking back to me.  If only our marriage was better. If only our finances weren't a disaster.   If only my boss would acknowledge my contributions and give me a raise.   If I could only afford to go on vacation.   If only my health were better.  If only I was better at ______________(fill in the blank).  If only I were older/younger.

If only statements are very familiar to me.  These statements are another expression of anxiety.  People or circumstances that we can’t control.

As hundreds of Jewish families sat on a beautiful hillside listening to Jesus preach his most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), they were all too familiar with anxiety and if only statements.   Most Jewish families during this time period lived very simply and were uncertain of where their next meal would come from.  Their if onlys were “If only I had enough money for material to make clothes for my children or if only I had enough money to make a meal that will keep my children’s bellies full.”  Jesus knew their thoughts and their concerns.

He knows our anxieties and He cares!

In Matthew 6:25, he says to the crowd, “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….”  Jesus then points to the birds and flowers as an illustration of His Father’s care.   The Creator of the Universe is standing in front of them and they are concerned about food and clothing.   Just as Jesus knew Martha had been distracted by meal preparations, Jesus knew his listeners were distracted about what they perceived their unmet needs to be.

What was His answer concerning their anxiety?  He first tells them they have “little faith”.   When we are anxious, we have little faith.  Our faith is in our ability to control the circumstances or people.  Jesus desires us to be people with a big faith!  A faith that believes He is perfectly capable of meeting every need we have.  A faith that  believes He is in control.

Jesus challenges his audience with a revolutionary statement in Matthew 6:33:  “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

The word “seek” in the Greek means to “set your heart on”.   If my heart is set on controlling or fixing a situation, then Jesus is not free to work.  I have taken control.

Jesus calls us to set our  hearts on the kingdom of God, the place where He rules, where He is in control.  To set our heart on His righteousness.  To set our hearts on believing that He will do the right things in our lives to accomplish His purposes, not ours.

This requires a “big faith”!  I call it God confidence.  Confident that He is the Creator of the universe and me!  Confident that He is in control, not me.  Confident that He is perfectly capable of advancing His Kingdom in and through my life and the lives of those around me.  

Next time “If only” statements come to mind, set your heart on Jesus.  Have big faith.  He loves you dearly.