Anxiety - a Treasure Issue?

While anxiety comes in all forms, and help through advanced medicine and counseling are wonderful gifts when needed, the Bible still offers much to say about this familiar enemy of mine ...

We often wash ourselves (or others) with passages meant to encourage us; and one of them is often from Matthew 6 (verses 25-34) ... much Truth in these words about what anxiety brings, and what it doesn't bring to our life (v27) ... and ultimately pointing us back to seeking Him first (v33) ... yet it all starts with a "Therefore" ... "Therefore I tell you ... don't be anxious ... " (v25)

So what preceded this text in the middle of a wealth of teachings from Jesus's sermon on the mount? What does Jesus just get done saying, before he leads into "Therefore don't be anxious ..."

It's found in verses 19-24 ...

... what we treasure.

Where our heart is ... Who, or what, we serve. Where are our "strings attached" in this life? To Him ... or others, or other stuff ... ?

We are told not to lay up treasures here on earth that are finite, keeping our eyes healthy as it feeds the rest of our body ... and how ultimately we can't serve both this world/money ... and God ... we can only serve one ... so choose Him ...

Therefore ...

... If our heart is on Him ... and we lay up treasures in Heaven (serve, give, share, encourage, love, etc.) in the name of Jesus ... then our heart will not be tied to the worries and needs of this world ... because our hope is simply not here ... not in others, not in doctors, not in money ... because we cut the strings ... and we are tied to Him ...

Easy? No ... Simple? Yes ...

Lord, may you continue to show me how your difficult but yet simple calling is not just good and full of life ... but obtainable ...