(first published July 28, 2019)
Your early 20s — the mental limbo of feeling like a teenager yet being treated like an adult while thrown into the unpredictable, proverbial abyss. Now imagine the added confusion and pressure of being apart Generation Z and ignoring worldly ways. Forget the “quarter-life-crisis,” 20 is the new age to ruminate over every career, life, and spiritual decision before it even takes course. College hasn’t prepared you for the identity crisis and self-ownership of paying bills, figuring out “office culture,” and navigating life defined outside of the ephemeral “student” label. On a standard of life index, we are living in historically the “best of times,” but morally and spiritually we feel depleted. Forced to retweet and share self-deprecating memes for validation that you too, are not in it alone. Is it the crushing $1.2 trillion student loan debt we signed up for, the skyrocketing cost of living relative to stagnant wages, or is our war a spiritual one waged during the technological revolution? As a newly-turned 21-year-old, here are some important Biblical lessons I’ve learned over the past year. Join me in analyzing some of my favorite Bible verses.
1.Age Isn’t An Indictment On Personality. Stop Wasting Your Youth Trying to Grow Up and Be Like The World.
Holden Caulfield was right.
There will be no adulting. Stop wasting your youth trying to grow up. Do you feel 17 at 21? Great, then don’t dial yourself down to appease people you have no interest in. Stop putting on a facade of feigned maturity. Don’t turn youthful self-expression of teenage years into shared Linkedin motivational images, and contrite conversations about the weather. Don’t let your humor, fashion, or aspirations die and be molded into a vague person-shaped vessel for dead dreams and monotony as soon as you turn 20. Enough about “adulting.” Contrary to popular belief, paying taxes on Turbotax.com and your first bills aren’t personality traits. But more on these bourgeois oppressive chains later. For now, clasp on to your passions and don’t let your age place limitations on your outlook on life. We can confront new responsibilities with hope and faith, not dread. End the desperation to be perceived as mature. Do not conform to the ways of the world but seek the kingdom of God.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
1 John 12:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
2. Deny The Self: “Use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Don’t be self-absorbed and focus on inner problems, focus on external pursuit of helping others. Walk after the spirit, not the flesh.
Living inside your head is the most dangerous game. In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he calls us to “in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). The answer to inner turmoil isn’t to vainly turn inwards, look up and let God guide you outwards — towards others. Focusing on your inner problems and that negative unreliable narrator inside your brain will not solve anything. You have to step outside the negative feedback loop you’ve created and turn towards helping others. You can’t distract your problems away, “self-care” them away, or even think them away. Worrying is a useless mind trick designed to make us think we’re doing something about our problems.
Daniel slept in a den of lions all night by not focusing on them but focusing on God. When you focus on problems you will feel overwhelmed you will forget that you are not meant to handle these problems alone, you will forget God’s promises.
Remember we are not to live self-serving, carnally minded lives — but lives of servitude towards God and glorifying Him by following the works of Christ towards our neighbors. Act according to God’s will not your own worldly will. Remember that God’s Spirit unconditional love in us for Him and for others (1 Corinthians 13:4–13).
Galatians 5:13-15 – For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
Galatians 5:16-21 – This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Matthew 16:25-26 – For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 22:36-39 – Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself
3. No One Is Virtuous But God, We All Fall Short of God’s Glory (Romans 3:23). Audit Yourself, Repent, and Through the Lord’s Love and Grace Our Hearts Can Be Unhardened to Bear Good Fruit. Do Not Be Lukewarm.
I used to think being passive, quietly harboring resentment, judgment, unforgiveness, disbelief, and anger was tantamount to inoffensiveness. That is until I was called a despot, until I was called out for my nature that resulted from negativity. However, Jesus Christ described this character as being “lukewarm.” It is out of character for someone who has been born by water and by Spirit, to bear such bad fruit. It is not enough to not be evil, you must be anti-evil.
Many Christians fall under the mistake of thinking that because we are not under the law of Moses therefore no longer saved through works, but rather whoever accepts Jesus Christ is redeemed by God’s grace alone, that we can live complacently according to the works of flesh. But Jesus Christ said “..Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind (Matthew 22:37.)” We must caution against letting our hearts harden and become lukewarm in our devotion to God. We must become longsuffering, kind, not envy, not arrogant. But rather humble ourselves in servitude of God and think no evil.
1 John 3:9 – Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
Mark 10:17-21 – And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Corinthians 13:4-7 – Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Revelation 3:15-16 – I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
Matthew 7:17-20 – So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
John 15:1-7 – I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
John 15:8-10 – Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
Being inoffensive is not enough. We must be transformed of our mind and become as a “healthy tree” in order to bear good fruit. We must not walk after the lusts of the flesh — that results in harboring sinful feelings such as hatred outlined in Galatians 5:16-21 which later dictate our actions.
Galatians 5:22 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Luke 17:9-10 – Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
Luke 18:20-27 – 20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. 2Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. 2And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
Matthew 7:21-24 – Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
If you have kept all these things from your youth as the man in Luke 18, consider your heart and whether we are spiritually profitable servants bearing the good fruit of the gospel.
4. God is in control of tribulations, His strength is made perfect in our weakness. He will NEVER forsake you. Spiritual trials created by our sins are sent to chastise us and call us to repentance, others are sent to reveal Himself to us in our fallen world state. Fear is the opposite of faith so do not doubt. Jesus Christ and the apostles suffered on this earth but Jesus has overcome the world
God is a good, all-powerful, sovereign, merciful god — the alpha and omega, the creator of this universe. Nothing evil comes from God but rather from the consequences of living in a fallen world. Jesus has sent us as helpers towards this rworld For this reason, many are quick to become spiritually jaded, and forget that greater men such as Joseph, David, Abraham, Job, Jeremiah Paul the apostle, John the baptist, and others suffered too. Joseph was sold into Egyptian slavery by his brothers and despite suffering greatly, he not only chose to forgive, but to endure with great humility and faith until he was able to carry out God’s plan. He ultimately saved his betrayers and called them unto repentance all by trusting in God. God used Joseph’s suffering for a larger mission to enact tremendous good. “You meant evil against me,” Joseph says, “but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:20).
Proverbs 3:5-7 -“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil” .
God’s strength was made manifest in biblical figures manifold times when they faced fearsome challenges in order to glorify Him. When Moses naturally feared going to the Pharaoh, saying “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” (Exodus 3:11), God promised they would listen to Moses (Exodus 3:18). But Moses was full of unbelief. God chose Moses as he was, to lead a nation into the promise land through the wilderness for 40 years. God used the rod in his hand to part the Red Sea, to retrieve water from a rock, to be raised over Israel’s win in battle. It became the rod of God (Exodus 4:20).
Moses begged God to use someone else for His purpose, Moses feared that he was inadequate, he feared the challenge he faced but God’s strength and power was made manifest in him despite his qualms.
Exodus 4:10-17 -And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God. And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.
Tribulations aren’t always the result of sin, look back at John 9 where Jesus makes the works of God manifest in the man blind since birth and proclaims neither him or his family had sinned.
John 9:1-7 – And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
If you accept Jesus as your savior there is no punishment. Jesus died for your sins and now they are forgiven. 1 Corinthians 15:3 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”
Much worldly suffering occurs from natural consequences (Gal. 6:7-8) — cheat in college, get kicked out. Break the law, go to prison. Suffering is not from God, but rather from man (Ecclesiastes 8:9) and our fallen world state. But we are never alone, God has promised to carry us through the waters. He is my “rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower” (Psalm 18:2).
Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Matthew 11:28-30“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 13:3-8 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. …
Do not be like the seeds that fall upon rocky soil, and let your heart become hardened by tribulation.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 – “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Revelation 3:19 – As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. -20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Luke 22:44 – “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”
Isaiah 53:5 – But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
He would face physical agony. Yet he sacrificed Himself so that whoever believes may not perish but be redeemed and have eternal life in His kingdom. Have the faith of the Roman in Luke 7. Have faith that moves mountains.
Luke 7:7-10 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
Mark 11:22-24 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Mark 9:23-26 – Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
Matthew 9:20-22: And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
Matthew 8:24-26 – And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Trust Jesus as your savior, ask Him to forgive you for your sins, surrender to Him. He will write your name in the book of life. And remember John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
6. Materialism Is a Distraction Which Does Not Fill the Void. Don’t Be Carnally Minded. Do Not Fall to Lifestyle Inflation Either. The Love of Money Is the Root of Evil. Give Freely.
What should a career-oriented Christian look like? Does the pursuit of wealth compromise our journey with Christ? These are the questions I’ve recently pondered as I come close to my college graduation. I have asked God to guide me according to His will and I do not ask for power or riches.
Jesus Christ said, man shall not live by bread alone, for God knows we need our necessities, but we shall seek the kingdom of God first. Reading the word, it’s apparent God did not weave us in the womb and put us on this earth to be lovers of money or lovers of the things in it. There is a reason behind the old adage, “money can’t buy happiness.” Not only because of the law of diminishing marginal utility, but because materialism will never fill spiritual voids caused by sin. The pursuit of materialism can manifest as greed that compromises God’s commandments and ignores suffering.
Recall the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Lazarus was a disabled beggar who could not even reach the crumbs of this rich man who ignored his suffering. Lazarus, crippled, and suffering, could not work. Yet the rich man who had more money than he knew what to do with ignored him and ended up in eternal suffering.
Luke 16:20-25: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Matthew 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves. And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Matthew 19:23-24 –Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Acts 5:1-5 – But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
Acts 8:20-22: But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Ananias in his worldly lust after money, not only lied unto men, but unto God. We can not both make idolatry out of money and serve God as stated in Luke 16. God hates the sins of lying, greed, and thievery.
Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
We are called to walk in Jesus’ ways and love not the ways of the world. To lose our lives for Christs’ sake means to deny
Mark 8:34-38 – And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
1 John 2:15-16 – Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
Matthew 6:19-21: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 6:25 – Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Matthew 4:4 – But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
John 6:35 – And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Matthew 25:34-43 – Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Do not worry about keeping up with ostentatious displays of wealth of those who desperately blast that image on social media. It is idolatry. Advertising companies want to conceive you brand-named shoes and phones produced for cents in an exploited country will give you friends, love, acceptance and self-fulfillment. If you have little, remember God has said “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen (Matthew 20:16).” Money will perish, do not perish with it (Acts 8:22).
7. Anxiety Is An Unreliable Narrator – Act in Spite of It. Then you will build a solid frame of reference for which to take bigger leaps of confidence. Have Faith in Christ.
Fear is the root of anxiety — fear of mankind, fear of failure, fear of the world. Fear is the opposite of faith. Not having faith questions God’s sovereignty, His power,, His goodness. We must pray in faith believing He will do whatsoever is consistent with His glory and will. We must pray to be healed of such anxiety and fear not man, but disobedience to God (Matthew 10:28). The apostles were tried, Daniel, Joseph, Jeremiah, and Moses feared, but through God’s grace He delivered them. We must remember, Hebrews 4:15, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
Matthew 6:26-34 – Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
In Matthew, we are consistently called to have faith. Those with faith are made whole by God’s grace.
Matthew 9:21-22 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
Matthew 9:27-29 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
Matthew 21:21-22 – Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Psalm 145:8-14 – The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.
8. Repent and Confess. Jesus came not to condemn the world but to save it.
We must be wary of slipping into sinful habits.
1 John 3:9 – Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
1 John 2:1 – My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.