Did Jesus basically say 'live in the now, and do not plan for later'?

[Inkfingers]

The fact is that here we are talking about advice that is advocating a sensible, balanced, approach to living.

It is not advice that calls for any extreme response, whether it be that you should not make a move to go inside if it starts to rain on you, or, at the other extreme, that you ought to spend every waking moment worrying about the smallest things that might go wrong..

Give NO thought to what you will eat.

None.

The example being the birds who forage.

It's not about "balance". It's about a revolutionary shift.

 

[A_Thinker]

When Jesus said "give no thought for tomorrow" in Matthew 6:34, and gave as an example of what he meant by this a comparson with the Birds of the air who "sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns" (Matthew 6:26), was Jesus saying essentially do not plan for the future, not even planning tomorrow's dinner schedule (Matthew 6:31)?

And if not, on what basis would you say that this was not his line?

I would say that this is precisely what Jesus is saying. That, according to his teaching, people should not be farmers now, planting crops for next season, nor parents planning the family meals for tomorrow, but should live entirely from day to day on God's providence...

Which raises some rather challenging questions to us all.

When Jesus made the statements which you cite ... He was teaching about faith ... vs worry and doubt ...

 

[public hermit]

"give no thought for tomorrow"

As has been pointed out, it would help if you had a proper translation. The term used there is about inordinate concern, care, anxiety. The KJV is just not as helpful in this instance as it could have been. Most translations bring out the emphasis on worry or anxiety, as is fitting for that term.

μεριμνάω, f. ήσω, to care for, be anxious about, think earnestly upon, scan minutely, Lat. meditari, Soph., Xen.; πολλὰ μ. to be cumbered with many cares, Xen.(from Liddell-Scott)

 

[Hammster]

Give NO thought to what you will eat.

None.

The example being the birds who forage.

It's not about "balance". It's about a revolutionary shift.

They are still working.

 

[Scott Husted]

When Jesus said "give no thought for tomorrow" in Matthew 6:34, and gave as an example of what he meant by this a comparson with the Birds of the air who "sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns" (Matthew 6:26), was Jesus saying essentially do not plan for the future, not even planning tomorrow's dinner schedule (Matthew 6:31)?

And if not, on what basis would you say that this was not his line?

I would say that this is precisely what Jesus is saying. That, according to his teaching, people should not be farmers now, planting crops for next season, nor parents planning the family meals for tomorrow, but should live entirely from day to day on God's providence...

Which raises some rather challenging questions to us all.

For me it has to do more with thought then it does with what you are thinking of.

"Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? "

 

[bling]

There are things we need to be doing now to prepare us for the future, but worrying about something you cannot prepare for is a waste.

 

[Guojing]

When Jesus said "give no thought for tomorrow" in Matthew 6:34, and gave as an example of what he meant by this a comparson with the Birds of the air who "sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns" (Matthew 6:26), was Jesus saying essentially do not plan for the future, not even planning tomorrow's dinner schedule (Matthew 6:31)?

And if not, on what basis would you say that this was not his line?

I would say that this is precisely what Jesus is saying. That, according to his teaching, people should not be farmers now, planting crops for next season, nor parents planning the family meals for tomorrow, but should live entirely from day to day on God's providence...

Which raises some rather challenging questions to us all.

The Tribulation was supposed to begin very soon when Jesus arrived in the flesh. So it made sense then.

But now, it has been postponed, so Paul urged us to work enough to provide for our households.

 

[RDKirk]

Jesus's concern in that passage seems to be inordinate anxiety and worry about basic necessities. Moreover, Jesus and the disciples carried a common money purse (John 12:6; 13:29). Carrying a money purse is a plan for meeting future need.

Maybe the ideal is a mean between having no future plan and assuming one's elaborate future plans are somehow a safeguard against calamity? Or, live reasonably while trusting God?

Or, rather, not having your own plan but seeking to take part in God's plan.

There are many parts to the Body of Christ, and each part has a given role to play.

Luke 12 must be taken and understood in its entirety. The foolish rich man was not foolish for planning out his crops, planting them, caring for them, harvesting them, and storing them. That's not what Jesus was criticizing. He was foolish for thinking that all that God had worked through him was for his pleasure alone.

The parable of this foolish rich man was set directly opposite the parable of the wise steward, with the first point of opposition being the understanding of stewardship itself. The steward understood that what he gained through his labor did not belong to him for his pleasure alone, but was to be delivered to the rest of his master's servants appropriately.

That means the other servants did not have to worry about what they would eat the next day because they were part of a functional body, the master's household. Each had a function and some of them functioned to meet the needs of others.

 

[RDKirk]

As has been pointed out, it would help if you had a proper translation. The term used there is about inordinate concern, care, anxiety. The KJV is just not as helpful in this instance as it could have been. Most translations bring out the emphasis on worry or anxiety, as is fitting for that term.

μεριμνάω, f. ήσω, to care for, be anxious about, think earnestly upon, scan minutely, Lat. meditari, Soph., Xen.; πολλὰ μ. to be cumbered with many cares, Xen.(from Liddell-Scott)

Yes. Anxiety and planning are two different things.

 

[Radagast]

.

 

[RDKirk]

.

 

[public hermit]

Or, rather, not having your own plan but seeking to take part in God's plan.

There are many parts to the Body of Christ, and each part has a given role to play

Yeah, I like this better than my "golden mean" comment. I also agree with your rendering of the foolish rich man.

 

[Cis.jd]

When Jesus said "give no thought for tomorrow" in Matthew 6:34, and gave as an example of what he meant by this a comparson with the Birds of the air who "sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns" (Matthew 6:26), was Jesus saying essentially do not plan for the future, not even planning tomorrow's dinner schedule (Matthew 6:31)?

And if not, on what basis would you say that this was not his line?

I would say that this is precisely what Jesus is saying. That, according to his teaching, people should not be farmers now, planting crops for next season, nor parents planning the family meals for tomorrow, but should live entirely from day to day on God's providence...

Which raises some rather challenging questions to us all.

Not plan, but it's just life essential to be also be practical. Sometimes worrying about things in the future can distract you from things happening now which should be of your concern.

 

[miamited]

When Jesus said "give no thought for tomorrow" in Matthew 6:34, and gave as an example of what he meant by this a comparson with the Birds of the air who "sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns" (Matthew 6:26), was Jesus saying essentially do not plan for the future, not even planning tomorrow's dinner schedule (Matthew 6:31)?

And if not, on what basis would you say that this was not his line?

I would say that this is precisely what Jesus is saying. That, according to his teaching, people should not be farmers now, planting crops for next season, nor parents planning the family meals for tomorrow, but should live entirely from day to day on God's providence...

Which raises some rather challenging questions to us all.

Hi Inkfingers,

My understanding is that Jesus was telling us not to worry about tomorrow. That means that a farmer does plant his crop because that's his profession, but he shouldn't worry himself over the coming crop. Families are certainly free to plan tomorrow's meal, but not worry themselves about it. I think there's a difference in meaning between 'worry' and 'plan'.

God bless,
In Christ, ted

 

[Maria Billingsley]

When Jesus said "give no thought for tomorrow" in Matthew 6:34, and gave as an example of what he meant by this a comparson with the Birds of the air who "sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns" (Matthew 6:26), was Jesus saying essentially do not plan for the future, not even planning tomorrow's dinner schedule (Matthew 6:31)?

And if not, on what basis would you say that this was not his line?

I would say that this is precisely what Jesus is saying. That, according to his teaching, people should not be farmers now, planting crops for next season, nor parents planning the family meals for tomorrow, but should live entirely from day to day on God's providence...

Which raises some rather challenging questions to us all.

We should keep in mind that Jesus Christ of Nazareth spoke of spiritual matters and not so much the daily on goings of life especially in these verses, He is simply stating how much God loves us.

We know a farmer needs to sow their seed in spring in order to see their crop in summer. We also know that it is God who made that seed, the soil it is buried in and the water that keeps it alive and fruitful. The result is sustenance for the many. God knows what we need and He will supply what we need and we should not worry over such things.

These passages speak of the great love God has for humanity. He blesses the good and the wicked at the same time. God takes care of nature and He takes care of us, even more so, as we are made in His image. However, we have free will and if we decide not to obey His command of "be fruitful and multiply" and not cultivate the land, humanity will no longer exist. So I believe the moral of the story is not to sit back and do nothing but rather, His teachings have everything to do about trust and obedience.
Be blessed and stay healthy.

 

[Inkfingers]

As has been pointed out, it would help if you had a proper translation. The term used there is about inordinate concern, care, anxiety. The KJV is just not as helpful in this instance as it could have been. Most translations bring out the emphasis on worry or anxiety, as is fitting for that term.

μεριμνάω, f. ήσω, to care for, be anxious about, think earnestly upon, scan minutely, Lat. meditari, Soph., Xen.; πολλὰ μ. to be cumbered with many cares, Xen.(from Liddell-Scott)

You cannot just take the single sentence on its own. You have to look at the context of the examples; birds foraging and not farming, giving no thought to tomorrow, storing up no money for a rainy day, focusing on today.

This is saying we should live from day to day, in the "moment" so to speak, and not plan for the future needs.

And that translation is a poor one; merimnao, means thought or care. It's use means, essentially "meh, don't worry about that, don't give it a moment's thought".

 

[Inkfingers]

Hi Inkfingers,

My understanding is that Jesus was telling us not to worry about tomorrow. That means that a farmer does plant his crop because that's his profession, but he shouldn't worry himself over the coming crop. Families are certainly free to plan tomorrow's meal, but not worry themselves about it. I think there's a difference in meaning between 'worry' and 'plan'.

God bless,
In Christ, ted

Farmers plant because they are concered about future meals.

Christ is saying that the birds are fed without farming, and that we should not care about where our next meal is coming from.

I get that this is challenging. It is for me as well. But sticking our heads in the sand is no response.

 

[public hermit]

You cannot just take the single sentence on its own. You have to look at the context of the examples; birds foraging and not farming, giving no thought to tomorrow, storing up no money for a rainy day, focusing on today.

I agree that the context matters, and I understand why you read it in that way. How do you read vss. 32-33? The Gentiles seek/strive after these basic necessities. Jesus says, "You all should first seek the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all other things will be added to you" (public hermit's translation).

To worry about the necessities is to make them a matter of primary concern, and the righteousness of God secondary (or maybe not at all). Jesus is saying make God's righteousness our primary concern. Seek that first. If there is a first, then it follows there is a second. Protos means first of several, or first in a series. He is not saying, don't seek the necessities at all. He is saying those concerns are secondary. If he meant to say don't seek them at all, he wouldn't have said, "Seek the kingdom first." Right?

 

[Hammster]

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.
— 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10

 

[Hammster]

And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers.
— Acts 18:2-3