Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Judgment then rather than now

4 This is how we should be thought of: as servants of the Messiah, and household managers for God’s mysteries. ² And this is what follows: the main requirement for a manager is to be trustworthy. ³ Having said that, I regard it as a matter of minimal concern to think that I should be interrogated by you, or indeed by any human court. I don’t even interrogate myself. ⁴ I don’t actually know of anything that stands against me, but that isn’t what vindicates me; it’s the Lord who interrogates me.

⁵ So don’t pass judgment on anything before the time when the Lord comes! He will bring to light the secrets of darkness, and will lay bare the intentions of the heart. Then everyone will receive praise—from God.

²⁴ “Nobody can serve two masters. Otherwise, they will either hate the first and love the second, or be devoted to the first and despise the second. You can’t serve both God and wealth.”

Do not worry

²⁵ “So let me tell you: don’t worry about your life—what to eat, what to drink; don’t worry about your body—what to wear. There’s more to life than food! There’s more to the body than a suit of clothes! ²⁶ Have a good look at the birds in the sky. They don’t plant seeds, they don’t bring in the harvest, they don’t store things in barns—and your father in heaven feeds them! Think how different you are from them! ²⁷ Can any of you add fifteen inches to your height just by worrying about it?

²⁸ “And why worry about what to wear? Take a tip from the lilies in the countryside. They don’t work; they don’t weave; ²⁹ but, let me tell you, not even Solomon in all his finery was dressed as well as one of these. ³⁰ So if God gives that sort of clothing even to the grass in the field, which is here today and on the bonfire tomorrow, isn’t he far more likely to clothe you too, you little-faith lot?

³¹ “So don’t worry away with your ‘What’ll we eat?’ and ‘What’ll we drink?’ and ‘What’ll we wear?’ ³² Those are all the kinds of things the Gentiles fuss about, and your heavenly father knows you need them all. ³³ Instead, make your top priority God’s kingdom and his way of life, and all these things will be given to you as well.

³⁴ “So don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow can worry about itself. One day’s trouble at a time is quite enough.”