May 28, 2025

Minding Your Thoughts

A Biblical Overview of Obtaining and Maintaining a Biblical Thought Life

Matthew 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

Luke 14:26 says, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Does this mean that we are to literally hate our mom, our dad, husbands, wives, children or our siblings? This cannot be, for in Ephesians and in Colossians men are commanded, Husbands, love your wives (Ephesians 5:25, Colossians 3:19). In Titus 2:4 the aged women are commanded to teach the young women, …to love their husbands, to love their children. If God told us to love on one hand and to hate the same people on the other hand, He would be putting an impossible burden on us. This is not like the discretion we discussed a few days ago, these are direct commands. In Luke 14:26 the Lord uses an illustration of priority and measure. In comparison with other Scriptures He must mean that the cost of discipleship is so high that the love we have for others must pale in comparison to the love and devotion we have for Him. If pressed, true disciples will always put the Lord first.

The above teaching of, Therefore take no thought… is similar. Every person must have clothes to wear. Each Sunday morning my wife lays out the outfit I wear for church because she can make all the various items match, and I could care less. I’m sure she thinks about it. I am equally sure that the Lord is not displeased with her taking care of her family. After all He magnified the Proverbs 31 lady for concerning herself with her family’s clothing. So what point is the Lord making? He is trying to communicate to mankind that there are more important things to think about than what we wear, what we eat, how we look, and what will happen tomorrow (all mentioned in Matthew chapter 6). The thought of more importance is God and His ability to care for you. You may need to plan what you wear, but He will make sure you have those clothes to wear. He will take care of you, He will bless you, He will work things out, and He will provide what you need. You on the other hand are to seek Him first. The last four days have been preparing the Bible reader for Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

The number one priority of life is to seek Him first (which begins in your thoughts), if you do, everything else will be added to you.

May the Lord bless and be pleased with your thought life today.

Dr. William T. Howe