This is a good reminder of our roles before Christ and in life in general. Why would we even consider handling Christ’s business? Yet, we do. The verse before the first scripture used above makes the order and our roles even clearer.
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
1Pe 5:7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
—1 Peter 5:6-7
It’s God’s business to exalt us in some way if He sees fit. It’s our business to humble ourselves. God does the providing, we attend to the obeying.
Mat 6:30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Mat 6:31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
Mat 6:32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
Mat 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Mat 6:34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
—Matthew 6:30-34
It’s God’s business to add things to our life as HE sees fit. It’s our business to seek FIRST His kingdom and trust Him to keep His promises. God does the providing, we attend to the obeying.
Luk 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Luk 9:24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
—Luke 9:23-24
God already did the providing by sending Jesus to the cross — by quite literally denying Himself to lose His life. If Jesus chose to save His life, not only would He have denied His main purpose for coming in the flesh, but all the lives He saved would have remained lost. When He calls us to follow Him, He means what He says. Our role is to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily. It’s not a suggestion, but a command. God does the providing (the Lamb of God), we attend to the obeying…