How do you look today?
Some of my favorite movies to watch are the ones that involve Wolverine. Hugh Jackman first played Wolverine in the movie X-men in the year 2000. He has been playing this character now for 15 years. A character who is not supposed to age like normal men do.
And he still pulls it off.
It amazed me when I read the amount of work and self-discipline he has to go through to still look the part. Wolverine is cut, and the older Hugh gets, the harder he has to work to keep that appearance. He pulls it off, but then he gets paid to look that good.
Today's culture is all about looks. There was a time when only women were given an unrealistic model of what their body should look like. Today the same is true for men. A six pack isn't enough, now there is an eight pack that must be achieved.
But underneath all of this is the question, where do we place our value?
What makes us worth something to someone else?
Jesus said,
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?" Matthew 6:25 (NIV)
I thought about this for a moment. I'm sure he is talking to a crowd that is dressed. Most people wear clothes of some kind. Even a homeless person has clothing. What "worry" is Jesus addressing here?
A few verses down he continues the thought.
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?" Matthew 6-28-30 (NIV)
What kind of clothing is Jesus talking about here?
Let's jump to Isaiah 61
"I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!
For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation
and draped me in a robe of righteousness.
I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding
or a bride with her jewels." Isaiah 61:10 (NIV)
God sees through clothing, make-up or whether or not we can pull off the eight pack. God is looking for us to receive his salvation that he may clothe us in his righteousness.
We don't all have the genetics or the resources to look like a movie star. But to God that is a non-issue. He wants us to be able to stand in his presence. And to do that we need to be clothed in righteousness.
This is why Jesus concludes with.
"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV)
