Matthew 6:33-34 

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Some humorous stories have little intrinsic value, but there is one story that presents a stronger message than most sermons. It seems that a businessman from the city was traveling back home rather late at night after a meeting. He decided to take a short-cut that took him off the main thoughfare and into the country.

Far from the city he heard and felt the unmistakable signs of a flat tire. Eagerly he jumped out of his car and opened the trunk (boot to you Brits). He pulled out his spare tire. It was then he remembered that he had loaned his tire jack to his neighbor. (No tire jack—no way to install the spare).

He saw the lights of a farmhouse some distance away. As he started toward the lights he was happy that he was as close to help as he was. But then he started talking to himself: “You know I have heard that these farmers don’t like city slickers and will find every chance they get to make money off of us. I bet he charges me $10. To use his tire jack!”

As he came closer to the house he became more agitated about how much the farmer would possibly charge him for the use of a jack. “I bet that rascal will charge me $20.00 or even more! It just burns me up!!”

As he came closer he saw the lights go out as the family must have gone to bed for the night. “That does it!” He told himself. Now it will be at least $50.00. I am so mad I could spit!!”

He reached the door and he began to pound on it with his fists. The poor farmer came to the door without having any idea of the man’s predicament or what he had been conjuring in his mind. Before he had an opportunity to speak, the motorist screamed—“KEEP YOUR STUPID JACK!”

I no doubt botched the story somewhat, but I hope you were able to realize how foolish the stranded motorist was. He allowed presumption to cloud his reason so far that the farmer was guilty without him hearing the request.

I wonder how often we are guilty of much the same thing. We presume to know how things are going to turn out before they happen. I will be using the same Scripture tomorrow that I am using today, but with a different slant—a good one.

Read this passage again and again and let it fill your every being. In fact read verse 34 first. It says basically that each day will have its share of sorrows. As I write this, it is the eighteenth anniversary of our dear daughter leaving this earth and entering into her eternal rest. It was one day after our 39th wedding anniversary.

The sorrow of saying goodbye to her in this world is tempered by the expectation of the joyous reunion when we see her in heaven. What a wonderful day that will be. We may have flat tires, fender benders, stalled engines or you name it on this earth, but praise God, we have a home in heaven where nothing is broken and it never will be!

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!

- – - Pastor Cecil