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By R.A. Mathews

There’s a photo of him taken at the beginning of the 20th century, walking in New York City with his wife. John Jacob Astor, IV, one of the wealthiest men in America, appears in that picture to have not a care in the world.

Yet, Astor died a tragic death.

At the age of 47, on April 15, 1912, John Jacob Astor disappeared beneath the cold, black waters of the Atlantic Ocean, along with the Titanic.

Perhaps that unsinkable ship came to mind last week when another vessel, the Bayesian, also deemed unsinkable, descended into the Mediterranean near Sicily. The very wealthy Mike Lynch, hailed as Britain’s Bill Gates, was among those who died. He was 59 years old.

Money can bring security — a safe neighborhood, good schools, the best medical care.

But not always.

If anything, it was wealth that placed these two men in harm’s way — both traveling on a ship few could afford to board. Each vessel was deadly. 

This raises an age-old question: Since we don’t know when we’ll die, should we live for today and not focus on the future?

Many say Jesus would answer with a resounding “Yes.” They point to how the Lord spoke of the birds and lilies. But examine Jesus’ words closely.

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them… Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet… Solomon… was not arrayed like one of these… Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’… or ‘What shall we wear?’ … your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God…” (Matthew 6:26-34, ESV).

There are two key phrases in Jesus’ message. 

First: “Do not be anxious.” 

Second: “Seek first the kingdom.” 

Jesus is saying turn to God in faith, and He will help you. The opposite of anxious is faith. 

Jesus’ later relays the Parable of the Talents — a story that many say focuses on money and the future. Look at His words.

“… a man about to go on a journey… called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one… and he went on his journey. The one who had received the five talents… earned five more talents. In the same way the one who had received the two talents earned two more. But he who received the one talent … hid his master’s money.

“Now… the master of those slaves came and…  The one who had received the five talents… brought five more talents… His master said to him, ‘Well done… I will put you in charge of many things…’

 “Also, the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘… See, I have earned two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done… I will put you in charge of many things…’

“Now the one who had received the one talent… said, ‘Master, I… hid your talent… See, you still have what is yours.’

“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You worthless, lazy slave… you ought to have put my money in the bank, and … I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore: take the talent away from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away” (Matthew 25:14-29, NASB).

Jesus isn’t talking here about money. The parable is also about faith.

Hopefully, when John Jacob Astor, IV, died on April 15, 1912, and when Michael Lynch died on Aug. 19, each had led a life seeking and following God. 

Lay your fears and your worries at the feet of Jesus, tenaciously pray for guidance, and know that God will help you. Life is not about today or tomorrow — not first and foremost. 

It’s about Jesus. 

“Seek ye first the kingdom…”

The Rev. Mathews (BA, MDiv, JD) is a faith columnist and the author of the Reaching to God series and Emerald Coast: The Vendetta. Contact her at Hello@RAMathews.com.