By Rev. J. Loren Russell 
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew 6:34 KJV
”I’m taking one day at a time” is a phrase so common that we hear it several times a day. In fact, if you ask someone how they are doing, they often reply with the phrase, “I’m just taking one day at a time.” My usual reply to that is, “If you figure out how to take more than a day at a time, please let me know!” The truth of the matter is we all take one day at a time. In reality, it’s not day-to-day, it’s not minute-by-minute, it’s second-by-second. There is not a single moment in our lives that we know precisely what the next moment will bring.
In the Book of Exodus, the story is told of the Israelites wondering through the wilderness. Food was scarce so the Lord fed them with manna from heaven, a food no one had ever heard of or tasted before. Moses instructed them to eat as much as they wanted or needed, but they were to save nothing for the next day. The only exception was for the sabbath. But these were very rebellious people. The Bible says. “Some of them disobeyed, but the next morning what they kept was stinking and full of worms, and Moses was angry” (Ex. 16:20 CEV). If we do what needs to be done today, tomorrow will take care of itself. Sometimes, we are so concerned about tomorrow’s affairs that we neglect the things that need to be done today. When that happens, we can end up shortchanging today having high anxiety the next.
Jesus was very specific and declarative when He said, “take no thought for tomorrow.” The Contemporary English Version Bible translates the latter part of that verse; “You have enough to worry about today.“ That requires being present in the here and now, making full use of each and every moment that is given to you — at the time it is presented to you. We have no time to lose. Every moment is precious. If we lose one, we will never get it back and that includes moments lost thinking about tomorrow while you’re still in today.
Dr. Benjamin E. Mays penned a poem for the ages. If we are wise enough to live our lives in accordance with the wisdom found in his words, we would certainly be taking advantage of every moment that has been so graciously given to us.
I’ve only just a minute,
Only sixty seconds in it.
Forced upon me, can’t refuse it,
Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it,
But it’s up to me to use it.
I must suffer if I lose it,
Give an account if I abuse it,
Just a tiny little minute,
But eternity is in it.
Be Blessed +++
Rev. J. Loren Russell, associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx, President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting, host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on Soul 1 Radio, Monday’s 8:00 – 10:00 PM (626-226-1448), author of Matters of Faith: The Book.
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