Words of Worth

What’s “therefore” there for?

April 23, 2017

Many of us may have heard teachers of the Bible say, “Anytime you see the word ‘therefore’ in a Scripture verse, pause and see what it’s there for!” Usually I take that advice to heart, but I saw something the other day that I have never seen before.  I saw a connection that the word “therefore” was trying to make. A connection that was a much needed antidote to my often worried heart.

In Matthew 6:19-24, we read about three pairs of choices.

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

There are two places we can store up treasures: in heaven or on earth. There are two directions we can fix our gaze: on what is good or on what is evil. And there are two masters we have to choose between: God or money. After we read about these pairs, we should be led to make the spiritually healthy choices—it’s in our best interest to choose to lay up treasures in heaven, to fix our gaze on what is good, and to serve God rather than mammon.

And then in the very next verse, we see the word, “THEREFORE” and perhaps for the first time ever, I truly paused to see what it was there for and I had an eye opening moment.

25 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?

What was “therefore” there for? To remind us that if we make the right choices about our treasures, vision, and master, we have no need to worry. God is assuring us that these matters can be trusted to Him!

Therefore, pause and see for yourself, what it’s there for!