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)

Do not worry. This is my particular failing. I worry entirely too much.

The Greek is merimnao. This is worry that distracts and divides. The Greek root is merizo meaning to separate into parts, cut into pieces, or split into factions.

In worry I tend to focus on one part of life rather than the whole. I look at what is threatening or outside my control or ugly, rather than see opportunities, creative potential, or beauty.

Jesus encourages seeking after, aiming at, striving for the wholeness of God's reign and identity.

God's righteousness (dikaiosune) is being as we ought to be, intended to be, created to be. In seeking God's identity we will find our own identity.

Elsewhere Jesus encourages vigilance, readiness, watchfulness, action, and much more. But worry takes the whole reality and divides it into illusory parts. We are to attend to the whole, not the parts.