AC 8478 - What Caring for Tomorrow Means

AC 8478

Let no one make a residue of it till the morning.
(Exodus 16:19)

That this meanss that they should not be
solicitous about acquiring it from themselves,
is evident from the fact
that the manna was to be given every morning,
and that worms would be bred in that which was left over,
by which is meant
that the Lord daily provides necessaries,
and that therefore they ought not to be
solicitous about acquiring them from themselves.
This also is meant by the "daily bread"
in the Lord's Prayer,
and likewise by the Lord's words in Matthew:

Be not solicitous for your soul,
what you shall eat, or what you shall drink;
nor yet for your body, what you shall put on;
why are you solicitous about things to put on?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow;
they toil not, neither do they spin:
therefore be you not solicitous, saying,
What shall we eat? and what shall we drink?
or, wherewithal shall we be clothed?
For after all these things do the nations seek;
does not your Heavenly Father know
that you have need of all these things?
Seek you first the kingdom of the heavens,
and His righteousness;
then shall all these things be added to you;
therefore be you not solicitous for the morrow,
for the morrow will take care of the things of itself.
(Matthew 6:25, 28, 31-34)
In like manner in Luke 12:11, 12, 22-31.

As in this and the following verses in the internal sense
care for the morrow is treated of,
and as this care is not only forbidden,
but is also condemned
(that it is forbidden is meant
by that they were not to make a residue
of the manna till the morning,
and that it is condemned is meant
by that the worm was bred in the residue, and it stank),
he who looks at the subject no deeper
than from the sense of the letter may believe
that all care for the morrow is to be cast aside,
and thus that the necessaries of life
are to be awaited daily from heaven;
but he who looks at the subject deeper
than from the letter,
as for instance he who looks at it from the internal sense,
is able to know what is meant by "care for the morrow."
It does not mean the care of procuring for oneself
food and raiment, and even resources for the time to come;
for it is not contrary to order
for anyone to be provident for himself and his own.
But those have care for the morrow
who are not content with their lot;
who do not trust in the Divine,
but in themselves;
and who have regard for only worldly and earthly things,
and not for heavenly things.
With such there universally reigns
solicitude about things to come,
and a desire to possess all things and to dominate over all,
which is kindled and grows
according to the additions thus made,
and finally does so beyond all measure.
They grieve if they do not obtain the objects of their desire,
and feel anguish at the loss of them;
and they have no consolation,
because of the anger they feel against the Divine,
which they reject together with everything of faith,
and curse themselves.
Such are they who have care for the morrow.

Very different is the case with those who trust in the Divine.
These, notwithstanding they have care for the morrow,
still have it not,
because they do not think of the morrow with solicitude,
still less with anxiety.
Unruffled is their spirit
whether they obtain the objects of their desire, or not;
and they do not grieve over the loss of them,
being content with their lot.
If they become rich, they do not set their hearts on riches;
if they are raised to honors,
they do not regard themselves
as more worthy than others;
if they become poor, they are not made sad;
if their circumstances are mean, they are not dejected.
They know that for those who trust in the Divine
all things advance toward a happy state to eternity,
and that whatever befalls them in time
is still conducive thereto.

Be it known that the Divine Providence is universal,
that is, in things the most minute;
and that those who are in the stream of Providence
are all the time carried along
toward everything that is happy,
whatever may be the appearance of the means;
and that those are in the stream of Providence
who put their trust in the Divine
and attribute all things to Him;
and that those are not in the stream of Providence
who trust in themselves alone
and attribute all things to themselves,
because they are in the opposite,
for they take away providence from the Divine,
and claim it for themselves.
Be it known also
that insofar as anyone is in the stream of Providence,
so far he is in a state of peace;
also that insofar as anyone is in a state of peace
from the good of faith,
so far he is in the Divine Providence.
These alone know and believe
that the Divine Providence of the Lord is in everything
both in general and in particular,
indeed, is in the most minute things of all,
and that the Divine Providence regards what is eternal.