Do not worry -Matthew 6:25-34

(note this is from the message given June 27)

Worry. Stress. Anxiety. Words that sound familiar? These have words have become the focus of a major industry in our society. More antacids, aspirin and medication have been taken because of stress than any time in our society. More people are getting stressed out, burned out, hung out, fried out, dried out, and washed out. We worry about our jobs, our family, money, cloths, food, retirement, football, war, weather, politics and the Leafs. We stress out over cars, houses, mortgage, gardens, traffic, bills, deadlines and exams. We are anxious about relationships, fashion, technology, upgrades, downsizing, global warming, oil slicks, flooding rivers, rain forest fires and interest rates.

It is enough to get you depressed. And that is another sign of stress. With all this pressure that is on us, with all this potential for worry what can we do?

In our natural, human way, we see these are just some of the ways we deal with stress and worry. We use medication, alcohol, anger, we may pass it off, divert our selves, or just fret and fuss. Jesus says there is a better way, the way God intended for us. Authentic Disciples of Christ deal with worry by giving it over to God. What is God’s way? How can I deal with worry and anxiety God's way? Let’s look at what Jesus and scripture had to say about this.

Read Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi. (4:4-7). And then Matthew 6:34.

Let’s set the stage here first. Jesus is speaking to a people that are experiencing some pretty tough economic stress, emotional stress, spiritual stress, social stress and physical stress. The people of Israel were a conquered people –Rome had been around for many years and Israel was under their rule –they were not a free people. Add to this the economic strain of a high tax base. We think we have it bad now with the coming of the HST, but there they were even taxed on the number of chickens they had. Spiritually they were a burdened people with the religious people placing rules and sacrifices and a heavy burden on them. They worried about their next meal, their taxes, their crops, whether their even coming together would constitute an illegal gathering, whether they were breaking some religious law or spiritual law.

We need to understand this because often we look at a passage like this and think it was different then –they had it easy. But I want us to see that things are not much different. Oh, they didn’t have the pressures and stresses we have today mortgage payments, car payments, school fees, HST, income tax, inflation, job loss. But they did have it, and probably worse than we think we have today. These were people who scratched out a living and for Jesus to say “don’t worry” would have raised some eyebrows.

The Word for worry literally "worry anxiously". It is a very strong word indicating preoccupation and excess. It is used only a handful of times in the NT, all by Jesus and all, except once, in connection to the scripture passage used today. Interestingly anxious is only used once in the NT and that by Paul in the passage read a moment ago. This worry, this anxiety is the kind of worry that can lead to despair, anger, obsession.

When Jesus talks about worry he also means it in opposite to trust or faith which is found hundreds of times in the NT –particularly trust in God. Jesus is talking about trusting in our heavenly father, trusting in God. R.T. France in his commentary on Matthew, says “worry is the antithesis of the practical trust in God which is the essential meaning of faith. Those who worry show their lack of faith.” (page 266). (cf. verse 30)

Jesus started off the sermon on the mount in giving us the beatitudes and within them is the strong thread of trust –blessed are the poor in spirit who need to trust the Father for salvation –blessed are the mourn who trust God for comfort and cleansing of sing, blessed are the meek who trust God and place themselves fully under his leading –and so on. Trust.

All through this sermon on the mount the thread of trust can be seen. Particularly in the prayer Jesus taught them, which we looked at last week –give us this day our daily bread, forgive us our trespasses, lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil –from the evil one –trust.

A further understanding of what Jesus is talking about here is looking at the immediate context. Jesus starts of verse 25 with the word therefore –this indicates we must look back to what Jesus has just talked about. He has given two powerful statements which we must keep in mind -6:21 and then verse 24 –“”Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” and “No one can serve two masters –you cannot serve both God and money.”

We keep this in mind as we come to the passage on worry. Jesus uses these startling contrasts to make the deep and powerful point of faith.
If your heart is on treasures on earth –you worry because moth and rust corrupt
If you serve money it can consume you because it can be stolen or lost and take away from your serving God.

Therefore do not worry about your earthly life –about treasures, about money, about food, about clothing –life is more important than these –the life you have in the Father, the life you have in your journey to get closer to God, the life you have that is blessed, life, this eternal life that you are building for heaven!

Our journey of drawing closer to God, to be a part of and to experience His kingdom, is one of trust. ¬Worry pulls us off the path, worry takes our attention off of God and His kingdom. Worry keeps us from seeing and receiving God’s blessing as we seek first His kingdom. Worry robs us of experiencing His blessings and the peace we can enjoy as His children. Worry is the opposite of trust.

Jesus says do not worry –do not take your eyes off of the Father. Keep Him center, keep him first. Seek first his kingdom (verse 33). What does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God? Look to the beatitudes –look to the prayer, keep your eyes on Him and all these things, all what things? All these things you need will be added, poured out to you.

Jesus, remember is sitting on the side of a mountain. As he speaks I am sure he now points to a bird flying overhead, or perhaps pecking at the ground. God cares for this part of creation, are you not more valuable than they? He points to the flowers dancing in the breeze, will he not care for you?

And notice the contrast of faith in verse 30. Worry equals little faith. Trust God.
Now does that mean we just live a carefree sit back and chill life? No! And that is one of the interesting things about the illustration Jesus uses of the sparrows. Jesus says don't worry about food. Look at the sparrows, they get what they need and God provides for them. What Jesus is saying here is not that God will provide everything for you so kick back and enjoy. Rather we see that the sparrow is busy at work getting its food. The sparrow doesn't reap or sow or store in barns. It goes about its tasks in life and God provides.

I think that the lesson for us here is to do the best that we can, knowing that we have gifts and abilities that God has given us. We trust in God to provide for us as we do our part. We do not worry about what we cannot do, or what we wish we could do. As we realistically look at ourselves and do the best we can, God will provide! Worry, Jesus says, cannot add to your life.

In the NIV it says add a single hour to your life. The KJV says a span, referring to height, in that can worry make you taller. Jesus uses a hyperbole here to make the point –who here can add 18 inches to your height (as an adult?) Who here can add a span of time to your life?

Again, the word for worry literally "worry anxiously". It is a very strong word indicating preoccupation and excess. Jesus says, almost tongue in cheek, worry won't make you taller or live longer, so why worry!

Another side of this is using what God provides for us. Often we are looking for something bigger or better and fail to see what is already there. Worrying or looking to tomorrow can hamper our efforts today. We need to see what God gives us this day in our daily bread.

There is the story of the man who was caught in a flood. As the waters were rising he went to the top floor of the house. First a man comes by in a canoe and offers to help. He is refused. A man in a boat came by and offered to rescue him. The man refused saying God will rescue me. Soon the water drove him to the roof and a helicopter came by. Again the man refused help saying God will rescue me. Finally the man drowned and stood before God in heaven. Why didn't you rescue me God? the man asked. To which God replied, But I sent you a canoe, boat and a helicopter.

God provides for us, he gives us as we need and we need also to act.

The sparrow is an example of knowing our abilities and working with them. The flowers give us a picture of our limitations.

The flowers do not work, yet are beautiful because that is how they are created. Yet their beauty is quickly over and they are cast into the fire. The picture is one of using the dried flowers to start a fire or to bring a quick blaze. The lilies can do nothing to enhance or change their beauty, nor can they change what is to come.

We need to see the same in our own lives. There are certain things that we can do. We can work and use our gifts and abilities that God has given us. Yet there are things that are beyond our control, things that we can do nothing about. We cannot change the weather or stop the rain. We cannot slow the world from turning or the sun from shining. We cannot stop death, or bring the dead to life. Individually there are things that we know about ourselves. For me, I know I am never going to be wealthy, or famous. I am not mechanical or a concert pianist.

We need to realize both our God given abilities and limitations and live peacefully in them. The point that Jesus is making here is that worry adds nothing to this.
As we realistically see ourselves, our abilities and our limits, and place them in God’s hands He provides for us. ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU. IN this God will give us what we need and we will be satisfied. As we seek His Kingdom and His righteousness, He provides.

An Authentic Disciple of Christ is one who places all he has and is in God's hands. An authentic disciple is one who seeks to place God first and foremost in all he does. An authentic disciple seeks to honor God in what he does so that others will see and glorify God. An authentic disciple does not worry but trusts in God.

The issue for us as Christians, as ones who truly seek to honor God, is this. Do NOT WORRY. When we worry, we say we do not trust God. WHOA! Yes that is right, when we worry it says we do not trust God, nor do we have confidence that He will keep his word.

What testimony do we bring about our faith and trust in God when we do not give things over to Him? Well I trust God, but…What kind of salt are we in the world when we are caught up in things we can do nothing about? Well I put my faith in God, but…What kind of light are we when we are so anxious about tomorrow that it darkens all our thoughts and actions for today? Well, I trust God, but…

Authentic discipleship places our life completely in God's hands. Authentic Discipleship says I seek your kingdom first and your righteousness.

When things do start getting to us, when the worries do start to come what do we do?

In Philippians 4:6-7 Paul tells us to PRAY. Prayer is the release of that which concerns us. Prayer is the giving over to God and LEAVING IT THERE.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace that passes All understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.