Do Not Worry
Jesus is teaching something completely new. It's almost like he was dropped in from a different universe.
He said things like "blessed are the broken" or "if someone strikes you on one cheek, turn and offer them the other also"
Jesus says 3 times in the following passage "do not worry"
Matthew 6:25-34 NLT
[25] “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? [26] Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? [27] Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? [28] “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, [29] yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. [30] And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? [31] “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ [32] These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. [33] Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [34] “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
We worry about all sorts of things in our country. Inflation, elections, politics, money, being alone, acceptance, health, relationships, failure. Many of us are addicted to worry.
Am I addicted to worry?
- Do I worry about many things every day?
- Is it difficult to stop watching worry-provoking news?
- Do I experience separation worry when I can't find my phone?
- Do I make problems bigger or smaller in my mind?
- Do I worry about things nobody else seems to worry about?
- When I solve one worry, do I find another to worry about?
Younger individuals are more likely to worry. Why?
Two big contributors:
- The decline of play-based childhood
- The rise of phone-based childhood
Kids are overprotected in the real world but under protected in the online world.
We have a generation addicted to worry, but Jesus has the audacity to say don't worry.
What is worry
The Greek word for worry means "to be pulled apart in different directions". Our word comes from a German word for "choke".
Worry will choke out your joy.
Matthew 13:22 NLT
[22] The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.
Worry != Concern
Worry is focused on what is not in its control
- example: I am worried about what others might think about me
- stewing without doing
Concern is focused on what is in its control
- example: I'm concerned about my marriage, so I start marriage counseling
- clarify purpose, leads to action
Matthew 6:24 NLT
[24] “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
Jesus recognizes that most of us will worry about money. Also food. Also your body. Also your clothes.
Matthew 6:25 NLT
[25] “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?
Matthew 6:34 NLT
[34] “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
The trouble with worry
Jesus wants to teach us that the trouble with worry is not worth the trouble.
Worry is...
Unhelpful
Matthew 6:27 NLT
[27] Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
Worry has never changed anything. It steals from you.
Penn State did a study on how often worries turn out to be true. They only came true 10% of the time. But 100% of the time they took time away from the participants.
Unaware
Matthew 6:26 NLT
[26] Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?
There are 4 billion birds, and none are being treated for hypertension 😂
Matthew 6:28-30 NLT
[28] “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, [29] yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. [30] And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
Worry misses the point that we're part of a bigger picture
Ungodly
Matthew 6:31-32 NLT
[31] “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ [32] These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
When I worry, it's because I have a deficient view of God.
"Worry is believing God will not get it right"
- Tim Keller
The truth about worry
The truth about worry is that it reveals what I am ultimately devoted to.
If I'm worried about being cool and popular, I'll be worried about the likes and comments I'm getting on social media.
What you worry about is what you worship.
The path out of our worry
Look up
Replace my worry with worship. Be aware that there are birds in the trees and they may have something to teach us.
Wake up
Make his kingdom my ultimate concern.
Matthew 6:33 NLT
[33] Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
What if tomorrow morning, the very first presence you recognized was the presence of God? What if you made his concerns your ultimate concern?
Live up
Next to the shadow of the cross.
How do you know you are more valuable than birds and flowers? Jesus did not die for the birds or the flowers. He died for you.
Romans 8:31-32, 37-39 NLT
[31] What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? [32] Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?
[37] No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. [38] And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. [39] No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.