Antidote For An Anxious Age

[SLIDE 1] Introduction

Good morning everyone.

What a wonderful day it is for us to gather and worship the Lord together.

Illustration

Let me begin by asking you some questions.

[SLIDE 2] Did you look at the gas price recently?

Has your grocery budget increased since last year?

What about the house prices and the rental prices?

How do you truly feel when you see those prices.

Perhaps you’re angry?

Perhaps you’re fearful?

More likely, you’re feeling anxious and worried about the future?

[SLIDE 3] Our passage is found in Matthew 6:24-34.

Anxiety is the main topic.

Jesus talks about anxiety five times in this passage.

We are naturally prone to be anxious about a lot of things.

Four years ago, the whole world was anxious due to the pandemic.

Reflect on this question: “What are some things that are causing you to be anxious? And why?”

Jesus Christ teaches us and commands us not to be anxious.

One of the underlying issues for anxiety is due to misplaced priority.

We prioritize and idolize the things of this world.

Instead, we should be focusing and prioritizing the things of God.

So, I’ll continue with the theme on priority that I began earlier this year.

[SLIDE 4] The simple point for this message is this: “Trusting and Focusing on God Must Be Your Priority In This Anxious Age.”

Context

Let me briefly set up the context for this passage.

Jesus is teaching His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount.

The disciples of Jesus are those who have repented of their sins.

They have trusted in Jesus for their salvation.

They have received Him as their Lord and Saviour.

Being disciples of Jesus means becoming more like Jesus.

Being conformed to Jesus is accomplished by obeying all that Jesus has commanded us to do.

In this text, we will learn six reasons why we, as Christians, are not to be anxious.

Exposition

[SLIDE 5] Reason #1: You who serve God faithfully can trust Him to meet your material needs. (Verses 24-25)

[SLIDE 6] Take a look at verses 24.

Jesus make a statement that you cannot serve both God and money.

The key to understanding this passage about anxiety is:

“Which is my Master?”

Which do I love or hate more?

Which do I devote or depise more?

Is God my Master?

Or is money (material possessions) my Master?

In His ministry, Jesus talks about two things more than any other topics: hell and money.

Jesus is aware that we naturally focus and want money more.

Jesus is not saying that money is inherently evil.

The Bible says the love of money (greed) is a root of all kinds of evils.

But, Jesus challenges His disciples on their misplaced priority.

Being occupied with money can make one become anxious about the things in life.

Jesus challenges His disciples to prioritize serving God as their Master, and not money.

If you are occupied with the things of God, you may be wondering about this:

“How can I take care of my ordinary needs in life, such as food, clothing, and shelter.”

[SLIDE 7] Take a look at verses 25.

If you are focusing on God and not depending on earthly goods, then don’t be anxious about your life.

Don’t worry about your food, drink, and clothings.

You may be thinking:

“Well Jesus, that is easier said than done.”

“Jesus, you’re ignorant and naive of the harsh reality of life.”

However, we cannot assume that we know more about difficulties of life than Jesus.

During Jesus’ time, food and water could seldom be taken for granted.

People in Israel had less food, clean water, and clothing than Canadians.

People in Israel were more economically impoverished than Canadians.

Jesus dealt with many people who had sicknesses, skin diseases, disabilities, and demon-possessions.

Yet, Jesus commands His disciples not to be anxious.

Look at the end of verse 25.

Jesus challenges His disciples with this rhetorical question:

“Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

Jesus is arguing from lesser value to greater value of life.

The life and body are of great value because God gave them to us.

The food and clothing are of lesser value.

If God provides the greater value, then He will provide the lesser value.

Therefore, do not be anxious.

And if we are consumed by anxiety, we underestimate the power of God to provide.

[SLIDE 8] Reason #2: You are more valuable in the eyes of your Heavenly Father. (v.26, 28-30)

Look at verse 26.

Jesus uses two illustrations: birds of the air and the flowers.

[SLIDE 9] Jesus points his disciples to look at the birds of the air.

Birds don’t stockpile food like us.

They don’t have refrigerators and freezers to preserve the food for many days to come.

They don’t have to worry about it.

They don’t sow nor reap.

In other words, they’re not like farmers that work extremely hard to get their crops.

The birds are diligent in finding enough food to eat for the day.

Jesus’ point is that your heavenly Father feeds them.

If God feeds them, how much more will He feed and provide for His people?

We’re more valuable than the birds!

We as humans are made in the image of God, not animals or birds.

If God cares for the lesser creatures like birds, He certainly will provide for His disciples.

If God provides for creatures that don’t labour, then how much more will He provide for those who do labour.

[SLIDE 10] Look at verses 28-30

Jesus asks another question: “Why are you anxious about clothing?”

This question goes back to the main point: Do not be anxious.

But, Jesus uses flowers as an illustration.

And He points His disciples to look at the flowers (lilies) of the field.

Unlike birds, flowers are especially not living creatures.

But, flowers don’t need to move or work (which is speaking the obvious).

Yet, flowers are also clothed in natural decoration and colours.

Jesus tells us that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed (clothed) like one of these (lilies).

Solomon was the most extravagent king to have ever lived in Israel.

However, even Solomon was not as glorious as the flowers.

[SLIDE 11] But, God clothes the grass (in the ancient world), which is alive and disappears the next day.

Grass in the ancient world is rather short-lived.

If God provides and cares even the short life expentancy of grass, then He will provide for His children who are destined for eternal glory.

Do not worry about your clothing.

If God can clothe nature, how much more will He clothe you.

Now, clothing may not be an issue for all of us.

I can see all of you are wearing something from top to bottom.

But, here’s the punch.

We may not be anxious about clothing as Canadians.

But, we may be anxious with how we clothe ourselves.

We may be anxious about how we look before others.

Let me ask you: “How much time did you spend getting ready for church? How much money did you spend on the clothing that you’re wearing?”

While I don’t think having a style of fashion is a bad thing, our culture can be consumed by the god of fashion.

You can buy clothings from expensive products and brands.

However, consider this question before you buy another clothings from luxious brands: “Why are you buying it?”

Ladies, especially young ladies, be careful of desiring to “clothe” your face with excessive makeup.

[SLIDE 12] The Bible says that “women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.” (1 Timothy 2:9-10)

[SLIDE 13] Reason #3: Anxiety doesn’t improve your life. (v.27)

Look at verse 27.

[SLIDE 14] Another rhetorical question: can worrying prolong your life expectancy?

Many of us want to have a healthy lifestyle.

We exercise.

We eat carefully.

We do our best to improve the quality of our life and eventually live a good rip old age.

However, all those things do not promise an extension of our life span.

But, only God has numbered our days.

Worrying doesn’t increase your lifespan.

Not only that, worry COULD cause you to decrease your lifespan.

Medical research from Mayo Clinic says that anxiety can have a negative impact on your health.

Therefore, worrying is futile, ineffective, and counterproductive.

[SLIDE 15] Reason #4: God knows your needs, but you have to prioritize His kingdom and His righteousness. (vv.31-33)

Now look at verses 31-33.

[SLIDE 16] Since God can feed and clothe His children, we do not need to worry about what we eat, drink, or wear. Why?

For the Gentiles seek after all these things.

“All these things” refer to the necessity of life: eating, drinking, and clothings.

Gentiles (the pagans) are obsessed and consumed by “these things.”

They’re heathens and unbelievers.

They do not have a relationship with our heavenly Father.

Their minds are focused on worldly thigs that pass away.

So, they’re always concerned about material wants and needs.

They naturally put their hope and expectations in things they can enjoy in the present.

But eventually, all those things will be taken away from them after this life.

But, as Jesus is speaking to His disciples, He is saying that you’re different. You’re not a heathen. You’re not an unbeliever.

Because you’re My disciple, you can rest assured that your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

To think and crave like the world is to worry like the world, because our minds are not set on heavenly things but on worldly ones.

Acting like the Gentiles that don’t know God is dishonouring God.

We are to live out our identity as disciples of Jesus, not like the pagans.

[SLIDE 17] We get a positive commandment from the Lord.

But, “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.”

God’s kingdom and His righteousness must be of importance in the life of the disciple.

If you want to be anxious about something, be anxious about your spiritual condition.

Be more concerned about being close to God and His kingdom

Be more concerned about growing in your relationship with Him.

Be more devoted to submitting to God as your King and Master.

Be more focused on the eternal things instead of the temporary ones.

Jesus taught His disciple to pray that God’s kingdom would be on earth as it is in heaven.

What’s the result when we seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness?

And all these things will be added to you.

God will provide His disciples the fundamental human needs.

Sometimes, God provides through the church.

The early church in the book of Acts is an example where they shared their possessions with one another.

[SLIDE 18] Reason #5: You should focus on God’s provision for today.

Look at verse 34.

[SLIDE 19] Jesus commands us not to be anxious about tomorrow. Why?

It’s because “tomorrow will be anxious for itself.”

It means that you don’t know what a day may bring forth.

Since each day has its own troubles, let tomorrow worry about itself

You should live in the present, not in the future or the past.

Focus on what you need to do today.

Focus on what God has provided you today.

And Jesus says, “Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Why add tomorrow’s problems to today’s?

Worrying results from focusing on the future rather than the present.

Now, this does not mean we should not be planning for the future.

Jesus never prohibits the idea of planning.

He does command His disciple not to worry about it.

Focus on the challenges that you have today.

And trust your future into God’s hands.

[SLIDE 20] Reason #6: Anxiety demonstrates a sin of unbelief in God. (v.30b)

If you are still anxious after the sermon, then listen to Jesus’ rebuke at the end of verse 30 (or the beginning of verse 30 in Chinese): “O you of little faith?”

[SLIDE 21] Jesus says that the reason you face anxiousness is due unbelief.

Being anxious about the necessary things to survive demonstrate your lack of faith in God.

Lack of faith is actually a sin of unbelief.

This sin undermines God’s love and provision for us.

However, here’s the good news (the gospel).

Jesus went to the cross to die for our sins, was buried and was raised on the 3rd day.

So that our sins (including anxiety and unbelief) can be forgiven.

If God has provided the greatest gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ for His people, He can certainly provide for your daily needs.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, He can renew your heart and empower you to live in obedience to His word.

Because of the work of Jesus on the cross, let us seek God’s grace in overcoming anxiety in our lives by trusting Him.

Application

Outside of this passage, the NT talks about dealing with anxiety. Let me offer you three pithy applications when facing anxiety.

[SLIDE 22] First, pray and ask God to give you faith to believe in the words of Jesus. Pray and ask God to give you peace in this anxious age.

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

[SLIDE 23-24] Second, learn to be content with what you have, and resist the urge to be desire more material things than you actually need.

1 Timothy 6:6–10 ESV

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

[SLIDE 25] Lastly, third, humble yourselves before God. Peter reminds all believers to practice humility and trust God with our cares.

1 Peter 5:6–7 ESV

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Conclusion

[SLIDE 26] The simple point for this message is this: “Trusting and Focusing on God Must Be Your Priority In This Anxious Age.”

You have been given the reasons why you are not to be anxious.

I encourage you to go back to the sermon to review the reasons.

Those reasons should serve as antidotes for overcoming anxiety.

Anxiety keeps you away from faith in God, but faith in God keeps you away from anxiety.

[SLIDE 27] The question is: “Will you trust in the reasons that Jesus gives for why you are not to be anxious?”

“Will you trust God to provide for your needs in this anxious age?”

New Members

Before we end the service, we have an opportunity to officially welcome the new members to Oakridge Baptist Church. So, I would invite the news members to stand at the front.

These new members went through membership class.

They understand the responsibility of being a member.

They know our doctrinal statement and teachings.

They were interviewed by the elders and deacons.

The board brought their names forward to the AGM in April.

Back at the members’ meeting in April, there was a motion to accept Tom, Tina, Ariel, and Audrey into membership. And the motion was passed.

So, it is a great delight for me to welcome Tom, Tina, Ariel, and Audrey to membership.

Currently, Audrey is in the UK, so she’s not able to be here this morning.

I invite the elders, pastors, and deacons to give these new members the right hand of fellowship.

We’ll shake Audrey’s hand in spirit.

Afterwards, we’ll sing the doxology.