Kingdom Over Worry

Introduction

Preachers often speak of "faith," and "faith" may be among the most common words heard from Christian pulpits today. Less common, however, are sermons devoted to clarifying the various dimensions of what faith looks and feels like in Christian life. Matthew 6:24–34 is a discourse on this subject. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus clarifies faith by clarifying what it is not.

Faith is not "worry about your life." The Gospels are filled with examples of how "faith" is fundamentally a matter of trusting God, leaning on God—not so much believing that God exists as believing that God is an intimate, caring parent and a trustworthy deliverer and that this care and deliverance is for me, for you, for us, for all.

God feeds and clothes the world's creatures, Jesus insists. Even the birds of the air and the grass of the field are fed and clothed by the divine hand; if God cares for them, then surely God cares for us as well. Faith means trusting God's care and provision. Jesus paints a vivid picture of God's nurturing hand over all creation, reminding us that if God cares for birds and lilies, He will surely care for us.

Many of us start the new year with resolutions focused on health, finances, or career—reasonable goals but secondary. Jesus invites us to focus on His kingdom first, trusting God to handle the rest.

Let me ask you: How often do your resolutions come with an undercurrent of worry? You wonder, Will I achieve my goals? Will I have enough? Will I succeed?Worry has a way of creeping into every corner of our lives, doesn't it? Yet, Jesus offers us a radical alternative in Matthew 6:25-34: to seek God's kingdom first and let Him handle the rest.

In this passage, Jesus makes a clear connection: worry and faith cannot coexist. Worry erodes trust in God, while faith flourishes when we seek His kingdom first. Today, we'll unpack three key truths: God knows our needs, He calls us to seek His kingdom first, and He asks us to live by faith, not fear.

Point 1: God Knows Our Needs

Jesus begins with a reassuring truth: "Your heavenly Father knows what you need before you ask." What a comforting thought! God, the Creator of the universe, is intimately aware of your needs. Not just your material needs—like food, clothing, and shelter—but your emotional and spiritual needs as well.

Yet, how often do we let worry take the wheel? Worry whispers, What if God doesn't come through? What if I don't have enough? But Jesus reminds us that worry is unnatural, even unspiritual. Look at the birds of the air—they don't store food in barns, yet God feeds them. Look at the lilies of the field—they don't toil or spin, yet they are clothed in beauty that rivals Solomon's splendor. If God cares for birds and flowers, how much more does He care for you?

George Mueller was a man known for his faith, and he ran an orphanage in England. One evening, he realized there was no food for the children's breakfast. Instead of panicking, he gathered his staff and prayed, thanking God for the provision that hadn't yet arrived. The following day, they found boxes of food stacked against the front door. No one knew who brought them, but everyone knew Who sent them.

God's provision may not always come in the way we expect, but it is always sufficient. Trusting God frees us from the relentless cycle of anxiety.

I am convinced there are four lessons parents should teach their children early and that it would be good for some adults to re-learn. First of all, you don't need everything you want. I wish I had all the money back that I had spent in my life on things that I wanted that I didn't really need.

The second lesson is you don't want everything you need. I never wanted one whipping that I ever got, but I needed every one of them. The third lesson is God doesn't give us everything we want. I, for one, am so glad that He doesn't. You know, one of the greatest blessings of God is found in those things that He doesn't give us. I read one time the confession of an unknown Confederate soldier that tremendously blessed me. Listen to it.

I asked God for strength that I might achieve.

I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked God for health that I might do greater things.

I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy.

I was given poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.

I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.

I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for - But everything I had hoped for....

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered

I am among all men most richly blessed.

The last lesson is God always gives us what we need. What the Lord was trying to teach us here was this: it is our job to serve God, and it is His job to supply us. Now, most people have that backward. Most people think it is our job to provide for us and God's job to serve us.

Point 2: Seek the Kingdom First

One of Jesus' most profound commands is at the heart of this passage: "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

What does it mean to seek the kingdom of God? It means aligning every part of your life—your time, decisions, and priorities—with God's rules and purposes. It's a deliberate, daily choice to put God first. But let's be honest: How often do we treat God like a spare tire, turning to Him only when all else fails?

Imagine using a GPS to navigate a road trip. If you ignore its directions, it recalculates to get you back on course. Seeking God's kingdom is like constantly recalibrating your life to follow His direction, no matter how many detours you've taken.

Examine your priorities. Is God first in your plans and decisions, or do you treat Him like a spare tire, turning to Him only when all else fails?

God doesn't settle for second place. When you prioritize His kingdom, He takes responsibility for your needs. Start each day by asking, What would it look like to seek God's kingdom today? Whether it's prayer, serving others, or making decisions that honor Him, let His kingdom shape your priorities.

Point 3: Faith Over Fear

Jesus concludes with a powerful reminder: "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."Jesus is challenging us to face each day with faith, not fear. Worrying about tomorrow robs us of peace today.

Planning for tomorrow is time well spent; worrying about tomorrow wastes time. Sometimes, it's difficult to tell the difference. Careful planning involves thinking about goals, steps, and schedules and trusting God's guidance. When done well, planning can help alleviate worry.

Worriers, by contrast, are consumed by fear and find it difficult to trust God. They let their plans interfere with their relationship with God. Don't let worries about tomorrow affect your relationship with God today. We miss God's provision and peace when we allow fear to guide our decisions.

I once read about a missionary who handed a sealed envelope before leaving for the mission field. His wealthy friend said, "If you ever find yourself in a situation where you have exhausted every option and don't know what to do, open this envelope." The missionary kept the envelope with him for 20 years but never opened it. Why? He trusted God to meet every need, and God never failed him.

What worries about tomorrow are holding you back from fully trusting God today? This week, choose one fear and replace it with faith. Write it down, pray, and release it into God's hands.

Conclusion: Living as Kingdom Citizens

Friends, as we begin this new year, let's embrace the call to live as kingdom citizens. Seeking first the kingdom isn't just a resolution—it's a lifelong commitment. It's choosing faith over worry, trust over fear, and God's priorities over our own.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your promise to provide for all our needs. Help us to seek Your kingdom first, trusting that You will handle the rest. Replace our worry with faith, our fear with trust, and our distractions with devotion to You. May 2025 be a year where we live fully aligned with Your purposes as citizens of Your kingdom. In Jesus' name, Amen.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." — Matthew 6:33