Don't Worry, Be Faithful

Introduction

I tried to be more creative with my title than I was, but it’s just alright in my opinion. I immediately thought about those bass fish on wall

Story of when I was anxious over everything I had to do:

When I was teaching at the high school, I remember I had a very busy weekend. I had an event that took up my entire day Saturday. Then church took up my entire day Sunday. I would usually get to school hours early in order to get things done. And of course, that morning I slept in. I usually would get there at 5, and I was leaving the house at 6. It was a good 20 to 30 min drive. I spent the entire drive thinking of all the things I needed to get done. I had to get all my lesson plans done. I had to print the worksheet for this one class. I had to prepare my plan for practice in the afternoon. I had to make my slides for the chapel music. When I got to school, I knew I had about an hour to get things done. I was stressing out to the max. When I walked in my room it was an absolute mess. A sports team must have met in there on Friday afternoon some time after I left. I knew I would have to spend about half an hour just cleaning up. I did a quick spot vacuum, then began wiping down and straightening all the desks. I stopped wiping and began to pace. My breathing was heavy and I was almost in a full panic.

It was almost seven and I checked my phone. I was still the only teacher there, but usually others started showing up by then. I got a text asking if I would cover early stay. This would mean I would have to stay in the gym from 7 to 7:50 and give me no time to get anything done. I was in full panic by this point. My stress took over to the extent that I could not handle it any more.

Have you ever been in a situation like that? So overwhelmed with stress and anxiety that you go into full on panic? Maybe that panic then gives way to hopelessness and you enter into a despondency or depression.

And this is increasingly the experience of more and more Americans. The number of those who experience anxiety and depression has nearly doubled in the last decade. More and more people are medicated for depression that never before.

What’s going on?

Faithless society—no faith in anything = increased anxiety

There is increased distrust for organized religion, for medical institutions, for the government, on and on the list grows. And of course there is also increase in secularism--the non-religious amalgamation of contradictory ideas. Because of lack of trust and faith, higher anxiety cripples more and more people.

But what is anxiety?

“Obsessing with our thoughts and emotions about a threat to a misprioritized treasure” - adapted from Dr. Jeremy Pierre

So for example, if we serve mammon we will be anxious about money.

We will continue to unpack this definition as we move through the text.

Lies of Anxiety

Matthew 6:25–29 ESV

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

In verse 25, Jesus is using an argument from lesser to greater. These arguments were very common during his day. The idea is that if something is true in the lesser example, it must be all the more true in a greater example. He opens “Do not be anxious about your life” this idea of life has to do with one’s physical existence--his survival. This can be seen because what follows “life” is “what you will ear or what you will drink.”

I think I previously always read this as if “life” referred to one’s reputation. As if I shouldn’t care about how people perceive me, but that’s not the point.

Jesus couples this with us not to be worried about the body. The body’s worry he ties to clothing.

These truths are not as easy for us to get at in our society that is filled with abundance. We have more clothes than ever before. We have more food than we could ever eat. However, in Jesus’s day, the majority of his listeners were not so fortunate. For the original audience of this sermon, both clothes and food were essential for survival. Their concern was not the best restaurant to go to for a gourmet meal. Nor was their concern for clothes one of fashion.

In fact, for our anxiety to be based in fashion or fine dining would be even more ridiculous than survival. Survival we would think would be the most basic need we could have. Shouldn’t we prioritize our survival over everything else? I mean, if we don’t survive then . . . we’re dead.

But when we prioritize our survival over God things get our of line. And this is when godly concern turns into anxiety.

Godly concern trusts in God and is confident in him. Godly concern works to make ends meets, plans, stores in barns. Godly concern stewards the resources God has provided.

Ungodly concern, or anxiety does not trust God to provide. Whatever is treasured is more important than God himself. And the entire life becomes reoriented from love of God and worshipping him to getting that other treasure whatever it may be: in Jesus’s example: survival.

Making survival the greatest treasure not only causes the fear of anxiety, but like all misplaced priorities, it results in immorality. Consider those who hold to macroevolution. They would teach “survival of the fittest.” The Nazis took survival of the fittest to its logical conclusion in WWII. They determined their “race” was the fittest, and all else should be enslaved or exterminated. The morality of survival is ironically filled with death. “I have to survive, so I will abort my baby.” “I have to survive, so I will steal” “We have to survive so we will irresponsibly plunder the planet’s goods.”

Murder, genocide, plunder, steal. . .what is the worth of such a physical existence enslaved to survival? Is it really worth working for?

And then you may wonder, should we even work for our survival? Should we just have no concern for it at all? Wouldn’t that be just as dangerous if we had no thought for our survival?

The King James translates the phrase “Do not be anxious” as “Take no thought.” This made sense in the time it was written. People understood that to mean don’t be overly consumed with something. But nowadays people may misinterpret this as if it is sinful to have any concern. As if we should “let go and let God.”

“Let go and let God” can be useful in some situations when things you are attempting to control you have no control over. But Jesus is not teaching us to not take any responsibility. He’s not teaching us to be irresponsible people. That would completely miss the point.

What Jesus is teaching is this: Which is greater: life or food? Well, obviously life is greater. And next, which is greater: the body or clothes? And again, obviously the body is greater. Now, if God has the power to create the body and life, does he not also have the power to do so with food and clothes?

And this gets us to the heart of what Jesus is teaching.

Worry helps nothing and believes God cannot provide for our needs.

You see we can have concern for making sure our family has enough food and yet still trust God to provide. It’s when we stop trusting in God, or when we start to treasure our survival more than we treasure God that our concern becomes anxiety.

In verses 26-29, Jesus gives two examples of God’s provision and explains the futility of worry in the center. The first example is the birds of the sky. This example is another lesser to greater argument as Jesus specifically asks at the end of v. 26, “Are you not of more value than they?” The idea is that if God provides for the birds, how much more will he provide for you?

And this is an appropriate example because birds don’t store up and store up to excess. Nor do they just sit around and do nothing and wait for manna to fall from heaven. We likewise should trust in God and take responsibility.

Then Jesus asks Matthew 6:27 “27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”

This verse has some difficulties around the figure of speech. Add a cubit to the span of life? A cubit is a measure of space and lifespan is a measure of time. Some think this has to do with getting taller. But that does not make much sense considering the example around which Jesus is discussing is survival. Essentially, this Jesus is asking, “Can worrying about your survival help you survive?” And the answer is obviously no. Worrying does not add to the chance of survival but takes away. And this is because worry often stems from fear and mistrust that leads to becoming inactive. Fear cripples. Fear immobilizes. And it’s just like the devil to want us to be crippled by anxiety rather than living lives to the fullest in trusting God.

Worry helps nothing and believes God cannot provide for our needs.

The next example Jesus gives is the grass of the field. He opens v. 28 with the question, “Why are you anxious about clothing?” And this question of assessment is easy to read past, but I think it’s extremely important. This is a question you need to save. Take out clothing and fill in the blank. What are you anxious about and why? This questions gets us to probe at the underlying problem: the insidious lies of anxiety. One commentator writes, “

Sermon On The Mount: Restoring Christ's Message to the Modern Church E. The Result of Proper Priorities (Matt 6:25–34)

Ultimately the cause for their worry was not the circumstances of their lives but a warped view of God.”

Compared to birds, the grass of the field has an even shorter lifespan. And this is the example of anxiety Jesus is getting at, survival or a long lifespan. Grass survives for just one growing season. And yet, God clothes it with splendor. God clothes the glass beyond the wealthiest man’s imagination. This is another argument from lesser to greater. If God so clothes such a small thing with a much shorter life span, how much more will he clothe us?

Root of Anxiety

Matthew 6:30–32 ESV

30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

Worry is rooted in unbelief.

The grass is here for a moment. “

Sermon On The Mount: Restoring Christ's Message to the Modern Church E. The Result of Proper Priorities (Matt 6:25–34)

In a single day the wildflowers that adorned the grassy hillside could dry up so completely that their withered, crisp petals and stems became highly flammable and could serve as tinder in the earthen ovens where the Palestinians cooked their food

That grass is then used for kindling. It’s lifespan is short then it’s over. But, because of Christ, our life has been rescued from the oven of hell. We have the tendency to get so fixated on one thing that we often miss the bigger picture. I believe Jesus is trying to give us the bigger picture here.

We focus on our next meal and God knows all 80,000 meals he will provide for us. We focus on what to wear today and what other people will think about what we will wear, and if we should even go to church today because I know that one person who always judges me and I don’t want to deal with that today. The curse has wired our minds to race with anxiety, always running to the next minor thing.

And Jesus is here like, “I saved you from the fire! God gives you everything you need.” He identifies his disciples as “Oh you of little faith” and certainly that can describe our weakness as well.

worry is rooted in unbelief

Interestingly, that whole phrase, “Of you of little faith” is just one word in the original language. It’s like Jesus is calling them “faithlets” but its not a term of endearment. Their faith is small because their focus is small. When we get a glimpse of the big picture, when we realize our life is more than just a lifespan, when we see the greatness of God, when we see the wonder of his gospel, our anxiety melts in the light of the glory of God!

This tiny faith is the type of faith that pagans have--Those trusting in the false demonic gods.

I hope you’ve seen an example of this in your life that you can look back to. And unbeliever that does not have God, what do that consume their life with? Worry. There’s no trust in a higher power. If anything’s going to happen they have to do it themselves.

Y’all remember back Greta Thunberg was 15 in 2018 and she addressed the whole gathering of most powerful nations in the UN? She was on stage crying because of climate change. Right after the election results all these people got on social media going ballistic and crying because their candidate lost. This is the pagan response to things. Pagans have anxiety because they have no higher treasure, no higher hope, no trust in God.

Worry is rooted in unbelief

But this is not the Christian response to such things. Should we not care about how the earth goes and work to destroy it? No, we should work to steward creation. But are we in great turmoil over the climate change hoax? No, because we trust God is in control. And if my candidate lost the election, would I be going on social media just losing my mind? No, because no matter who the president is, God is still on his throne.

Jesus is saying the pagans should be marked by abject fear and anxiety, but that’s not the Christian way of living because our heavenly Father knows what we need.

Finding our Confidence

Matthew 6:33–34 ESV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

V. 33 tells us what this has been about the whole time: priorities. What do we put first? Is it treasure on earth or treasure in heaven? Seeking first the kingdom of God is not some future-only idea. Seeking the kingdom of God is recognizing God’s royal rule over every aspect of our lives. Seeking the kingdom of God is submitting to God as king in our community, in our church, in our homes, and in our hearts. How does God reign in our community? God is the one who made it, his guidance will make in flourish. Is God king in our church? Do we do worship services the way that pleases God or what pleases us? In our homes, do we have proper family roles, rear our children to honor the Lord, steward what has been entrusted to us with God in mind? In our hearts, do we fight against our sinful desires?

Seeking first the kingdom of God is not just about getting to heaven and escaping this world. It’s all about making God ruler of our lives now. And when we do that, Jesus promises, everything we need will be given to us.

Faith is simply an attitude of God-confidence, even through the troubles we face.

Jesus then makes a proverbial statement, “Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.”

Tomorrow, here, is not the literal next 24-hour period, but rather all of one’s future existence. And Jesus almost personifies “tomorrow” as he did money in the previous passage we looked at. “Tomorrow” is this other thing we could focus on rather than God. And “tomorrow” fills us with anxiety and fear because of all the troubles that are out there. Again, this is not a godly concern or planning. This is a lack of trust in God.

Jesus says, “Sufficient for the day is its own troubles”

What he’s saying is that “tomorrow’s troubles” are unknown and may not even come to pass. Worrying about something that may not be true or may not even happen only wastes today’s time to address today’s troubles. Have you ever been so focused and concerned about something that you couldn’t sleep? That you left something in the oven too long? That you drifted off the road, not paying attention?

And this is Jesus’s point. There are so many concerns already right in front of our face that worrying about tomorrow’s troubles can simply cause more today.

And notice something else.

Jesus didn’t promise to take away all troubles. There are still things we have to face in our day-to-day life that are going to be troubling. Think about it, why else would Jesus teach on anxiety. The problem, or rather the sin, is not the fact that we have to face troubles. The sin comes in when we believe that trouble is threatening something that is more valuable than God. The sin comes in when we stop trusting that God can take care of that trouble. And this is what separates a godly concern over trouble with anxiety.

A Practical Application

I made an acronym based around this passage that I want you to think about anytime you face anxiety. Anytime you are in the pit of your concern, I want you to consider these things. The acronym spells out “FEAR”

F- Focus on God and his gospel.

A lot of times we get so caught up in our troubles that we miss the bigger picture that God is in control. That he sent his Son to die in our place. That our sins are conquered through Jesus’s death. That we have new live and victory through his resurrection. That we submit to his Lordship via his ascension. So the first thing we should do when facing anxiety is focus on God. Jesus turns our focus to God’s provision with the example of the birds and grass and we too should seek to focus on God in the midst of anxiety.

E- Evaluate the motive for anxiety and our hearts treasures.

In the story I gave at the beginning, I treasured being successful in all my responsibilities. That’s what I wanted more than anything else. I was afraid of failure which lead me into such a panic. Jesus said, “Why are you anxious about clothing?” in v. 28 which is the basis for this evaluation.

A- Accomplish whatever you can and whatever is godly.

Anxiety and fear have a way of keeping us from actually doing anything except pace the room. I often face fear of failure which ironically makes me not actually want to try anything. Because, if I don’t try then I can’t fail. But Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” We cannot allow anxiety or fear to keep us from doing God’s will. But we also have to realize practically that we cannot do everything nor are we in control of everything. What can you actually do? What are you actually in control of?

R - Replace any wrong beliefs and desires with godly beliefs and desires.

All of Jesus’s teaching on anxiety has been about misplaced priorities. When we are anxious we have to discover what we are treasuring and what we are trusting. But we cannot just be satisfied with what we have wrong. We must take the next step and replace the wrong with the right. If I treasure success more than anything else, why do I treasure it? Because I want people to think well of me. I have to root that out, I have to replace that with treasuring God above all else. Even if I’m not successful in my endeavor, even if I fail, I can know that I worked to the best of my ability for his glory. And even if I did not work to my best and that was the reason I failed, I can know what to do, and treasure God’s grace in the midst of my failure.

An Invitation to be Free from Anxiety

Do you face constant anxiety? Do you want to be free from anxiety? There can only be freedom in death. Death to self, old sinful ways. Only then can there be freedom from anxiety. And that death can only happen through the death of Christ. It is our trust in that sacrifice for us that eliminates our worry. And if we are in Christ and face anxiety, let me tell you, it’s not a new self-help book you need or some secret knowledge. We need to go back to the old gospel. The well that will never dry. And there drink from the living water that will satisfy forever.