All These Things-Matthew 6:14-29

1. ENGAGE

Bottom Line:

Contentment isn’t found in chasing what you need — it’s found in trusting the One who knows what you need.

Last time, we walked with the rich young ruler and saw the tragedy of a man who had everything — but couldn’t let go of what owned his heart. We learned that Jesus doesn’t take to deprive — He calls us to release so He can give us something better.

But Jesus doesn’t just challenge us to let go — He also teaches us how to live free. And in Matthew 6, He addresses one of the biggest thieves of contentment: worry.

Worry is just covetousness in disguise.

Covetousness says, “I don’t have enough — I need more.”

Worry says, “What if I don’t have enough — I might lose what I have.”

Both keep your heart tied to stuff.

Jesus invites us into a different way — a way where your joy and peace don’t rise and fall with the market, your health, or your daily to-do list. A way where you can live today without being strangled by tomorrow.

And He sums it all up with a promise in verse 33:

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

2. TENSION

We know we should trust God. We even say it. But our thoughts often sound like this:

“What if the money runs out?”

“What if my health fails?”

“What if my kids don’t turn out okay?”

“What if I lose what I’ve worked so hard for?”

Our world tells us:

Secure your future.

Build your safety net.

Make sure you’re covered for every possible outcome.

And none of those things are bad. But when they become the foundation of your peace, you’ll never have enough to feel safe.

That’s why Jesus says in verse 25:

“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.”

The irony is — the more you worry about your life, the less you actually live it.

But here’s the deeper issue: worry is not just a mental health struggle. Worry is a theological problem. It reveals what you believe about God:

Do I believe He knows me?

Do I believe He cares?

Do I believe He will provide?

Jesus says the root of our worry is forgetting who our Father is. And the cure isn’t “try harder not to worry” — it’s seek Him first.

3. TRUTH — Why We Can Stop Chasing and Start Trusting

I. Your Father Knows Your Needs

Matthew 6:25–26 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?

Jesus tells His listeners to look at the birds of the air. They neither plant, harvest, nor store food, yet the Father feeds them.

The point is not that birds do nothing — they work daily — but that they don’t worry about tomorrow’s meal. Their daily effort is coupled with daily trust.

If God cares for creatures without souls, how much more does He care for His image-bearers?

Psalm 145:15–16 — “The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.” Matthew 10:29–31 — “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father… Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Psalm 145:15–16 ESV

15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. 16 You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

Matthew 10:29–31 ESV

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

If God is attentive to the smallest detail of His creation, our needs are not only on His radar — they’re already in His plan.

Big Idea: You can stop striving for security when you believe your Father already has it covered.

II. Worry Accomplishes Nothing

Matthew 6:27 ESV

27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Jesus asks, “Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” The answer is obvious — you can’t. In fact, modern science tells us worry can subtract hours from your life through stress-related illness.

Worry is a thief. It robs you of joy, peace, rest, and sometimes even health — without delivering any of the safety it promises.

Proverbs 12:25 — “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” Luke 10:41–42 — Jesus told Martha, “You are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary…”

Proverbs 12:25 ESV

25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Luke 10:41–42 ESV

41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

You can fill your mental calendar with “what ifs,” but you can’t schedule peace that way.

Big Idea: If it’s out of your control, worry won’t fix it — but prayer can place it into God’s hands.

Philippians 4:6–7 — “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

III. Your Father Clothes You with Care

Matthew 6:28–30 ESV

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. 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?

Jesus points to the lilies of the field. They don’t spin thread or sew clothes, yet they’re more beautifully adorned than Solomon in all his royal splendor.

If God lavishes beauty on flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, how much more will He provide for His children, who are eternal in His kingdom?

Genesis 1:29–30 — From creation, God has provided food and beauty for all living things. Romans 8:32 — “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

Genesis 1:29–30 ESV

29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

Romans 8:32 ESV

32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

If we believe He has given us the greatest gift — His Son — then surely He will not neglect our lesser needs.

Big Idea: God’s provision is not just enough to survive — it’s enough to show His love.

IV. The Kingdom Comes First — and Everything Else Follows

Matthew 6:31–33 ESV

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. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Jesus gives the cure for anxiety:

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Notice the order:

Priority: the Kingdom — God’s reign, will, and righteousness.

Promise: “All these things” — the necessities of life — will follow.

Psalm 34:10 — “The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” Colossians 3:1–2 — “Seek the things that are above, where Christ is… Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

Psalm 34:10 ESV

10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

When the kingdom is first, you no longer have to fight for “your share” of provision — you trust your Father to supply it in His time.

This is not a prosperity gospel — it’s a provision promise. God gives what you need to fulfill His purposes for you.

Big Idea: Contentment is the byproduct of putting God’s kingdom above your own comfort.

V. Tomorrow is God’s Territory

Matthew 6:34 ESV

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Jesus closes this section with a simple but freeing command:

“Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

We worry most about days we’re not in yet — but God gives grace for today. Tomorrow’s grace will arrive tomorrow.

Lamentations 3:22–23 — “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases… They are new every morning.” Exodus 16:4 — God gave Israel manna daily, not weekly — to teach them to trust Him day by day.

Lamentations 3:22–23 ESV

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Exodus 16:4 ESV

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.

Trying to live tomorrow’s life with today’s grace will always feel insufficient.

Big Idea: Live today with the mercy God gave you for today — and trust Him with tomorrow’s needs.

4. CLOSING

Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 are not just encouragement — they’re a command. He’s not saying “try not to worry” — He’s saying stop building your life around the fear of not having enough.

Because here’s the truth:

The God who forgave your sins (v.14–15) is the same God who will provide your bread. The God who clothes the grass is the same God who clothes His children in righteousness. The God who gave His Son for you will not fail to give you what you truly need. (Rom. 8:32)

Romans 8:32 ESV

32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

If you want contentment, you can’t chase it directly. You seek the King, and contentment comes running after you.

Call to Action:

If you’re still chasing “all these things” apart from God — repent and seek His kingdom first. That means surrendering to Christ in faith, turning from sin, and obeying His call.

If you’re a disciple who’s distracted by “what ifs” — bring them to your Father in prayer. Name them. Release them. And trust Him for today.

Contentment isn’t found in chasing what you need — it’s found in trusting the One who knows what you need.