Don’t be Anxious

Introduction: I would say, I’m a pretty anxious person. And I know this is not anything to boast about. My anxiety is most on display at the airport.

When people list their biggest fears, it’s public speaking, the dentist, spiders, snakes, heights.

Mine is missing my flight.

So, I have an obnoxious need to arrive at least 2 hours before my flight. I would rather wait 2 hours for a flight than live with the anxiety of going through security while the clock is ticking.

I honestly think I’m my worst self in the security line.

But aren’t we all? Think about how anxiety and worry causes us to act. Irritable. Angry. Lashing out. Our minds create scenarios in our heads that I’m body thinks are real.

Anxiety and worry affect us in ways that we don’t even know. Which is why anxiety and worry as so dangerous to the Christian walk.

Transition to the Text: Please turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew 6:25-34. Today we are going to finish chapter 6. Today we look at Jesus’ teaching on anxiety and worry. I think it’s very appropriate that a call to let go of anxiety and worry would immediately follow Jesus’ teaching on money. I think if we took a pole regarding things that make us anxious and worrisome, finances would probably be somewhere on the list of everyone. Maybe not #1, but probably top 5 for most people. And that’s people who have a varying degrees of comfort in terms of lifestyle.

If I may, I want to warn you that I feel like I’m going to be tip-toeing through a mine field today. So I have a request. Let’s approach this subject with some extra grace today.

For one, I know that there are those who deal with debilitating anxiety as a mental health issue. And I don’t want to be flippant and tell you that you “Let Go of Anxiety and Worry” as if you haven’t already tried a million times. I know that it’s not always helpful to say you just need to pray more. Could there be a faith component here that will help you? I think so, and that is my prayer that God will intervene on your behalf.

I also don’t want my words or the words of Jesus to be weaponized against that anxious person in your life. Show grace to all people.

We are going to continue to talk about finances like the last few weeks. Everyone’s financial situation is different. Not everyone who is worried about money is at fault. Life sometimes comes at us. Please know that you aren’t alone and you can ask for help.

So as we approach this big Idea, I want to challenge you.

Introduce:

Big Idea: Let Go of ANXIETY and WORRY.

But not on your own power. Through the power of the Holy Spirit based on the promises of God’s Word, I believe Jesus has give us His way to deal with Anxiety and Worry.

Read: Matthew 6:25-34

Matthew 6:25–34 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. 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. 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.

Big Idea: Let Go of ANXIETY and WORRY.

1. Because LIFE is PASSING you by. (Matthew 6:25).

Explanation: Jesus begins by saying “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.”

But then Jesus tells us why…. “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

In other words, your life is more than your basic needs of food, water, and clothing. There is a lot of living out there to be doing.

Now we want to be sensitive here, because what if you don’t the basic necessities of life? What if food is a problem? What if you don’t have access to clean drinking water? What about clothing?

That’s a really tough place to be in.

If you find yourself in this situation, do whatever you can to get out of that situation. Work hard and overcome the challenges that are keeping you down. It starts when you are a youth. Make good choices early on in your life.

Again, a theme of this whole sermon has been personal accountability. What will you do to make a life for yourself.

In everything you do, show up, work hard, and treat people with kindness.

BUTTTTTTT…if you see someone in a situation where they are struggling and you are able to help out, we are told to help as we are able.

Illustration: Financially speaking, the 3 most important decisions you will make it life are who you will marry? What you will do for work? and Where you will live?

Marrying the wrong person can derail your entire life in more ways that one. Some people are so bent on getting married that they will ignore every red flag in the dating relationship.

As far as work, we have romanticized following your heart. And to a certain degree most of us want nothing more than a job we love and can be passionate about. But we also need to pay the bills. It’s ok to follow your heart especially if God is calling you to do something that may not make a lot of money, but know that your life will be one of sacrifice and you are going to be tempted all the more to worry and be anxious.

And where you live is also important and take a lot of thought and prayer. Because at the end of the day it may also mean moving to a cheaper area. It may mean moving away from or closer to family.

All in all there are no easy answers to any of this.

Choose wisely on those 3 and you will find most of the worries of life fade away. Choose poorly and things can go south quickly.

Application: Now you might ask, where is God in all of this. Shouldn’t I be waiting on God to tell me what to do?

First, if you are a follower of Jesus, you should be praying at every step of the way. Begging Him to make your path’s straight.

Proverbs 16:9 ESV

9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Everything that we do God is ultimately in control. And….

2. Because God CARES about YOU. (Matthew 6:26-30)

Explanation: Jesus compares us to God’s creation in terms of value.

Matthew 6:26–30 ESV

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. 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?

I know in our culture today it’s somewhat controversial to say but the least among the people of the earth is more important than any animal and any species of plant.

Mankind is the pinnacle of God’s creation. If you go all the way back to Genesis.

There were 6 days of creation. On the first 5 days of creation, God created and then “God saw that it was good.” 5 times.

And then on the 6th day, God created Adam and Eve. Gen 1:31

Genesis 1:31 ESV

31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

It wasn’t until God created people that it was very good. Because Gen 1:27

Genesis 1:27 ESV

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

We are the image of God. Which means from the womb to the tomb we are created in the image of God and because of that we are valued and loved by our creator.

Look at the birds. God takes care of them. Are you not of more value than birds? Yes you are.

Look at the lilies of the field, not even solomon in all of his glory is as beautifully clothed as a flower. Yet we cut them and throw them into the fire. Will he not much more clothe you? Because you are more valuable to God than plants.

Now please don’t get this twisted, we are not promised wealth and riches. But we are promised that when we are within the will of God and trusting in Him always that he will take care of us.

We may not have all of the things that we want. But we can trust Him for our needs.

Illustration: But how many of us get a little bit of money in our bank account, a little gas in our gas tank, some eggs in our refrigerator and think, look at what my harrd work has accomplished. And we forget God.

Listen to Solomon Eccl 2:8-11

Ecclesiastes 2:8–11 ESV

8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man. 9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

The Bible is replete with men and women who allowed their success in life to make them proud. And God cares enough about us that when our hearts become proud, He will strip us of everything that draws our heart from Him.

Everything can be an idol. Even good things if used for the wrong reasons and with the wrong motives.

So God may take things away in order to draw you closer to Himself. He may take things away to force you to make a choice about whether you will depend on Him or depend on you.

And also, God also wants you to ask for help.

Application: God cares for all people through common grace. We already learned this back in Matthew 5:44-45

Matthew 5:44–45 ESV

44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

The question then is do I trust God? Do I have faith.

Can I be bold with us this morning?

Persistent worry and anxiety are a problem of faith in God. So the answer may not be to power of positive thinking or overcoming things. It may be to remind yourself that God cares for you and He has a plan.

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Not everyone is ready to hear this verse when going through tough times. But it’s true all the same.

3. Because there is WORK to be DONE. (Matthew 6:31-34)

Explanation: Matthew 6:31-34

Matthew 6:31–34 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. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Jesus gives us a command, “Do not be anxious.”

And then He gives us a promise. “Your heavenly father knows that you need them all.”

And then He gives us a mission. “Seek first the kingdom of God and HIs righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

What Jesus is saying, is that He always funds His mission.

Jesus knows what you need in order to accomplish the mission that He has called us to. Both individually and collectively. And He will provide.

But let’s be clear so much of the Christian mission costs nothing.

Show up, work hard, be kind to people.

Use your everyday words and actions to share the Gospel with people who need to hear it.

Illustration: Before Jesus ascended into heaven, in Matthew 28:19-20 he gave the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Now at the risk of seeming a a Greek snob, I want to clarify that in vs. 19, “Go” is not a command, it’s the first of 3 participle. And participles in Greek and in English take the force of main verb which in this case is a command. The command in the sentence is make disciples. (μαθητεύσατε). The participles define how that discipling is done.

Baptizing and teaching come after the verb.

Going comes before the verb. What does that tell us?

Here’s what I think. I think you could translate this verb like this, “As you go, make disciples….”

Here’s why I think this is important. We’ve made disciplemaking a profession by shifting the emphasis from Make disciples to Go. Because what if I’m not called to go. What if I’m not called to be a pastor. What if I’m not called to be a missionary.

Maybe not. But you are all called to make disciples as you go.

As you leave this mountain, make disciples.

As you go to work, make disciples.

As you tuck your kids into bed and make them breakfast, make disciples.

As you celebrate holidays, make disciples.

The command is not to go. The assumptions is that you are already going. The command is make disciples in the business of everyday life.

And in this way, you don’t have to make timed, you just have to open your eyes to what is going on around you.

Application: Have you ever had a good day, where you were just productive? Just seem like you were firing on all cylinders? You hit that rhythm early and it carried you through the day. I’m not talking about busyness. I’m talking about productivity.

I live for days like that. And what’s funny is sometimes, I didn’t get anything done I planned that day, but God had something better for me and I leaned into God’s plan.

There is work to be done, and sometimes our plans get in the way of God’s plans. Because often our plans cause us anxiety and worry about how we are going to bring it about.

But God’s plans are devoid of worry.

There is no one who’s plans were fraught with more anxiety and worry producing circumstances than Jesus.

Yet, he walked everywhere. Made time for all sorts of disruptions and distractions. Got in argument after argument with the religious leaders.

And at the end of His life, He was able to pray, “I got all the work done you gave me to do.”

I love how chapter 6 ends:

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.

In other words, if you live for tomorrow, you will miss the work God has for you today.

Response: Are you holding on to ANXIETY? What STEPS will you take, to let it GO?

Summation:

Big Idea: Let Go of ANXIETY and WORRY.

1. Because LIFE is PASSING you by. (Matthew 6:25).

2. Because God CARES about YOU. (Matthew 6:26-30)

3. Because there is WORK to be DONE. (Matthew 6:31-34)

Closing Illustration: My fear is that you may have come here, seen the sermon title and thought I was going to solve your anxiety in 40ish minutes. If that was your hope, I’m confident that I have failed you.

But my goal from the beginning has not necessarily to get you to let go of anxiety and worry, but to get your to grab on to Jesus.

I’m the kind of person that hates make multiple trips with the groceries from the car to the house. I’ll try my best to grab everything at once. But often that’s not possible. When your hands are full, you can’t carry anything else.

You either have to put it down in the house or decide at the car what the most important things to carry right now.

So many of us are carrying many burdens and worry. But Jesus is all that matters.

Luke 10:40–42 ESV

40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 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.”

Don’t just let go of anxiety. Hold fast to Jesus and it will be enough.

Let’s pray.