Do Not Worry – 8

Sermon on the Mount - 69

Matthew 6:25–34 (NIV84)

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained. Arthur Somers Roche

Matthew 6:34 (NIV84)

34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Tomorrow = αὕριον aurion = the next day, the day after, following the present day.

Trouble = κακία kakia = evil, trouble, calamity, misfortune.

a state involving difficult and distressing circumstances; difficulties, evil.

Tomorrow will take care of itself, Jesus assures us. That is not the careless philosophy of the hedonist who lives only for his present enjoyment.

It is the conviction of the child of God who knows that tomorrow will take care of itself because it is in his heavenly Father’s hands.

John F. MacArthur, Jr. That each day has enough trouble of its own is not a call to worry about that trouble, but to concentrate on meeting the temptations, trials, opportunities, and struggles we have today, relying on our Father to protect and provide as we have need.

There is enough trouble in each day without adding the distress of worry to it.

God promises His grace for tomorrow and for every day thereafter and through eternity. But He does not give us grace for tomorrow now. He only gives His grace a day at a time as it is needed, not as it may be anticipated.

Worrying is over-anxious concern about the future and things. Worry accomplishes nothing and expresses unbelief in God’s sovereignty and goodness.

Worry is sin and is prohibited in the Bible without exception (cf. Mt. 6:25–34; Phil. 4:6, 7).

Psalm 37:1–8, 10–11, 18–19, 21–26 37–40 (NIV84)

1Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;

Do fret = חָרָה charah = be or become hot, angry; get excited; kindle; to be agitated or irritated.

The Hebrew word for ‘fret’ (chârâh) comes from a stem meaning to burn, and it is used here in a reflexive form (Hithpael stem); ‘Do not let yourself burn [with envy]’. emphasizing an internal emotional state rather than an external action.

Hithpael → usually reflexive/intensive (“to do oneself”); to fret oneself, to let oneself become agitated.

Do not fret (tiṭar) means to not get burnt up emotionally. The anger is not directed against anyone but is felt as an internal agitation, a fretting, connected with envy that might occasion choosing evil to satisfy one’s passions.

This is an internal emotional agitation that may provoke a person to do evil in an attempt to satisfy sinful desires or resentful impulses.

This depicts someone getting all worked up.

2for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

3Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:

6He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.

10A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

11But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.

The meek = עָנָו ʿānāw = poor, oppressed, afflicted, humble.

It is used of persons who put themselves after others in importance; persons who are not proud, haughty, supercilious, self-assertive, low in rank or position.

18The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever.

19In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

21The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;

22those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.

23If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm;

24though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

25I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

26They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.

37Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.

38But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.

39The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

40The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

We must remember that worrying is choosing not to trust God. Anger and worry (fretting) are two very destructive emotions. They reveal a lack of faith that God loves us and is in control.

We should not worry; instead, we should trust in God, giving ourself to him for his use and safekeeping.

When you dwell on your problems, you will become anxious and angry. But if you concentrate on God and his goodness, you will find peace.

Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

3You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

(Interlinear) “a mind steadfast You will guard peace peace because in you trusted.”

(NRSV) “Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—in peace because they trust in you.”

(LSB) “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace Because he trusts in you.”

(HCSB) “You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace.”

Perfect peace = peace peace = שָׁלוֹם shalom = the state of being safe or free from danger; peace; prosperity, success; welfare, state of health; friendliness; deliverance, salvation.

Peace, safety, prosperity, well-being; intactness, wholeness; peace can have a focus of security, safety which can bring feelings of satisfaction, well-being, and contentment.

Perfect peace or complete peace expresses it well. (Genuine peace)

D.L. Moody: The tree of peace strikes its roots into the crevices of the Rock of Ages.

Mind = יֵצֶר yester = form, framing, purpose; of what is framed in the mind; imagination, device, purpose; a steadfast purpose (or frame of mind).

Something formed, creation; inclination, disposition, motivation.

That which is formed in the mind, e.g. plans and purposes (Gen 6:5; 8:21; Deut 31:21) or even the state of mind (Isa 26:3).

It pertains to the inclinations or intentions in a person’s heart.

Is stayed on = סָמַךְ sāmak = it describes a heart that is supported, sustained. (Complete Word Study Dict.)

Sustain, uphold, support, i.e., cause a state to continue, with a focus that whatever is necessary to remain in that state is given, including a maintaining power; be steadfast.

To be established (abstractly); to be made secure or firm (of something abstract).

Abstract refers to something that is not physical. This is referring to one’s mind.

A person’s mind is made secure when it is fixed on and trusts in the Lord.

Psalm 112:1–10 (NIV84)

1Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands.

2His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

4Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.

5Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.

6Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.

7He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast (fixed, kjv; firm, esv; set, lsb), trusting in the Lord.

8His heart is secure (established, kjv; steady, esv; upheld, nasb95, lsb), he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

9He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.

10The wicked man will see and be vexed, he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

Is steadfast = כּוּן kûn = to be marked by firm determination or resolution; be unshakable.

Is secure = סָמַךְ sāmak = to be sustained: to be supplied with necessities and support.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon: “His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.” He is neither fickle nor cowardly; when he is undecided as to his course he is still fixed in heart: he may change his plan, but not the purpose of his soul. His heart being fixed in solid reliance upon God, a change in his circumstances but slightly affects him; faith has made him firm and steadfast, and therefore if the worst should come to the worst, he would remain quiet and patient, waiting for the salvation of God.

“His heart is established.” His love to God is deep and true, his confidence in God is firm and unmoved; his courage has a firm foundation and is supported by omnipotence. He has become settled by experience and confirmed by years. He is not a rolling stone, but a pillar in the house of the Lord.

John 14:27 (NIV84)

27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Peace = εἰρήνη eirēnē = blessing of peace: a state of peace that is a blessing or favor from God.

A set of favorable circumstances involving peace and tranquility.

The inward serenity based upon reconciliation with God.

Not peace in the empty way in which the world so often uses the word. It’s the peace that comes through knowing that your sins are forgiven and your guilt is removed. It’s the peace you have when the ruler of the universe is reigning in your heart, when you know you have that place in heaven prepared by God’s grace.

They would have peace with God (Rom 5.1), because their sins were forgiven and the peace of God (Phil. 4:7) would guard their lives.

The world is unable to give this kind of peace.

Fear of death (Heb. 2:14–15) and fear of the future are removed as Jesus’ followers trust in Him. Thus they need not be troubled.

Mark 4:18–19 (AMP 2015)

18And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word,

19but the worries and cares of the world [the distractions of this age with its worldly pleasures] (worries of this life, niv84), and the deceitfulness [and the false security or glamour] of wealth [or fame], and the passionate desires for all the other things creep in and choke out the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

The word worry comes from the Old English term wyrgan, which means to choke or strangle.

The word fits the notion of a panic attack.

Worry is not just a problem of the mind (mental), it is also a problem of the heart (spiritual) because it involves relying on someone or something rather than on God.

Worries = μέριμνα merimna = Anxiety, care that brings disruption to the personality and the mind.

A feeling of apprehension or distress in view of possible danger or misfortune; anxiety, worry, anxious concern.

Choke = συμπνίγω sympnigō = choke, throttle; literally, of weeds too thickly surrounding plants choke, cause to die; metaphorically, of things causing a message to be ineffective in a life crowd out, i.e. overwhelm, take over.

Such hearts are preoccupied. They have no room for calm and earnest meditation on the word or message of the Lord. Should any such serious study and reflection nevertheless attempt to gain entrance, it would immediately be choked off.

Worldly cares (no matter how important or how minor), the false sense of security brought on by prosperity, and the desire for material things (including anything that serves to distract a person) plagued first-century disciples as they do us today. Daily routines overcrowd and materialistic pursuits distract believers so no crop is produced.

Philippians 4:6–7 (AMP)

6Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

7And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Be careful (anxious) for nothing (KJV). The word “nothing” is literally “not even one thing.”

Wuest Translation: Stop perpetually worrying about even one thing, but in everything, by prayer whose essence is that of worship and devotion, and by supplication, which is a cry for your personal needs, let your requests with thanksgiving for the things asked for be made known in the presence of God, and the peace of God which surpasses all power of comprehension, shall mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Oswald Chambers: Fretting means getting ourselves “out of joint” mentally or spiritually.

Worrying always results in sin. We tend to think that a little anxiety and worry are simply an indication of how wise we really are, yet it is actually a much better indication of just how wicked we are.

Fretting rises from our determination to have our own way.

The Christian Counselor’s Handbook: Anger is manifested when we yield to extreme pressures from people or circumstances and say or do something that offends others. This happens whenever we allow our flesh to control us rather than the Holy Spirit.

The Bible admonishes us to stop our anger. Turn off our wrath. Don’t fret and worry—it only leads to harm (Ps. 37:8).

When we allow anger to control our lives we not only hurt others, but we hurt ourselves by destroying our witness before God and man.

Philippians 4:8–9 (ESV)

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

9What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Our thoughts express what we really are. We are what we think. We can easily deceive other people by our actions; we can be hypocritical in word and deed, but not in thought.

Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)

7For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

How are our thoughts and worry related?

What does God’s Word say about our thoughts?

How can we change so that we truly stop worrying?

We’ll look at this next week, the Lord willing, as we conclude this series on “Do Not Worry.”