Be Seen: Worry

Recalculating Worry

Matthew 6:25-34

INTRODUCTION

Charles showing me his harvest for the Manna Ministries

Our view of God’s blessing is much different.

Malawi last 3 years- famine and now floods.

I wonder if it would be easier with less material possessions.

But it's a heart issue not a wealth issue.

It’s about TRUST.

We worry about the kind of food and the brand of the clothes.

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.

5 Causes of Worry

1. Wrong View of Value (25)

Matthew 6:25 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?

Isn't life more than?

Is that really what you are concerned about?

What is truly valuable to you?

Your stuff. Your Kingdom?

2. Wrong View of God (26, 30-32)

3 Truths About God That Gives Us Confidence

A. God Highly Values Us (26)

Matthew 6:26 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?

Man was created special.

Created in the image of God.

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 higher than rest of creation because God created us to have a relationship with a him and to know him.

People of Malawi do not have a problem with a creator God.

They just don't know that he cares about them.

They can look at the world around them and know that there is a God and that they are different than the rest of creation.

They are surprised to know that the Creator cares about them and wants a relationship with God.

Valued us enough to die for us.

B. God Eternally Values Us (30)

Matthew 6:30 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?

He values us because we have an eternal soul.

Not true of other animals.

Small God means little faith, large God should cause large Faith.

C. God Infinitely Values Us (31-32)

Matthew 6:31–32 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.

He knows everything about us.

He knows exactly what we need and cares.

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

3. Wrong View of Self (27)

Matthew 6:26 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?

Worrying is our way of thinking we are the ones in control

It's a trust problem. I can take care of it better myself.

I'm a worrier. Get from grandmother.

My family life has been chaos for 6 months.

Kids leaving

Kids coming

Sickness

Selling a house. Moving. Closing.

Nothing was better off because I worried about it.

4. Wrong View of Priorities (33)

Matthew 6:33 ESV

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

“Seek First the Kingdom of God”

We take care of our kingdom first and if there is anything left we take care of God’s kingdom.

Time – If there is nothing else going on I’ll be at church.

Money- If there is money left over I will give.

5. Wrong View of Time (34)

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.

Today is more important than tomorrow.

We spend too much of our time worried about the future.

We watch the present looking at a small monitor so we can watch it again in the future.

Jesus isn’t saying we shouldn’t plan. He is saying that worrying today does not make the future better.

Hoarding and Worry are two sides of the same coin.

Hoarding= you have to take care of yourself.

Worry= I won’t have what I need.

Luke 12:16–21 ESV

16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Conclusion

Whose kingdom are you building?

What is the root of your worry?