Losing the Weight of Worry Matthew 6:25-34

Matthew 6:25 “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? 26Look 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.

Introduction

This is the 4th in series of “Losing the Weight. So far, we have talked about Losing the Weight of Guilt, Fear and Sin.” Today, we will continue looking at those sins that “cling to us.”

This backpack represents the weight of sin “which clings so closely” that I have picked up along the way.

Key Verse

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Unless I remove this weight, I will carry it with me, everywhere I go. In order to do my best, I need to lighten my load.

With every burden (weight) that is removed, my burden becomes easier and lighter.

Worry

Unlike Guilt and Fear, I think I can say with great accuracy, that worry is an issue that all Christians face.

A dictionary definition of worry is; allow one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. Strong’s says: to be troubled with cares.

The Old English term for worry meant to “choke, or tear at the throat.”

The sign out front says “For every Goliath there is a stone.” May I say today: “For every Goliath in your life, there is a stone with his name on it.”

Five Points Today – Please write these down for futher reference.

Worry is Irrational

“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?”

This is Jesus speaking. The setting is on a mountain in Galilee. Jesus is teaching His disciples. All throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has been explaining the difference in the actions of the “outward man” as compared with the “inward man.”

Jesus informs His followers that they are not to “be anxious about your life.” I must say that that is much more difficult to put into action than it is talking about it.

When considering whether I should worry about something, I approach life with the following two thoughts:

First, I only invest a period of thinking or worry, depending on the length of time that the item will impact my life. For example, I don’t spend a lot of time considering where I will eat lunch. However, purchasing a suit or lawnmower takes more time and thinking/worrying about. To plan on having another child, to get married, which college to enroll or which branch of the service to join, requires a lot more time, consideration and thought. This may lead to being anxious.

Jesus says; “do not be anxious about your life.”

BUT, I will. It is natural for humans that don’t have all the answers, to worry. You might say it is in our DNA.

Second, and maybe the most important way to approach worry is; Can I change the outcome? If not, worry is unreasonable. Worrying about things you cannot change is irrational. And, don’t spend a moment of worry on something that you can change: simply change it.

Worry is Abnormal

26Look 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 must have caught the sight of a bird flying over the disciples, for He uses them to drive home the point that worry is abnormal. The birds don’t sow and reap. It is in their DNA not to worry about where their next meal is going to come from, as God is going to supply it.

Worry Does Not Bring Closure

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

Every now and then, our family will eat at Cracker Barrel restaurant. Out front of every restaurant are rocking chairs. I really enjoy sitting in a rocking chair. However, I can expend a lot of energy and action, rocking back and forth, but I am not getting anywhere. This can be applied to running on a treadmill or stationary bike.

Worry does not change the situation. It only changes you.

There is a lot of truth in the saying, “Misery loves company.” A person who worries, seeks others to join in their misery!"

Worry Is A Lack of Faith

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?

As a 21st century Christian, I realize that everything I have, I owe to the grace and love of the Father. The Creator of the universe, cares for me. He will “clothe you” with all that we have need of.

The big message today is that we confuse “need with want.” I sat down with a pencil and paper and began my list. Halfway down the paper, I stopped and reviewed my list. That is when it hit me. My needs were very world centered. I tore that piece of paper up, prayed and then began anew.

If we were to be honest this morning, what do we actually need today?

· Eternal life

· A Savior to loves me enough to go to the cross to take the wrath of God away from me

· The Holy Spirit to comfort, teach and disciple me

· To tell someone about the Love of God

· To understand God’s divine will for my daily walk.

It is difficult for me to write a list of all my needs, when Christian brothers around the world live in the most awful environments, don’t know where their next meal will come from or that the next knock on the door will be agents sent to arrest them for speaking the name of Jesus.

I know that in every area of my life, God understands my wants and needs. As I draw closer to God, I have found that my wants and needs change. They are much different today, than when I started this journey over 40 years ago. As I mature in my daily walk, my prayer requests have changed drastically. Where once I was “I” centered, I am moving toward a “God” centered life.

To further his point, Warren cites Philippians 4:19, which says: "God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus."

Worry Is the Opposite of Rejoicing

Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 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.

How does a Christian confront “worry?” Paul responds with a command, “Rejoice.” However, it is not just a temporary happiness depending on circumstances. We all know that happiness is fleeting. The word used for rejoicing carries the idea of a deep contentment in this life, based on the LORD, the Living God of Creation and our provider.

Since God is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow, then our rejoicing can be fully laid on God, even in difficult times.

In Ephesians 4:3, Paul acknowledges that the names of believers of Jesus Christ are written down in the Lambs Book of Life. If every other activity in our lives were bad…

If we lost our job. If our 401K was totally erased If our loved one’s health failed If we were imprisoned for our faith If we were ostracized at work for being a believer

Would we find room in our grief to rejoice?

Conclusion

Why should I rejoice instead of worry?

1. Our citizenship is in heaven.

2. The Savior is waiting for us

3. Our earthly body will be transformed to a “glorious body.”

4. Our names are written in the “Book of Life.”

5. Only with God will we be able to find peace and rejoice

However:

We must live like citizens of Heaven.

Eye of the Storm (feat. Gabe Real)

Ryan Stevenson, Gabe Real

In the eye of the storm

You remain in control

And in the middle of the war

You guard my soul

You alone are the anchor

When my sails are torn

Your love surrounds me

In the eye of the storm

When the solid ground is falling out from underneath my feet

Between the black skies, and my red eyes, I can barely see

When I realize I've been sold out by my friends and my family

I can feel the rain reminding me

In the eye of the storm, You remain in control

In the middle of the war, You guard my soul

You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn

Your love surrounds me

In the eye of the storm

Mmm, when my hopes and dreams are far from me

And I'm runnin' out of faith

I see the future I picture slowly fade away

And when the tears of pain and heartache

Are pouring down my face

I find my peace in Jesus' name

In the eye of the storm (yeah, yeah)

You remain in control (yes you do, Lord)

In the middle of the war

You guard my soul

You alone are the anchor

When my sails are torn

Your love surrounds me (Your love surrounds me)

In the eye of the storm (in the eye of the storm)

When the test comes in and the doctor says

I've only got a few months left

It's like a bitter pill I'm swallowing

I can barely take a breath

And when addiction steals my baby girl

And there's nothing I can do

My only hope is to trust You

I trust You, Lord

In the eye of the storm (yeah, yeah)

You remain in control

In the middle of the war (middle of the war)

You guard my soul (yeah!)

You alone are the anchor

When my sails are torn

Your love surrounds me (yeah!)

In the eye of the storm

You remain in control (yes you do, Lord)

In the middle of the war (in the middle of the war)

You guard my soul

You alone are the anchor

When my sails are torn

Your love surrounds me

In the eye of the storm

Oh, in the eye of

Lord, in the eye of the storm

I know You're watching me, yeah

Ay

When the storm is raging (when the storm is raging)

And my hope is gone (and my hope is gone, Lord)

When my flesh is failing

You're still holding on, oh whoa

When the storm is raging (the storm is raging)

And my hope is gone (and all my hope is gone)

When my flesh is failing (my flesh is failing)

You're still holding on, ooh

When the storm is raging (when the storm is raging)

And my hope is gone (and my hope is gone)

Even when my flesh is failing (flesh is failing)

You're still holding on, holding on

The Lord is my Shepherd

I have all that I need

He let's me rest in green meadows

He leads me beside peaceful streams

He renews my strength

He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His Name

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid

For You are close beside me