WINNING OVER WORRY

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.

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Introduction:

Today America is in the grips of an epidemic of worry. We worry about money, relationships, appearance, health, what other people think of us. The symptoms of our anxiety are staggering—from emotional disorders to serious health problems. We are literally worrying ourselves to death.

There is much that we in the church have to learn about anxiety. Our worries have a way of following us into the sanctuary and sitting with us in the pew.

In our text Jesus identifies four sources of worry and suggests some strategies for coping with worry in our daily lives.

1. We worry about things over which we have no control (27)

Matthew 6:27 ESV

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

A. There are some things which are simply beyond our control.

1. We could not do anything about them even if we tried.

2. Worrying about them not only does not change circumstances

3. Worry will rob us of our ability to deal with circumstances when they come.

B. Jesus’ solution to this source of worry is implied in verse 26.

1. Simply stated, we must learn to accept them.

2. We must learn to master the art of Christian resignation...learn to be content in all things.

3. We should pray for the courage to change what we can

4. We must have the patience to accept what we cannot change

5. We must have the wisdom to know the difference.

2. We worry about things that do not really matter (25b)

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?

A. Jesus points out that some things are more important than others.

1. Many of the things we worry about are simply not worth the effort.

2. “Much ado about nothing,” is the way Shakespeare put it.

B. We can conquer worry by learning to “seek first the kingdom of God.”

1. The Greek word for worry literally means to “be pulled in different directions.”

2. By aiming our lives in one direction and learning to put first things first we can reduce some of the artificial, self-made anxieties of life.

3. We worry about things that have not yet happened (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.

A. “What if” are the two most worry-filled words in the English language.

1. Anxious speculation over the future does not empty tomorrow of its trials, but it does empty today of its joys.

2. Even when we know something is going to happen, our fear and dread of it is almost always worse than the thing itself.

B. Christ’s answer to worry over the future is found here (34b)

C. In other words, prudently manage today and let tomorrow take care of itself.

4. We worry about things of legitimate concern (25)

A. As this text suggests there are REAL Issues in Life

1. There are the physical necessities of food, clothing, shelter.

1. There are the physical necessities of food, clothing, shelter.

2. There are the difficult circumstances that can threaten us.

B. Jesus says these things are not worthy of worry because God is providing

1. “Your heavenly Father knows your needs.”

2. He promises that if we seek first His kingdom, these genuine needs will be supplied.

Conclusion:

It is said of Alexander the Great that of all the things that might have worried him, the one thing that bothered him most was that he could not get ivy to grow in Babylon. It seems we have not learned much since Alexander.

Rather than worrying, let us take the heart what the Apostle Paul said and make it true of our lives as well:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God which transcends all explanation will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (, ).

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.

It is said of Alexander the Great that of all the things that might have worried him, the one thing that bothered him most was that he could not get ivy to grow in Babylon. It seems we have not learned much since Alexander.