Sermon Tone Analysis
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A collection of short sayings (19–24) and (here) a more sustained argument (25–34)
are united by the theme of possessions.
In contrast with the materialistic concerns which occupy our attention most of the time,
Jesus calls his disciples to put God first,
both by giving priority to eternal issues and
also by trusting our heavenly Father to meet our material needs here on earth.
Let’s keep in mind as well, that worry is one sin, against which our Lord, largely and earnestly warns His followers against.
Jesus gives His followers many arguments to fight against this sin.
“Don’t worry, be happy!”
That was the advice from a popular song several years ago.
But for the person who struggles with worry, such counsel is sadly simplistic, and easier said than done.
Perhaps no single problem plagues people more than worry or anxiety.
It may arise suddenly.
It may accompany you daily.
It
saps your sleep,
drains your joy,
exhausts your energy,
ruins your relationships, and
aggravates your body ailments.
For some people, worry is chronic and crippling.
For all of us, worry is one of the most typical, everyday sins.
Yet the good news is this: Worry is a solvable problem.
Grace applies.
God through His Spirit and Word provides Christians with all they need to fight against anxiety and to overcome worry.
Also, before examining His words, let me offer you some hope.
The very fact that Jesus Himself addresses worry means that there are answers from God for your problem.
You are not left with human-centered psychologies for answers to life’s problems.
The believer in Jesus does not need to depend on man’s opinions, theories, and techniques.
As a Christian, you have the Bible to teach you how to handle worry.
God Himself guarantees help and hope to worriers like you and me.
BIG IDEA We’re going to see how Jesus underlines for us how pointless it is to worry and then He gives us sound reasons for trusting our Heavenly Father.
The COMMAND about worry.
“Don’t worry”
The CHARACTER of this worry.
"“Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, ...” () "So don’t worry...” () "Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow,...” ()
What does Jesus say about worry?
He tells us to not do it.
Making it wrong.
Forbidding it no fewer than three times in this same passage.
Worry, then, is sin.
The apostle Paul repeats this prohibition in , “Don’t worry about anything.”
The fact that your worry is sin, however, should not discourage you.
It turns the lights on.
Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners like you and me—to forgive us for our worrying and to help us change our patterns.
While God might not reverse the tough situations you worry about, He specializes in
pardoning,
cleansing, and
helping
the worrying person.
Amid difficult circumstances, He wants to change you.
Someone might ask, “Why is worry sinful?
After all, it is so common and natural.
Everybody does it.
Besides, it shows that we’re concerned about things in life.
Isn’t it better to worry a little than to be callous, indifferent, and apathetic to the world around us?”
What, then, is wrong with worry?
Why is it sinful?
Jesus Christ answers that question in .
He does not merely prohibit worry; He gives you reasons why it is wrong.
He exposes the sinful roots of your anxiety with two penetrating pictures.
This leads us to the...
The COMMAND about worry.
The CHARACTER of this worry.
“Don’t worry”
In short, the character of worry is idolatry.
Idolatry means to worship someone or something other than the true and living God.
It is giving yourself to some person, goal, ideal, or object other than Jesus.
It involves hitching your heart to some false savior and refuge;
exalting your personal desires above the Lord; serving some master other than God.
Worry expresses idolatry in the heart.
Your worry is a sign that in some way you are trusting in yourself,
that you are building your life on things or people other than Jesus.
Your anxiety is an automatic indicator of a heart that is not fully following the Lord
but is temporarily following something else.
In verse 25 Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry.…”
His “therefore” points us back to the preceding context of verses 19–24.
In that passage Jesus shows how idolatry competes with God in three ways.
First, worry expresses that you seek and trust competing treasures (verses 19–21).
Jesus says, “Store up heavenly treasures rather than earthly, perishable treasures.”
The things of Christ and His kingdom cannot perish.
So many of your worries involve earthly things—
your job,
your marriage,
your money,
your possessions,
your health,
your children, etc.
You focus and fixate on them, you attach your heart to them, and
then you live in perpetual worry about when, how, if, or
how soon these things will perish or fail.
They end up controlling your mind and actions.
What you value supremely will rule your life.
Why?
Because your treasure will control you.
They compete with God in heaven.
Heavenly treasures include every benefit found in Christ,
every jewel of the rich inheritance Jesus died to procure for His people.
Ultimately, that highest treasure is God Himself and His Son Jesus.
The Psalmist wrestles it out this way: "Who do I have in heaven but you?
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