Why Worry?

Matthew 6:25-34

There is a killer among us. In fact, you have probably have had an encounter with this killer and didn’t even realize it.

The killer is right here in this congregation right now.

Now I know who this killer is, and you know who this killer is, and it may surprise you to hear who the killer is.

The killer is worry.

How many of you ever had worries in your life? I think if we are honest, we all can say we have worried in life.

Some of us have worried about some trivial things, like some of you are worrying if you are going to pass a test.

Some of us worry about other things like

And then there are some more serious things we worry over, like am I going to get through this problem in life, or you worry about death.

But do you know God doesn’t want us to worry. He wants us to trust and to have faith in him. Look here in this passage

[Read Scripture]

Now worry is a serious problem. People are worrying over our country, economy, the election. I like it how one preacher put it:

The ignorant worry because they don’t know enough. The smart worry because they know too much. The rich worry because they’re afraid of losing what they have. And the poor worry because they don’t have anything. The old worry because they’re facing death. And the young worry because they’re facing an uncertain future. Back to the old: When we were young, we used to worry that we were getting older. And when we get old, we worry that we won’t get older. – Adrian Rogers

Now if we are going to be who God wants us to be we have to let go of our worries and renew our faith in Christ. Now how are we going to do this?

1. The Cause of your Worry

a. Food (25a)

i. Some of you are worrying right now about lunch today

ii. We worry over what we are going to eat, is there going to be enough

iii. The disciples had that worry when they were with a multitude of people, Jesus fed them with 5 loaves and two fish.

iv. If I serve the one who can do that, why do we worry over something like food.

b. Fashion (25b)

i. Now this sounds like something silly to worry over, but there are some who worry over how you are dressed.

ii. If you are not in fashion that world is coming to an end.

iii. Its not about how you are dressed outwardly, it is about how you are dressed spiritually.

c. Fitness (27)

i. Now some worry about food and fashion, but there are some who worry about fitness. They worry about their body and their appearance.

ii. You’ve seen it, maybe you’re like that. Constantly coloring your hair. Concerned about you’re weight, you’re worried about how long you are going to live.

iii. There some people, that spend more time looking at box sides, counting carbs, and running miles than they do with the Lord.

iv. Do you know what is inevitable? Your death. Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to doe, but after this the judgment”

d. Finances

i. What else do we worry about? Finances. Money.

ii. We’re worried if we have enough for retirement, if we have enough for school, have enough to pay the bills.

iii. Worry over money is a divider in the home. Many marriages fall apart because of money.

iv. Listen, we need to trust the Lord with our finances. If you can’t give to God, why should he give to you?

e. Future (34)

i. We worry over the future. What is going to happen tomorrow.

ii. Some of us are worry what we have to do at the office, some are worried what the teacher might assign. Others are worried what is to come.

iii. There was survey done and in that survey it was found that:

1. 40% of what people worry about never happens at all

2. 30% of what people worry about has already happened

3. 12% worry about criticism

4. 10% worry about health

5. 8% are real problems and worry will do no good

iv. I like what Erma Bombeck said about worry – “Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do, but it never gets you anywhere.”

2. The Cost of your Worry

We have seen the cause of worry but lets look at the cost of worry.

a. Hurts yourself

i. Do you know what worry is like? Sand. You can take a small piece of sand and put it into machinery and it will mess it up.

ii. You get it into your lungs and it will cause swelling and damage the tissue.

iii. It is not the big things that get us in life, it is the little things that we worry over that end up hurting us the most.

b. Hurts others

i. Have you ever been around someone who worries? Its like they walk into a room and the lights go off.

ii. When you worry you bring that negativity with you.

iii. Worrying is contagious, it just spreads gloom everywhere.

iv. Mask up those worriers and stop the spread of What-if 19

c. Hurts God

i. You know who worry hurts the most of all – God.

ii. Look at the last part of verse 30 “O ye of little faith”

iii. Worry is an insult to God. What does Romans 8:28 say? All things work together for good to those who love God who are the called according to his purpose.

iv. When we worry we are saying to God you are a liar. Friend we got to quit thinking like the world and place our faith in Christ.

3. The Cure for your Worry

a. Father (32)

i. Do you know that the heavenly father wants you to just trust him. He knows what to do.

ii. Teaching my kids to jump in the water. They thought they were going to drown. But I was there to catch them.

iii. Listen there is no need to worry, when you have placed in your trust in Jesus, he has put his life jacket on you. He’s got you!

Said the robin to the sparrow,

“I should really like to know,

Why these anxious human beings

Rush about and worry so.”

Said to the sparrow to the robin,

“Friend I think that it must be,

That they have no Heavenly Father,

Such as cares for you and me.”

b. Focus (33)

i. What else do we need to do if we are going to stop worrying? We have to Focus.

ii. Look at vs 33.

iii. What are we seeking first? Everything but the Lord. But the first thing we need to do is seek the Lord!

iv. Here is the solution to your problems. The Lord says you take care of my business and I’ll take care of yours.

v. Now we are to seek the Lord first in all things. We need to quit this temporary faith. This Emergency Christianity. That we only trust the Lord when everything else has failed.

vi. Now faith should be seeking God first, but you know not everyone seeks the Lord first.

vii. If we are ever going to be victorious in life, we have to go straight to the Lord. Straight to him in faith. Real faith!

1. Not churchianity. Where you are part of a church but you don’t know what you believe.

2. You have someone come up to you and ask you what you believe and you might say well I’m Baptist.

3. I believe in Jesus Christ – and seek him first!

c. Forbear (34)

i. Now I know that there is a lot of evil in this world, but God has told me not to worry about tomorrow.

ii. I am not promised tomorrow, but I am promised that God has given me grace for today.

iii. You know we have enough in life right now, that there is no need to look to tomorrow for those problems and pains.

iv. Don’t drag those clouds of tomorrow over today’s sunshine.

What is your worries? What is it that has your mind preoccupied and distracted? Why not give those worries over to the Lord and let him be your God. Isn’t that why he saved you?

If the world from you withhold of its silver and its gold,

And you have to get along with meager fare,

Just remember, in His Word, how He feeds the little bird,

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Leave it there, leave it there,

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out,

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.