Don’t Worry (Matthew 6:25-34)
The title of today’s sermon is “Don’t Worry”. We don’t have any anxious people in here, right? The truth of the matter is there’s no doubt we have worrywarts in the room. I have numbers to prove it! I pulled some research recently and found,anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the U.S., affecting over 40 million adults, or 19% of the population. Within that number women are more than twice as likely than men to experience an anxiety disorder. This is according to Forbes Health. The study also shows nearly 50% of young people between the ages of 18-24 (Gen Z) report having depressive or anxiety symptoms. Bringing it closer to home, one survey I found reported Oklahoma ranks sixth worst on the worry scale. When asked, “How often do you feel anxious, nervous or on edge,” 52% of those surveyed said they feel these emotions at least several days a week. This is a sad reality – a reality some of you are living in. It’s also an ironic reality. We know more and care more about mental health like no other time in American history. Additionally, we live in the most prosperous, free country in the history of the world and yet we’re plagued by worry. This begs the questions…
Why in the world is anxiety rising? Furthermore, how in the world do we go about reversing these disheartening trends? If we had time, I’m sure we could do a media blitz and find scholar after scholar or doctor after doctor who has an opinion on this matter; however, like any issue, the best wisdom always comes from God’s Word. Professional counseling and therapy can be very helpful, even essential. Still, I believe our first consultation should always be with The Great Physician. Therefore, let’s see what prescription he has for us this morning as we continue through the Sermon on the Mount. Please open your Bibles to Matthew 6:25.
If you will recall, we have spent a long time working through Jesus’ most famous teachings. We started with the Beatitudes. Then we learned how to live out God’s laws with the right heart. We touched on some Christian disciplines and last time we explored how to store up treasures in heaven, as opposed to storing up riches on earth. This morning Jesus is going to show us how to respond when we’re at the other end of the spectrum regarding possessions. It’s one thing to trust God when you have many possessions; it’s quite another when you own very little. Let’s see how Jesus addresses this all-too-familiar topic.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans (the unbelievers) run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Don’t worry. The English word “worry” is translated from the Greek word “merimnao”. The word is used 19 times in the New Testament and in this context, it means “to be anxious about” or “to be troubled with cares.” It’s the same word the apostle Paul uses in Philippians 4:6 when he urged people to not be anxious. Paul echoed exactly what Jesus preached in our Scripture. We are not to worry (or to be anxious) about anything, including the necessities of life like food or clothing. This charge had to tough for the first century audience due to the fact they lacked convenient food options and most fell short of the funds needed to own more than one or two garments.
It may even be just as tough for you. I read the Curbside Chroniclenot too long ago, and it highlighted the rising level of food insecurity within our state. It reveals about a million Oklahomans received SNAP benefits between October ‘22-‘23. That’s close to a quarter of our population. If you fall in that statistic, I imagine it’s super difficult not to stress when you’re having a hard time figuring out how to feed your kids. Speaking of kids, do you know any teens who are anxious about clothing? Of course! They want to fit in, and if we’re honest that pressure never goes away. No matter our age, it’s extremely hard not to worry about clothing.
Thankfully, Jesus helps us find a proper perspective by pointing us upwards – to the birds. He said, birds don’t sow or reap or store away food in barns, yet they are fed. Then he asked a very important rhetorical question: “Are you not much more valuable than they?” That’s such an essential question to consider. Sadly, there are many people who don’t understand their value even though God places the highest value on humans – out of all his creations. He formed you in yourmother’s womb. You’re called a masterpiece. Simultaneously, if you have put your faith in him, you are his son or daughter. That’s how valuable you are. Like any good father, God will take care of your needs. In his perfect timing, He will provide the essentials - as he does for all lesser creatures.
That said, you have a part to play. The birds don’t sit by passively with their mouths open waiting for God to fill them. No, they do their part out of concern. A bird hunts for worms to provide for itself and its young without stressing out about the lack of reserves in its nest. The same should be true of us. We should seek to provide for ourselves and others out of concern, not worry.
In Philippians 2:20, Paul spoke of his understudy Timothy: “I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare.” Paul indirectly commended Timothy for showing him genuine concern, which is why Paul was so eager to send Timothy to Philippi. Like Timothy we are supposed toshow concern by actively seeking to meet our needs and the needs of those around us. The hard question is, “How can we maintain the right level of concern without crossing the line into worry or anxiety?” That line seems very thin and so easy to mindlessly cross.
I’ll give you a scenario Lacey and I have been working through lately to help us process this question. It’s summertime, so naturally we want our kids to swim as much as possible. At the same time, it’s a little scary having them in the pool because they’re still learning to swim and, obviously, we are tempted to worry about the possibility of them drowning. We’ve already had a very close call with Franci drowning. So, what do we do? We show concern by teaching them to swim and by setting up good boundaries to keep them safe. For instance, we give them life jackets and restrict them to certain areas until they are completely trustworthy. That’s a healthy concern.
The problems arise if we can’t relax after we act appropriately. There’s an issue if we are constantly harassed by the possible negative outcomes or if we’re continually overwhelmed by our fears. Those types of thoughts add nothing to their safety or to our mental or physical health. In fact, that kind of chronic anxiety can actually hurt our bodies. Dr. James Bryan Smith wrote, “worry is a disproportionate level of concern based on an inappropriate measure of fear.” His definition is right on. I’ll admit it is certainly tempting for Lacey and I to have a disproportionate level of concern when our kids are swimming…due to inappropriate fear.
Sticking with the theme, some people get the same inappropriate fear when they swim in the ocean. They’re worried about being eaten by sharks. I understand the fear. I’ve seen Jaws and I hear about shark attacks around the world - news outlets publicize every attack. Nonetheless, we ought not be worried about death via sharks. The odds are minuscule. After a shark attack in Hawaii last month, a Hawaii official informed a reporter that there’s only been 10 deaths in Hawaii from sharks since 1980. I’m all about being safe in the ocean, but it’s an inappropriate measure of fear to worry about dying in the mouth of shark, or even to be attacked.
Plus, how does worrying about sharks, or anything, add to your life. Jesus tells us, worry cannot add a single hour to your life or mine (6:27). As I’ve already mentioned, worry does the exact opposite! Chronic anxiety can lead to stomach issues, a constant, increased heart rate, fatigue, shaking, and ultimately a shortened life. It will rob you of your health. It can also rob you of your time. Proverbs 12:25 informs us, “anxiety weighs down the heart.” You see, anxiety doesn’t add time; it weighs down the time we have.
Here's a final reason worry is harmful. Worry hurts our heavenly father. Why? When we worry, it shows a lack of trust in him. As a father myself, God has been making this point perfectly clear through my own kids. For example, Rae was at a summer camp a couple of weeks ago and she came home distraught given she had been hanging out with some girls who were wealthier than her. They were talking about their iPads and all their other gadgets, and she felt left less than, she felt jealous, and I’m sure she was worried about not fitting in. I’m not going to lie; it stung a little bit to hear about her discontentment. The reality is Lacey and I provide in numerousways for our kids - or we think we do anyway. They lack nothing they need, so it hurts when they worry and fixate on thefrivolous things they don’t have.
Paul lets us know in Philippians 4:19, God will meet all our needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Our heavenly father provides for us all the time!
Let me ask you, “When was the last time you didn’t have anything to wear? When was the last time you were stuck without transportation? When was the last time you went hungry?
Now, does that mean you will never go hungry? No. Does that mean God isn’t worthy of your faith if your physical needs aren’t met when you desire? No! God delivers in his perfect timing, and he delivers so much more than food and clothes. He confirmed this truth in verse 25 when he asked, “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” Food and clothes are clearly very important, but in the grand scheme God provides in bigger ways.
Paul knows what I’m talking about. Earlier in Philippians 4, Paul affirmed his ability to be content in whatever situation - whether he was well fed or hungry, whether he was living in plenty or in want, for he realized he could do all things through Jesus who gives strength (Philippians 4:12-13). With or without clothes, Paul experienced peace and contentment for he knewGod could be trusted to meet his wholistic needs. All temptation is common to man therefore, I’m sure at some point he had his weak moments. Like us he may have sought control through worry. Like us he was probably tempted to equate a lack of negative life experiences to an abundance of worry – “If I worry about it enough, nothing bad will happen.” Regardless, at some point he realized the remedy to anxiety – the remedy found right here in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness. That’s the key! We are to seek the kingdom of heaven first and foremost. We are to foster right relationships. We’re live out God’s design for our lives and, in the process, God provides! Does that sound good? Some of you thinking, “Yeah, that sounds good, but what does it look like to practically to seek his kingdom and his righteousness?” I’m glad you have those thoughts. I have those thoughts too. Consequently, with the remaining time, I would like to give you a few pointers that came to my mind as I thought about ways to flesh this verse out.
First, if you want to seek God’s kingdom and avoid worry, I think a great initial step is for you to turn off the news – or at least cut your intake. I don’t think I need to drill down on this suggestion for too long. Most of you know how news outlets strive to keep us in a perpetual state of fear, knowing it will boost their ratings. Likewise, you know they want us to fear one another. This is why news stations consistently jam divisive issues in our faces while offering little to help to bridge thegaps. Last spring I read Chasing Love, a book by Sean McDowell and in his book, he rehashed an encounter he had with a news outlet. A producer called him and asked him for his thoughts on Bruce Jenner’s transition. I want to read you what Sean said to a producer: “Jesus loves transgender people. This issue has become too political. The research shows that transgender people are more likely to suffer with loneliness, depression, and suicide then the general population. Thus, we need to reach across the political aisle and find some common ground with others for the sake of helping men and women who are transgender.” After a long silence, the producer said: “I am sorry. I can’t have you on the show. You are much too compassionate” (McDowell, Chasing Love, 180).
The people at that news station didn’t want compassion and understanding. They wanted division. They, along with other stations, want us to fear and demonize one another, which is all the more reason for us to turn off the news! And if the news is not your problem. Maybe you need to think about your social media time or the amount of time you’re in front of your screens. Fleeing any harmful outlet is a great start when seeking God’s kingdom.
Once you do, you will be freed up to spend more time doing what you know you’re called to do – like loving your neighbor. Listen to me carefully folks. One of the best ways you can avoid anxious thinking is to love people by putting their interest before your own (Philippians 2:3-4). Last month at KAA, I saw this lived out to perfection. We had a young lady in our group who was ready to go home halfway through the week. Her name is Orionea, and she gave me permission to share this story. For whatever reason, she got triggered at camp and she came to me with an anxious demeanor. So, I asked her, “When you’re back home, how do you cope when you encounter these attacks.” She said, “I get alone and listen to music.” I replied, “Great, take some time to be alone and listen to the worship team as they sing.” It just so happened to be CrossTalk night, so the atmosphere was more conducive for her to dwell on things that were true, noble, right and pure (Phil. 4:8). By God’s grace,she was able to make it through the night, and she was good tostay another day at camp. I was deeply encouraged. Even more encouraging is what happened the next morning at a campchurch service. One of our other students was overcome by some of the teaching. As a result, Orionea, who was plagued with worry the night before, stood up in the back of the roomduring a worship song, walked forward, and sat down behind the other young lady to pray for her. I was so impressed! Later I praised her for not worrying about her own issues and for focusing on the needs of someone else. In my eyes, she perfectly demonstrated Galatians 6:2, where we are called to carry the burdens of others. She did that! And through it all she learned, when we help others carry their burdens, our burdens don’t seem to be as oppressive. In fact, she realized, we actually feel blessed when we give ourselves away on behalf of others. Again, the natural response to anxiety to look inward, but it’s imperative we look outward through God’s strength. Love your neighbor. This is the second greatest command.
The first greatest command is to love God. This is by far the best way to seek God’s kingdom. Love God, connect with him, find your nourishment in him. As I’ve mentioned, he will provide for all your needs and more - for he is the life-giving Vine, he is the Bread of Life. Listen to how Jesus addressed a hungry crowd after the feeding the 5,000. Let’s start in John 6:25, “When they (those who were miraculously fed) found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” 28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” 30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty…48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” (John 6:25-35, 48-51). Overcoming anxiety starts with us putting our faith in The Bread of Life, which is completely different from the bread God offered the Hebrews in the wilderness. That manna spoiled. The Bread from heaven never spoils. By God’s grace, Jesus satisfies our deepest hungers – to be loved, to be known, to belong, to have purpose. When your identity is tied to Christ, you aren’t worried about what you lack or what’s needed since he is the ultimate fulfillment.
Isn’t that what Martha learned when Jesus came to visit her andher sister Mary? When Jesus went into the home of these sisters, Mary sat and listened at the Lord’s feet while Martha was distracted by what was lacking – all the preparations that needed to be made. Moreover, she was frustrated that Mary left her to do all the work by herself. In response, Jesus famously said, 41 “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42). Mary had chosen the better. She found nourishment in being occupied with Jesus, as opposed to Martha who sought nourishment by being occupied for Jesus.
It all starts in a relationship with Jesus! With him we canovercome worry. Listen to these amazing promises in Scripture. In 1 Peter 5:7-8, Jesus tells us we can cast our anxiety on him because he cares for us. Isn’t that awesome! Jesus knows the devil often pounces on people overwhelmed with worry – people like Martha – so he offers to carry the load and amazingly in return he offers rest and perfect peace.
Listen to this promise in Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The next time you’re in an anxious state, sit at the Lord’s feet and pray through this promise. “Lord, I’m really tempted right now, but you tell me to come to you with thanksgiving and continual prayer when I’m anxious. God, I thank you for your presence. I thank you I don’t have to be a busy bee to please you or those closest to me. I give you my anxious thoughts about fitting in. In return I trust you will guard my mind with your perfect peace.”
My friends, this is how you overcome! Singing the song “Don’t worry, be happy” will not bring you perfect peace. Indulging in coping mechanisms won’t work long term. Only Jesus can help you overcome. Therefore, flee any ungodly outlet that leads you to anxious thinking and pursue him - The Bread of Life. He will meet your needs and more.
I invite you to take the first step towards freedom if you are trapped in anxiety. Jesus died on a cross to bring you freedom from anxiety and sin. Confess your need from him and let him nourish your biggest need – a right relationship with God. Wherever you’re at, I invite all to come and lay your sin at the feet of Jesus. Come let the Great Physician’s love drive out your worry.
1