How
To Win Over Worry
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To School With God Series
A
Sermon By Jim Hammond from Matthew 6:25-34
What a Difference a Year Makes
One seven-year-old daughter was thrilled when her
dad took her to Disney World for the first time.
She headed straight for Space Mountain.
The dad worried that the roller coaster would be too scary for
her, but she insisted.
To her
delight, they rode it twice.
The next
year they returned to the Magic Kingdom, and the daughter, now eight,
again dragged the dad to Space Mountain. As they stood in line, though,
the dad could see her soberly studying the signs that warn about the
ride's speed.
"Dad,"
she said, "I don't think I want to go."
The dad then asked her why she would be nervous when she had enjoyed
herself so much the last time.
She
replied, "This year, I can read."[i]
Isn’t
education wonderful--the nice thing about being educated is that it
enables us to worry about things all over the world!
The fact is, worry has become an obsession in our modern world.
Focus:
Worry and anxiety are common sources of misery today.
Jesus tells us how to win over worry.
I. There’s
plenty to Worry About (v. 25).
There is no shortage of potential items to worry
about. Jesus mentions several matters of common concern.
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 important than
food, and the body more important than clothes?
A. Who’s Worrying?
There’s
plenty to worry about for EVERYONE.
Christians like to pretend that they don’t worry.
They just call their worries, prayer concerns. Though Christians struggle with worry, we don’t have to be
defeated by it.
When you
hear Jesus’ words, it sounds like he is talking to people who
are in poverty here, doesn’t it?
I believe wealthy people worry just as much if not more than poor
people. There’s plenty to worry about for the wealthy and the poor.
Here Jesus addresses some of the things we worry
about.
·
Health—“do not worry about your life, what you
will eat or drink, or about your body”
·
Possessions—“what you will wear”
The poor worry about how they will get these, the
wealthy worry about losing them.
We could add our own list of concerns.
People worry about . . .
·
Accidents
·
Aging
·
Criticism
·
Terrorism
·
Biological Warfare or “Bio-terrorism” seems
to be a new prominent point of worry.
There’s
no end to the kind of things we can worry about.
95 And Worried
A ninety-five year old
woman at the nursing home received a visit from one of her fellow church
members.
"How are you
feeling?" the visitor asked.
"Oh," said the
lady, "I'm just worried sick!"
"What are you worried
about, dear?" her friend asked. "You look rather well and
healthy today. Are they taking good care of you here?"
"Oh, yes, they’re
taking very good care of me."
"Are you in any
pain?" she asked.
"No, I’m not in any
pain at all."
"Well then, what are
you worried about?" her friend asked again.
The lady leaned back in her rocking chair,
sighed a heavy sigh, then slowly explained her major worry. "Every
close friend I ever had has already died and gone on to heaven. I'm
afraid they're all wondering where I went."
The word worry in the Greek, means to be divided.
The Greek word (merimnao)
is formed by two root words “divided” and “mind.”
To worry means to be pulled in many different directions.
First one fear pulls you one direction, then another fear pulls
you another direction. It
is even possible to have hope, then, pull you in another direction
still. Back and forth your
mind goes as it clicks into high gear.
If we keep this up we soon get pulled apart; we can literally
worry ourselves sick. Have
you ever felt yourself pulled apart by worry?
What’s your biggest worry right now?
II. Worry Is
A Bad Investment (vv. 26-33).
Matthew 6:26-33 (NIV) 26Look 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? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of
the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was
dressed like one of these. 30If 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, O you of little faith? 31So
do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we
drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly
Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these
things will be given to you as well.
A.
It doesn’t Add It Subtracts (v.
27)
27Who
of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
It will not add an inch to your height or a hour to
your life. The simple truth is that worrying doesn’t ADD it SUBTRACTS
from your life. It can
subtract hours from your day, but even more it can subtract days, months
and years from your life. Worry
is a bad investment of time and energy no matter how you look at it.
1. It is senseless
Many have
recognized the senselessness of worry at least with their minds. We reason something like this:
There are only two things you can worry over—things you have
control over, and things you don’t have control over.
It makes no sense to worry about things you have control over
because if you have control over them then you can do something about
them and there is no sense in worrying about them.
It makes no sense to worry about what you don’t have control
over, because if you don’t have control over them there’s no use
worrying about it.
We know
worry doesn't do any good. We
know this because we know most of the things we worried about didn't
happen.
Can you think of one good
thing worry adds to your life? Worry
is senseless.
2. It is harmful
(v. 32)
Jesus doesn’t mention the physical harm that
worry causes. He doesn’t
talk about poor physical health. He
is more concerned about spiritual harm.
Worrying makes us like the heathen, and it damages our witness.
32For
the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows
that you need them.
Shouldn’t the Christian live differently than
those who have no relationship with God (v. 32)?
III. How to Win
Over Worry
A.
Sing and Search (v. 26)
26Look
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?
The rest of God’s creation does not worry, but
God provides for them. Will
he not do the same for us? This does not say we should not work, only
that we should not worry while we work (v. 26, 28).
In fact, work may be one of the natural helping stabilizers when
we worry.
There’s something I’ve noticed about
birds. They sing.
Their singing brings glory to God.
Could there be something to this.
Sing your troubles away--who ever saw a bird worry?
I never saw a bird with worry lines.
I never saw a bird with feathers gone gray.
Jesus tells us the Father feeds the birds.
Have you ever noticed the way he does this?
He provides food as the birds go around looking for it.
The birds don’t just stand in one place and sing all day.
They sing and they search.
Circus Audition
A man decides to join the
circus. He shows up to
demonstrate his skills to the Circus Master.
"I have the most
unusual act," he announces. "I'm
sure it will amaze you."
He proceeds to climb a
tall tower, and jumps off. He
flaps his arms wildly, and finally his fall slows.
He soars forward, then swoops upward, turns and swoops back
again. Finally he stops in
mid air and gently lowers himself to the ground landing softly on the
toe of one foot.
The Circus Master stares
blankly at him for a long time. Finally
he says, "Is that all you've got?
Bird imitations?"[ii]
The way
Jesus asks us to imitate birds is not all that difficult.
Don’t worry, sing and search for God’s provision.
Worship God and look for what he is doing.
B. Don’t just fret
there, Bloom! (v. 28-29)
28“And
why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow.
They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was
dressed like one of these.
There is
something I have noticed about flowers.
They are beautiful when they bloom where they are planted. If we concentrate on blooming in the midst of our troublesome
situations we might stop wasting our time laboring and spinning in ways
contrary to what God intends for the situation in which we find
ourselves. God wants
us to bloom. There is
something else I notice. A
flower’s orientation toward the sun helps it to bloom effortlessly.
It is the
blooming flower that is beautiful.
Husbands, have you been so focused on some other kind of beauty
that you have not recognized the truly beautiful wife that you have. I have found that sometimes I am the one casting a shadow
making it difficult for her to bloom.
There are times when I’m not even thinking about how I play a
role in this. I can become
an encouragement or a detriment. You
might consider how to be an encouragement for her to bloom by watering
and getting out of the way of the sun.
It isn’t the outward adornment that makes us beautiful people;
it is the inward adornment. You
can often see on the face of someone a glow of reflective beauty when he
or she, like a flower, has been filled with the life that comes from the
son.
C. Take a Look outside (v. 26, 28, 30)
26Look
at the birds of the air;
28.
. . See how the lilies of the field grow.
30If
that is how God clothes the grass . . .
Are you
discouraged, trapped in the pattern of worry?
One very practical suggestion that comes out of Jesus’ teaching
here is often overlooked. Lift
up your eyes and enjoy God’s simple pleasures.
Stop and take time to focus on the minute details of God’s
loving care over creation. Stop
and look at the flowers. Stop
and look at the grass. Stop
and take a look at the sunrise. Breathe
in the fresh air. Literally,
stop and take some time with God recognizing his creation.
The intricate care of God over the minutest detail of creation
should encourage us. You
will find some practical steps in this process all by itself.
The simple truth is this. Worriers
have a difficult time stopping their worry.
Here are the practical suggestions of Jesus.
Stop what you are doing and go outside.
Spend some time with God in his creation. Perhaps a daily regimen of this all by itself will help you
win over worry.
D. Choose to Trust God (v. 26, 30, 32)
Trust the
heavenly father to provide for us as he has promised.
26 .
. . and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more
valuable than they?
30 .
. . will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
32 .
. . and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
According to Jesus, a worrier is someone who
exercises very little faith (v. 30).
The ultimate cause of worry is the lack of faith.
How does one enlarge a little faith?
The Bible tells us faith comes by hearing and believing the
truths about God. Increasing
your knowledge of God increases your faith.
This is both informational and experiential, or relational.
The Bible tells us what we need to know in our heads.
Our experience with God personally tells us what we need to feel
and know in our hearts. When
we have an adequate knowledge of God and we have a personal relationship
with God, but we still worry, it is because we have chosen the wrong
focus. We have chosen to
worry instead of trust. If
we have enough information, trusting God is a matter of choice. We can choose to believe God is big enough to handle the
point of concern. We choose
to trust that he will provide what we really need.
We can choose to place ourselves in the hands of a trustworthy
potter who is shaping us.
E. Seek First
His Kingdom (v. 33)
33But
seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will
be given to you as well.
Here Jesus gives the motivation for choosing faith
over fear. Faith and worry
are matters of orientation. It
is the orientation of our hearts and thoughts.
Our orientation is affected by our priorities.
If you seek FIRST anything other than God’s will, you will put
yourself in the path of worry. Why?
Because God may be using circumstances, bumps in the road, trials
and suffering, to get your attention in order to redirect your course.
Most of us don’t want change until there is pain.
Then we want something to change.
God takes an active role in our lives, training us to stay on
course. When you seek first
his kingdom, He will reinforce your correct orientation with a peace and
confidence in your life. By
seeking first his kingdom you put yourself in a place where you don’t
have to worry. Sounds good
doesn’t it?
Now let me throw a curve at you. We almost always think of worry as a bad thing.
But sometimes God uses worry for his good purposes.
Here’s what I mean. God
does not want you to be feeling secure and peaceful if you are secure
and peaceful while you are at odds with Him.
When Jesus says in 6:25, “do not worry,” he is addressing
those who have come to hear the will of God and want to adjust to God.
To those who are busy seeking first their own
kingdoms, and deliberately doing things their own way instead of God’s
way, Jesus does not say “do not worry.”
To someone like that he would say, “Worry if you aren’t first
seeking God’s will. Don’t
worry if you are.” The
only lasting place of confidence, security, peace and joy in this world
is when you are seeking FIRST God’s Kingdom!
The reason Jesus said this is not because every
Christian will always have every perceived need met now.
There have been Christians who seek first God’s Kingdom who
died horrible deaths. The
reason Jesus said this is because even in those unusual cases, what is
added unto you far outweighs what was taken from you!
All these good things will be added.
That’s a promise.
Is your health failing?
God promises that if you seek first his kingdom, all these things
will be added unto you. He
has just been talking about your life, your health.
That’s one of the “these things” on the list. But this promise may not mean that immediately you will
become well. He might heal
you because he has determined to use you longer for his purposes because
your orientation is correct. But
if he chooses not to, he still will give to you what he has promised
when you go through the ultimate healing and you are ushered into his
presence. Only this kind of
confidence built on the whole picture is an unshakable confidence.
Only this kind of confidence produces the joy filled life Paul
speaks of from a prison cell while awaiting his execution (Philippians).
Only this kind of confidence can say,
Romans
8:18 I
consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the
glory that will be revealed in us.
No matter what happens, if you have
Christ’s orientation, the promise here is true.
You will be given all these things and more!
F. Live in the Present
(v. 34)
34Therefore
do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each
day has enough trouble of its own.
Jesus said, “Therefore” connecting these
thoughts. It is because of
the previous promise that you don’t have to worry about tomorrow.
Live one day at a time. Handle each worry as it comes. Many
points of worry will never come to pass. Those that do occur can only be
handled as they come, in the present.
When the Bible tells us God will never give you more than you can
handle, he takes this verse into account.
If you add to today’s troubles, tomorrow’s worries, you may
not have enough energy to handle it.
But God has given you enough to handle today’s concern.
Faith connects the present to the future in the
positive and frees us to take positive steps. Worry connects our present
to the future in the negative and constricts our mobility with fear. Planning for tomorrow may be part of today’s concern, but
worrying about tomorrow is not.
Arthur Somers Roche said, “Worry is a thin stream
of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel
into which all other thoughts are drained.”[iii]
When Worry Pays Off
Sometimes worry has a pay off, though its rare.
“For several years a
woman had been having trouble getting to sleep at night because she
feared burglars. One night her husband heard a noise in the house, so he
went downstairs to investigate. When he got there, he did find a
burglar. "Good evening," said the man of the house. "I am
pleased to see you. Come upstairs and meet my wife. She has been waiting
10 years to meet you." [iv]
Dear Lord,
We want to
begin our prayer this morning by asking for your forgiveness.
We have all allowed worried to have its way with our hearts.
We know that worry is senseless and harmful.
We know this in our heads, but we still struggle to choose the
way of faith over the way of worry.
Thank you for loving us even though sometimes we are the ones
with such a little faith that we worry.
Lord, we choose to trust you.
We choose to seek you first.
We choose to orient our lives in the direction of faith instead
of fear. Lord, we choose to
be more like the birds today. We
want to sing your praises and search for your will even in the midst of
difficulty. Lord, we choose
to be more like your flowers today.
Forgive us for fretting. We
want to bloom right where you put us even if it is in the middle of
difficulty. We will trust
the way you are using these difficulties to shape us and protect us.
Lord, help us to remember when we start to take up tomorrow’s
concerns rather than today’s. Lord
help us to choose to live by faith in the present.
Lord we want our lives to reflect the peace you offer us so that
we might be able to help others around us.
We thank you for our calling and purpose and the provisions you
give us. You always give us
what we need to be able to please you, so with that in mind, Lord, we
choose today to sing and to smile. We love you.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
[iii] James S. Hewett,
Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc,
1988), p. 496.
[iv] William Marshall, Eternity
Shut in a Span.
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