Sermon on the Mount (X) The Trouble With Worry Mt

Matthew 6:25-34 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Worry is Forbidden “Do not worry…” – vs.25a –i–i.e. About anything: Phil 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Worry is Forbidden Not talking about normal concern: –C–Concern is inescapable 1 Cor 7:32-34 “But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

Worry is Forbidden Not talking about normal concern: –Concern is inescapable –Concern is good Energizes us to achieve, grow, expand boundaries, get prepared, do good: 2 Cor 11:28 “Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.”

Worry is Forbidden Not talking about normal concern: –Concern is inescapable –Concern is good Energizes us to achieve, grow, expand boundaries, get prepared, do good: 1 Cor 12:25 “so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.”

Worry is Forbidden Not talking about normal concern: –Concern is inescapable –Concern is good Energizes us to achieve, grow, expand boundaries, get prepared, do good: Phil 2:20 “For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.”

Worry is Forbidden So when does healthy concern become unhealthy worry? –W–When it is overly self-centered.

So when does healthy concern become unhealthy worry? –When it causes us to become overly concerned for the outward, e.g. food, looks, clothes.

Worry is Forbidden So when does healthy concern become unhealthy worry? –When it takes away our joy, makes us grouchy and irritable.

Worry is Forbidden So when does healthy concern become unhealthy worry? –When we let it distract us from sleep, work, service to God and others

Worry is Forbidden So when does healthy concern become unhealthy worry? –When it causes us to neglect the spiritual: Luke 10:38-41 “Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things, but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.’”

Worry is Forbidden So when does healthy concern become unhealthy worry? –When it causes us to neglect the spiritual: Mark 4:19 “but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

Worry is Forbidden So when does healthy concern become unhealthy worry? –When it causes us to neglect the spiritual: Mt 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Worry is Forbidden So when does healthy concern become unhealthy worry? –When it becomes doubt or discontent.

Worry is Atheistic “Is life not more than food and the body more than clothing?” -- vs.25b To worry is to act as if all there is to life is food and clothing and things. –M–Materialism = The philosophy that explains the nature of the universe as entirely dependent upon matter.

Worry is Futile “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?” – vs.27 –O–On the contrary, it will only subtract time from our life

Worry is Faithlessness “You of little faith” – 26,28-30 Worry doubts our Father’s love: Rom 8:31-32 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”

Worry is Faithlessness “You of little faith” – 26,28-30 Worry doubts our Father’s love: Phil 4:19 “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Worry is Faithlessness “You of little faith” – 26,28-30 Worry borrows on tomorrow’s problems today: Mt 6:34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Worry is Heathenish “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things” – vs.32 Gentiles “eagerly seek”, Instead of trusting God

Worry is Unnecessary “For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (food, water and clothing) – vs.32b –U–Usually what we worry about won’t happen – Prov 22.13

How To Be Liberated From Worry Pray Phil 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

How To Be Liberated From Worry Pray 1 Pet 5:7 “casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

How To Be Liberated From Worry Pray Mt 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy- laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

How To Be Liberated From Worry Pray Study, memorize and meditate on God’s word –E.g. It’s many promises -- Mt ; Rom 8.28

How To Be Liberated From Worry Pray Study, memorize and meditate on God’s word Go out and serve Tell yourself the truth Slow down