DO NOT WORRY God’s Law of the Heart (6) Matthew 6:25-34 Penge Baptist Church 21 st October 2012

Matthew 6:25-34 “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? 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? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 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, O you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own

Two ways to live…. Treasures in heaven or treasures on earth Light or darkness God or money

…and having chosen, allow God to be God God who maintains my body –For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. (Psalm 139:11-15) And who maintains my life –All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:16)

So we can trust him to feed us… –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? …and to clothe us –“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 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, O you of little faith?

What Jesus is saying So don’t worry! –So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ What’s worry? –(1) mental distress or agitation resulting from concern usually for something impending or anticipated (2) To feel uneasy or concerned about something; be troubled. (3) To cause to feel anxious, distressed, or troubled. (4) The act of worrying or the condition of being worried; persistent mental uneasiness. –Key underlying issue – how we cope with uncertainty Worry is a waste of abundant life! –Uses time that could be used doing God’s work –Uses thought that could be used to pray –Uses nervous energy and leaves us exhausted!

Don’t strive for material security (sign of our separation from God)… –“the pagans run after all these things” ….but as a believer, look to God’s agenda first and trust in him for security –seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well –““Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

What Jesus is not saying We should just sit idle and wait for God to feed and clothe us –For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12) We shouldn’t plan for the future –Joseph said to Pharaoh “collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.” (Genesis 41:35-36)

We shouldn’t care for the poor who do need food and clothes –“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ (Matthew 25:35-36) We won’t have trouble in this life –“Each day has enough trouble of its own” –“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Wit and wisdom about worrying Fear can keep us up all night long, but faith makes one fine pillow. ~Philip Gulley Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He’s going to be up all night anyway. ~Mary C. Crowley Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is to small to be made into a burden. ~Corrie ten Boom That the birds of worry and care fly over you head, this you cannot change, but that they build nests in your hair, this you can prevent. ~Chinese Proverb I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened. ~Mark Twain

A word of understanding from our maker! “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Logical issue – it means worrying needlessly or twice Psychological issue – 2 types of worry –Solvable worry (worry about “today”) –Floating worry (worry about “tomorrow”)

Overcoming floating worry –Believing what Scripture says not what feels to be true –Accepting that faith is not the same as certainty –Letting go of control of our lives – letting God be God –Getting detached from the issue – spiritual discipline of contemplative prayer

As Charlie Brown would say…

Sharing Jesus’ way of life! Deep awareness of God’s goodness (including from observing his creation) Happiness and joy, not worry Living in the moment and for the person in front of him Enjoying the good things in life (including food, drink and clothes) Realism about troubles Trust in God’s perfect plan for his life