Jesus Teaches How to Stop Worrying | Matthew 6:25-34
Series: All: All Authority, All Nations, All Allegiance
Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34 (Main); Philippians 4:6-7; 2 Corinthians 11:28-29
Title: Antidote to Anxiety, pt 2: Jesus Teaches How to Stop Worrying (Darien Gabriel)
(See below for bibliography)
Bottom Line: We don’t have to worry about anything in life because
our Creator is our Father (he cares) +
our King (he can).
He can and wants to take care of all our needs.
I. What do I want you to know? Worry is unproductive and unhelpful.
Why? Because worry and anxiety rob us of the joy of the Lord that comes when we believe that God cares about us and can meet all our needs.
II. What do I want you to do?
Decide what kingdom you’re going to live for.
Seek first his kingdom and his righteous way i.e. Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly
Why? Because when we seek first his kingdom and righteousness, all these things will be added to us.
Discussion questions for group and personal study.
1. How is worry sin? Have you considered worry a sin and repented of it?
2. How does Jesus's instruction not to worry about what you eat shape how you think about diets, eating lifestyles, and food choices? What is the difference between wise eating and worry eating?
3. What in your life creates the most worry? Why does that event or item cause you to worry? What does the gospel say about that issue that can help you trust God?
4. How does thinking about eternity help you not worry about your life?
5. How does your culture and economic status shape what you consider to be the appropriate standard for God's feeding, clothing, and taking care of you? How might your perspective change if you lived in a different context?
6. Were first-century Christians less susceptible to the desire for clothing than Christians today? Why or why not?
7. How can our trust in God, when we would naturally worry, be an
evangelistic witness to others?
8. Do you ask God more often for wants or for needs? How does God
handle our requests for things we want?
9. How can increasing our desire and concern for God's kingdom
lessen our worry over our lives and the future?
10. If your treasure is in heaven, how will that affect how much you are
willing to sacrifice now on earth?
Final Questions (optional or in place of above)
What is God saying to you right now?
What are you going to do about it?
Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast
Intro
Bring back the coins (problems) and show how focusing on (worrying) just one problem affects everything else in life. It blinds us from the resources we have available to us and the perspective that keeps us grounded in those God-given resources.
If I have a handful of coins representing a handful of problems (family, marriage, work, school, finances, health, addictions), I’m going to have stress, worry and anxiety as long as I obsess on those from a perspective that God doesn’t know, doesn’t care, can’t help, isn’t trustworthy, or isn’t your King/Lord.
Worry is a symptom of a greater disease.
Worry is also a sin. It is the sin of unbelief. It’s not believing that God is who he says he is and/or that he won’t do all he’s promised to do.
The disease is heart disease—a heart of “little faith” in an infinitely loving Father and King.
“Do not worry” is a present imperative from Jesus. That is, it’s a command of constant and continuous action of not worrying. (Not do not be concerned but don’t worry from a self-centered place)
Outline
Jesus tells them not to worry about life.
Be concerned, sure.
Be worried, no way.
Gives 3 reasons why.
Gives 3 examples/illustrations to support those reasons.
Gives the antidote to anxiety and worry about life today.
And tomorrow. You have enough to deal with the worries of life today.
You don’t have enough to deal with the worries of tomorrow. So don’t try.
“Anxiety can never be cured by getting more of what we have already…Anxiety can be cured only by the assurance that our needs will be met by our King. For this reason, the chief drive in our lives should be to live under the authority of the king and to see his kingdom extended in every possible way—morally, socially, and geographically, as well as personally, inwardly, and spiritually. When our hearts are set on his righteousness pervading our lives, we have our priorities in order, and will discover two things:
First, all we need, he will provide. He has never failed one of his children.
Second, many of the things we thought we needed we now discover we did not really need, and do not now want.” —Sinclair Ferguson
Food, drink and clothing are great servants. They are terrible masters.
Simple Outline (Hughes)
I. Do not be anxious! Why? Because God is the King of life. (25-30)
II. Do not be anxious! Why? Because your the King’s Children. (31-34)
6:26
“Look at” the birds.
They are industrious, hard workers.
They do not sow or reap though.
Birds don’t deal with ulcers, see counselors or tranquilizers.
They have what they need most of the time.
Yes, bad things still happen to them.
Yet they fulfill their purpose in life.
Aren’t you worth more to God than these?! Yes! Why?
You’re human > animals
You’re greater because you’re created in the image of God. They are created but not in his image.
They call God their Creator, yes. But they don’t call God their Father and King!
Not only are we created in his image, we’ve been redeemed even though we were traitors and rebels. And at the cost of his one and only son Jesus.
6:27
Worry is pointless, fruitless, and foolish. It may add to the quality of your life—but not because it improves it!
Worry won’t lengthen our lives. In fact, if anything, it shortens your life!
Why worry when your Father + King has your life in his hands?
Your worry is a sign that
You don’t adequately know him
You don’t trust him
You haven’t yet yielded to him
6:28-30
Avg American family spends $1,700/yr on clothing. (Johnson, “Real Cost”)
1st century Hebrews in Israel had what they needed but not much more.
South Sudanese own 2 sets of clothes and a pair of sandals according to “Pastor Sam”
Did God not clothe Adam and Eve in the garden when their need became obvious even though they’d just rebelled against him?
“You of little faith” is intended as a “healing dagger”
Worry is energized by “little faith”—the issue is faith; do we trust God or not?
“Call it what you want: tension, anxiety, worry. But we need to call it what God calls it: unbelief. At it’s core worry is practical atheism, practical deism, or practical finite theism.” -Akin
Practical atheism—I don’t really believe God is real or knows about me
Practical deism—I don’t believe God cares
Practical finite theism—I don’t believe God can do anything about it
Transition: Now it gets more personal…
II. Do not be anxious! Why? Because your the King’s Children. (31-34)
6:31-32
Worry makes you like those who don’t believe or live like they don’t believe God matters. As a result, they worry because they have nowhere else to turn for help with the problems in this world.
If this is us, it should sober and humble us towards faith.
If this is those around us, as Christians, it should move us compassionately towards others.
Little faith
Misplaced faith
Jesus concludes with a simple truth: “Your Heavenly Father knows that you need them.” -Akin
“Heavenly” as in sovereign God who can.
“Father” as in YOUR loving Father who cares.
He knows.
He sees.
He cares.
How then should we live?
6:33-34
We should not be anxious about anything but instead seek first his kingdom and his righteousness knowing (believing) that all these things that we’re tempted to be worried about will be given to us.
“Seeking his kingdom primarily means trying to spread the reign of Christ through the spread of the gospel. It involves a profound poverty of spirit.”
“Seeking his righteousness involves making his righteousness attractive in all areas of life—personal, family, material, international.”
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” 5:6
Again Jesus uses present imperative (command, continuous action) “But (constantly) seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” -Akin
Seek God’s rule
Seek God’s righteousness
Life’s needs will be provided
Cure for worry —> First things first: Stop worrying and start seeking. Stop worrying for your little kingdom and start seeking God’s big kingdom first. The watch him care for you.
6:34
“We are not to worry about tomorrow. Worry will not destroy tomorrow’s trials, but it will sabotage our strength. George Macdonald put it this way: ‘No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow’s burden is added to the burden of today, that the weight is more than a man can bear.’
“Worrying does not enable you to escape evil. It makes you unfit to cope with it. The truth is, we always have the strength to bear the trouble when it comes. But we do not have the strength to bear worrying about it.”
Therefore, live for today instead of worrying about tomorrow. “Focus on today, and watch anxiety disappear.”
“In John Piper's excellent study of Matthew 6:24-34, he highlights eight reasons not to be anxious:
1. Life is more than food and clothing (v. 25).
2. The birds of the air work and count on God (v. 26).
3. Anxiety doesn't get you anywhere (v.27).
4. God delights to adorn things (W. 28-30).
5. Unbelievers are anxious about food and clothing (v. 32).
6. Your heavenly Father knows your needs (v. 32).
7. God will carry your burdens if you seek first his honor (v. 33).
8. Tomorrow will be anxious for itself (v. 34). ("Nine Arguments")
The last two items on Piper's list summarize well what we find in Matthew 6:33-34. God knows our needs and will take care of them so we do not.
have to worry.”
Phil 4:6-7 is another key ingredient.
Conclusion
Bottom Line: We don’t have to worry about anything in life because
our Creator is our Father (he cares) +
our King (he rules—because he’s able).
He can and wants to take care of all our needs.
“In summary: Reject the secular reductionist mindset. You are more than a body. Along with this, refuse to focus on the world’s trinity of cares.
Consider the birds and the flowers. If God cares for the lesser, what will he do fro the greater—for us?
Do not live in the future. Live now. Put your arms around your wife right now. Take a walk with your child today. Enjoy the life God has given you.”
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” 6:33
Pray
My Notes:
References/Bibliography:
“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes
“Matthew” by RC Sproul
“Sermon on the Mount” by Charles Quayle’s
“The Sermon on the Mount: Kingdom Life in a Fallen World” by Sinclair Ferguson
Bible.org https://bible.org/seriespage/12-maintaining-peaceful-relationships-matthew-521-26
“CSB Christ Chronological,” Holman
“Jesus Manifesto” sermon series, by Darien Gabriel: https://youtu.be/x65i2tqFrXk
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)
“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)
“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)
“Exalting Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount” by Daniel Akin (CCE)
Outline Bible, D Willmington
NIV Study Bible (NIVSB)
ESV Study Bible
ESV Gospel Transformation Bible (GTB)
"Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes" by Kenneth E. Bailey