Don't Worry!

The Gospel of Matthew Don't Worry! - Matthew 6:19-34 March 16, 2025 Every morning, I get a couple of emails with some news headlines, from sources that claim to be unbiased. I don't normally go to the mainstream media for my daily news. However, just out of curiosity, on Monday evening I decided to open NBC News' webpage, as I was curious to what their headlines would be. I'll put it on the screen for you. I recognize it is hard to see, but I'll share a couple of the click-worthy headlines they put on the landing page of the "U.S. News" section: In West Texas' measles outbreak, families forgo conventional medicine along with vaccines. Thefts at athletes' homes underscore weakness in post-9/11 anti-terrorist program. Universities impose hiring freeze in face of uncertainty over federal funding. Dow falls almost 900 points as Trump declines to rule out possible recession. US, Ukraine officials to meet for 1st time since Oval Office Clash. Notice a common theme? These are all things that cause concern, worry, and anxiety among many Americans, and possibly even some people here today. Of course, we have good reasons to be concerned about the economy and even about health concerns. But when I open this front page, there is nothing that points to something to be excited for or about. All bad news. No wonder 6.8 million adults suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder. No wonder that a reported 28% of those between 16 and 29 years old suffer from some form of anxiety. As you may have guessed, we'll be addressing the issue of anxiety this morning. Jesus takes on this topic head on, but you may be surprised how He approaches this topic, and the implications of anxiety for the Christian. Let's continue in chapter 6 of Matthew this morning, beginning in verse 19. 19 "DO NOT LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES ON EARTH, WHERE MOTH AND RUST DESTROY AND WHERE THIEVES BREAK IN AND STEAL, 20 BUT LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN, WHERE NEITHER MOTH NOR RUST DESTROYS AND WHERE THIEVES DO NOT BREAK IN AND STEAL. 21 FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO. 22 "THE EYE IS THE LAMP OF THE BODY. SO, IF YOUR EYE IS HEALTHY, YOUR WHOLE BODY WILL BE FULL OF LIGHT, 23 BUT IF YOUR EYE IS BAD, YOUR WHOLE BODY WILL BE FULL OF DARKNESS. IF THEN THE LIGHT IN YOU IS DARKNESS, HOW GREAT IS THE DARKNESS! 24 "NO ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS, FOR EITHER HE WILL HATE THE ONE AND LOVE THE OTHER, OR HE WILL BE DEVOTED TO THE ONE AND DESPISE THE OTHER. YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MONEY. 25 "THEREFORE I TELL YOU, DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT YOU WILL EAT OR WHAT YOU WILL DRINK, NOR ABOUT YOUR BODY, WHAT YOU WILL PUT ON. IS NOT LIFE MORE THAN FOOD, AND THE BODY MORE THAN CLOTHING? 26 LOOK AT THE BIRDS OF THE AIR: THEY NEITHER SOW NOR REAP NOR GATHER INTO BARNS, AND YET YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER FEEDS THEM. ARE YOU NOT OF MORE VALUE THAN THEY? 27 AND WHICH OF YOU BY BEING ANXIOUS CAN ADD A SINGLE HOUR TO HIS SPAN OF LIFE? 28 AND WHY ARE YOU ANXIOUS ABOUT CLOTHING? CONSIDER THE LILIES OF THE FIELD, HOW THEY GROW: THEY NEITHER TOIL NOR SPIN, 29 YET I TELL YOU, EVEN SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY WAS NOT ARRAYED LIKE ONE OF THESE. 30 BUT IF GOD SO CLOTHES THE GRASS OF THE FIELD, WHICH TODAY IS ALIVE AND TOMORROW IS THROWN INTO THE OVEN, WILL HE NOT MUCH MORE CLOTHE YOU, O YOU OF LITTLE FAITH? 31 THEREFORE DO NOT BE ANXIOUS, SAYING, 'WHAT SHALL WE EAT?' OR 'WHAT SHALL WE DRINK?' OR 'WHAT SHALL WE WEAR?' 32 FOR THE GENTILES SEEK AFTER ALL THESE THINGS, AND YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS THAT YOU NEED THEM ALL. 33 BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO YOU. 34 "THEREFORE DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT TOMORROW, FOR TOMORROW WILL BE ANXIOUS FOR ITSELF. SUFFICIENT FOR THE DAY IS ITS OWN TROUBLE. Even if I didn't already mention it, it's probably obvious to find the major theme that runs through this part of Jesus' sermon, which is why we're highlighting it this morning as well. Three times (verses 25, 31, and 34) Jesus says, "DO NOT BE ANXIOUS." Some of your translations might say, "do not worry" or "take no thought." Each one of these renditions lead to a clearer understanding of this term that Jesus is speaking to. The word translated "anxious" in the ESV comes from a root word that means "divide," so the implication is that anxiety pulls and divides into different directions. When this word is used in the New Testament, it is almost always negative, meaning it is used to describe a person who is concerned or apprehensive about possible danger, or possible misfortune ahead. In fact, one person wrote that the average person's worry and anxiety focuses on ... 40% of things that will never happen 30% of things about the past that can't be changed 12% of things about criticism by others, mostly untrue 10% about health, which gets worse with stress 8% about real problems that will be faced Jesus says that worrying and being anxious is sin. Why? Because we become worried about things that God is in control of. Here's what I mean, via our main idea this morning: I am less anxious when I think about God more. So, here's what I want to do this morning. I want to answer one question and answer that question digging through the teaching of Jesus from verses 19-34. That question? HOW TO OVERCOME ANXIETY * Focus on the right things (vv.19-23) o That's really what Jesus is talking about here in the opening verses, when He speaks about our treasures. o The choosing of that word is instructive as well. o The word is all-encompassing, implying that your treasures may be different than my treasures. o It is often said that you only have to look at a person's spending habits or viewing history to see what their treasures are. o The explanation comes in verse 19 when Jesus reminds us that these treasures on earth on temporary and can be gone in a moment. o The solution comes in verse 20, when Jesus says to focus on the eternal, and ... o The warning comes in verse 21 when He reminds us that this is an issue of the heart. o So, we must focus on the right things. o Here's what MacArthur said about this: "focusing on earthly treasures produces earthly affections" o So, I think for us, part of how we focus is how we think. Paul directs our thoughts this way in Philippians 4:8: FINALLY, BROTHERS, WHATEVER IS TRUE, WHATEVER IS HONORABLE, WHATEVER IS JUST, WHATEVER IS PURE, WHATEVER IS LOVELY, WHATEVER IS COMMENDABLE, IF THERE IS ANY EXCELLENCE, IF THERE IS ANYTHING WORTHY OF PRAISE, THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS. o That's a bit of what Jesus is talking about in verses 22-23. o D. Martin Lloyd-Jones summarized these verses this way: "this picture of the eye is just His way of describing, by means of an illustration, the way in which we look at things." o We must be consumed by, and focused on, the right things. o Next, to overcome anxiety, we must ... * Put God over everything (v.24) o The ESV used the word "money," other translations use "mammon." o Mammon might be a better translation, as it is more comprehensive and includes all kinds of possessions, earnings, and gains, a designation of material value and materialism. o Notice the picture that Jesus uses here. A slave-master relationship. o He says we are to be slaves to God, not slaves to "mammon" o Again, MacArthur said, we cannot claim Christ as Lord if our allegiance is to anything or anyone else, including ourselves. o I hope that you are seeing here that the problem is not money or possessions, rather it is a problem of the heart. o It's the problem of split or misdirected priorities. o All that is seen through what we think about, what we spend money on, where we spend our time, and how we respond to unexpected situations. o This is why we must put our relationship with God over everything. o Next, and maybe too obvious, to overcome anxiety, simply ... * Don't worry! (vv.25, 31, 34) o I know, this is much easier said than done. o So, I want to answer another question here: o Why Not? Well, Jesus gives us at least three reasons, beginning with ... * God will provide my needs (vv.26, 28-32) * I love the illustrations that Jesus uses here. * He's likely pointing to them as He teaches, showing them the colors and the beauty in which He describes. * Think about the implications here. Jesus says that God cares enough for the birds in the air and the grass on the ground, so how much more would He care for those of us that were made in His image? * All of nature depends on God, and He does not fail. * So, here we are - worried about what we're going to wear, or what we're going to eat and drink - when He says that even the animals trust Him enough not to worry. * You see, and I'm sorry if this offends you, but worry and anxiety over basic things illustrate an issue of faith (see verse 30). * To be clear, this is not an absence of faith, but a weaker faith that lacks enough to trust God in all areas of their lives. * Related to this, verse 27 reveals that we must not worry because ... * It's unproductive (v.27) * Verse 27 is another one of those translational differences in some of the English versions of our Bibles. * The KJV reads "add one cubit" while the ESV reads "add a single hour" * The meaning does not change - which is why these types of variants are not "proofs" that the Bible is unreliable, as some would argue. * What is the meaning? Worrying does not add anything to you. Not an inch to your height or an hour to your life. * Finally, I should not worry because ... * I can't control the future (v.34) * This is very much related to our last point on productivity. * As I was thinking about productivity earlier this week, I couldn't help but make a few observations. o I've left many jobs over my career, and I couldn't help but make the connection that in those final weeks of that job, I was probably the most productive. I did everything I could, to be sure nothing was left undone before I left. Projects were being completed. Tasks were quickly finished. The email inbox was empty. You get the idea. Why? I knew that "tomorrow" wasn't there." I had to get it done today. o Here's another example. Last Summer, our family went to Ohio for a conference. I somehow managed to get nearly 2.5 weeks of work done - to include housework, homework, and sermon preparation - in a matter of days. Why? Tomorrow didn't exist. I couldn't wait until the following day or week. It had to get done. * In effect, that's what Jesus is saying here. Don't worry about a tomorrow that isn't promised. When we worry too much about tomorrow, we're robbing ourselves of what He has for us today. * Now, of course, when you read the Scriptures, there is a lot to say about being good stewards with our possessions, and saving for our future, and the like. * The warning - once again - is dependance. Where is your faith located? Where is your energy being spent? o Finally, I can overcome anxiety as I ... * Pursue God! (v.33) o Verse 33 is probably one of my favorite verses in the Bible. o It's such a good reminder to us as we navigate through life, and all the difficulties that come with it. o Of course, we can look to Jesus as that perfect example. o Remember what He said in John 5:19 - SO JESUS SAID TO THEM, "TRULY, TRULY, I SAY TO YOU, THE SON CAN DO NOTHING OF HIS OWN ACCORD, BUT ONLY WHAT HE SEES THE FATHER DOING. FOR WHATEVER THE FATHER DOES, THAT THE SON DOES LIKEWISE. o His purpose was to do what the Father had Him purposed to do. o That should be our purpose as well. o This is basically a summary statement of verses 19-32. He effectively says: Put God's kingdom first - He will take care of these things! o This should be the standard in which we organize our lives and the priorities in that life. o Jesus' command was more than a "do not," but more of an encouragement to replace worry, anxiety, and doubt, with a concern and desire for the kingdom of God. This is why we said earlier: I am less anxious when I think about God more. As I wrote this last week, I immediately thought of the words of Paul in Romans 8:28, where he encourages us: AND WE KNOW THAT FOR THOSE WHO LOVE GOD ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD, FOR THOSE WHO ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. Or Peter's words from 1 Peter 5:7 - CASTING ALL YOUR ANXIETIES ON HIM, BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU. This doesn't mean that we will not face difficulties. What this means is that we have a God who cares, and a God who provides. A God who says to His child, "do not worry, look up, I'll be with you every step of the way." That comforts me. And I pray that it comforts you as well. Let's pray. 2