Why We Should Not Worry
The Lord teaches us not to store up treasures on earth (v19). When we do not have a lot of money in the bank, naturally we would worry about our life. Do I have enough money to support my family? To support my children’s education? For retirement?
The Lord knows our concerns, that is why He follows up with a sermon titled: “Do Not Worry”. The sermon starts with “therefore” (v25), meaning what He is going to teach is to address the concerns of the disciples on not storing treasures on earth.
1. Because life is more than material needs (v25)
Jesus talked about not to worry about food, drink and cloth, because life is more important than food, and body is more important than clothes.
Jesus said not worry about life, and then He gave us three examples: food, drink and clothes. These are life necessities.
Jesus is telling us not to worry about life necessities. In fact, we should spend our time thinking about spiritual food than food. In fact, when we start to feel we are worry, the bible tells us that we should immediately spend time with God in prayers, read His words and instead of eating, we should be fasting. (Matthew 6:16-18. Matthew 9:14-15)
Unlike many poor countries, not many people are lacking are food, drink and clothes in America. Even if we are truly lacking in these things, Jesus told us not to worry about them because our heavenly father who is all loving will provide us.
Some of us are worry about not having the latest branded clothing to impress our friends. We should not be wasting our time on this kind of worry. Life is more important than that. God created each one of us with purpose. We should be spending our time for God’s Kingdom, do things that could help us to grow spiritually.
2. We are precious in Heavenly Father’s eyes (v26)
In Matthew 10:29, Jesus mentioned that two sparrows sold for a penny, yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid.
In Luke 12:6, Jesus told the disciples Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.
Sparrows are so cheap in Jesus time that you can get two for a penny, and if you pay two pennies, you will get an additional one for free.
When he relates God with the disciples, He used “your Heavenly Father”. Jesus is telling us that God is our Heavenly Father. We are His children. If God takes care of the birds on the air, He will even more so take care of His children. We are precious in His eyes.
Our Heavenly Father loves us more than our earthly father. In Matthew 7:9, Jesus said “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
The bible tells us that God is full of mercies, abundant in love, His love endures forever, his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:5).
Instead of feeling worry, cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7)
3. Worry cannot add a single hour to your life (v27)
Worry does not help the situation. In fact, a lot of times it will hurt us. A minister had a bible study of Matthew 6 with his son. He asked his son, what should be the answer of Jesus question on verse 27? His son answered by saying “no one, in fact, I think if we worry our life would be reduced!”.
Indeed, worry for future hinders the fellowship with our Heavenly Father today. It robs the blessing God has planned to give us today because our mind is fulled of worry about tomorrow.
There is one saying, a person that worry a lot crucified himself between two thieves, because he keeps regret about yesterday and worry about tomorrow.
Let’s not forget most of the things we worries about never came true. Even if the situation came true, our worries would not change the situation.
4. O you of little faith? (v30)
There are many reasons why we as believers, worry. But if drill deep inside, the root cause that we worry is because our faith is small.
We don’t know believe the God that we know, the all powerful God is actually in control in the universe. Because bad things happened to us, we think God must not be paying attention to our daily life.
Jesus told us that God take cares of the lilies on the field. He has designed the lilies so beautifully, even King Solomon with all his fortune has a dress that is comparable to the God’s creation.
Even the grass the have short life span, God take care of them. If God takes care of all these things, how much more God would take care of His children.
Sometimes our prayers are not answered, and we think God does not listen to prayers. God has promised to meet our real needs, but not unnecessary all our desires, because some of our desires is bad in God’s eyes, or God has a better plan for us.
Some of us rely on money to feel secure. We think if we have a lot of money is the bank, if bad things happened in the future, we can depends on the money. There is nothing wrong in saving for future needs, but we cannot be the slave for money. As we mentioned early in Matthew 6:24, we cannot serve two both God and money. God looks into our hearts to see whether we really depends on Him for our needs. Money will eventually fail us, but God will never fail. I rather depends on the almighty God than the money in the bank. If deep inside our heart, we believe in God’s words, believe in His promises, we should not be worry.
5. We lower ourselves the the level of pagan (v32)
Jesus told us the unbelievers worry about these things. But our Heavenly Father knows what we needs, even before we open our mouth in prayers. If we spend all our time worrying about things, we essentially lower ourselves to the level of the unbelievers. We are the children of God, He is our Heavenly Father will care about us.
6. Seek His Kingdom First (v33)
Jesus told us to seek God kingdom and God righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
A lot of times, we spend all our energy seeking our kingdom, we are so busy in our life that we have no time to seek God kingdom. We should stop being selfish, instead of thinking about our needs, we should focus our energy on God’s needs, and the needs of others.
We need to think how we can serve God. When we move from being self-centered to God centered, about worry will disappear, because God will take care of our problems.
God has a plan for us, we should spend time working towards God’s plan for us, instead of wasting time worrying about tomorrow.
What is God’s kingdom? God kingdom is manifested in this world in His church, the body of Christ. God desires the body of Christ grow in maturity, to be like the King, so that the church can be the ambassador of the King on this earth. This is the the responsibility of each members of the body in the church. That is why the Lord taught us to pray: “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
Seek God kingdom means we spend our energy to build God’s Kingdom instead of our own kingdom. Seek His righteousness means to live a righteous, holy life devoted to God.
Matthew 6:33 is one of George Muller’s favorite verses. He is a man who seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, and God faithfully provided all the resources needed to run the orphanages that supported thousands of orphans for decades.
If you seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, God will take care of your needs as He has promised here.
7. Tomorrow will worry about itself
Jesus is asking us to live in the present, do not spend all your time worrying about tomorrow. Our worry on tomorrow robs today blessings.
Just like to lilies wake up every morning knowing the Sun will surely be there, we should have faith that our Heavenly Father is with us tomorrow.
Planning is time well spent, however worrying is time wasted. Don’t let worries about tomorrow affect your relationship with God today. If we live one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry.
Conclusion
In the letter to Philippians, Paul said “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7).
When you are worry, take the worries to God. Tell Him that you needs Him, ask Him to take the worries away from you. If you asked God sincerely, God will surely deliver you from the worry of this world.
