ANXIOUS FOR WHAT?

 

Matt 6:25-34

 

Do you see what Jesus is trying to convey

in light of what has already revealed?

The subject “Worry” is unfaithfulness towards our Master, its unnecessary because He is our Father, and it’s unwise because of our future promises. Jesus says “Do not be anxious” three times in this text alone. Why? Because we are naturally prone to do the complete opposite. We say “We are calm; but inside a train that is about to go off the rails.” There is something very important I think we overlook when we approach passages like this. We tend to miss important theological truths; that I believe would help deal with what Jesus is addressing in this sermon. Our hearts need to receptive to Scripture as it describes the character of God as we go through this life. Two very important doctrines are found in this portion that we tend to overlook and approach with humanism (meaning human reasoning). They are the doctrine of the providence of God and the doctrine of the sovereignty of God. I say we overlook these doctrines because when you read this passage you could ask this question! You say you believe in the sovereignty and providence of God but why are you such a worrywart? This is the question that is before us this morning! And it requires a biblical answer from you and me.

“Providence” is a doctrinal term where God governs the entire universe.

 

R C Sproul said “In His sovereignty He leaves no maverick molecule running loose outside His sovereign authority.” This means that the “Providence of God” not only refers to seeing in advance or seeing beforehand. But also this includes God’s provisions for the future.

 

Biblical examples of this…..

 

God exercises & preserves His creation "You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.” Neh 9:6 

In Psalm 36:5-9 we read “Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.” 

Even when Jesus was sending out the disciples he told them this truth. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matt 10:29-31

This is why we miss important truths in Scripture, because unfortunately we allow “worry” to overtake/overlook, what is true about God.

 

Jesus in this passage explains clearly the doctrine of the providence and sovereignty of God. (Examples: He provides (v26), God knows (v32) Why? For the very reason to comfort the hearts of those listening, because the natural reaction to daily life… is to worry. Jesus said the hairs on your head are numbered by God… Do you know how many hairs are on your head? No! But God does, and we tend to doubt that God is in control of anything when worry begins to take up residence in our hearts. Remember the hymn song that says “this is my Father’s world, let me ne'er forget” 

Jesus addresses the elephant in the room. “Worry is futility”

“Worry” is the sin of distrusting the promises and providence of God. The sin of worry is perhaps the most frequent sin we commit than other sins on a regular basis. “Worry” comes from an old German word meaning “to strangle or choke”

It’s a mental and emotional strangulation.

Worry only leads to useless anxiety. 

This has the ability to alter/fog our actions, thoughts, reactions and everything as one write wrote “Worry is a thin stream of fear that trickles though our mind, which, if encouraged, will cut a channel so wide that all other thoughts will be drained out.” Worry can have negative effects on our health and well-being. Proverbs 12:25 says “Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down…” Worry can seize a person’s spirit; it depresses them, and keeps them down. The fear and dread of adversity, or sorrow and grief, on account of some calamity and distress can get into a man's heart. The Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, a "terrible word troubles the heart of a just man"; or "troubles the heart of man"

Proverb 14:30 says “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” A person that envies the happiness and prosperity of others, preys upon his/her own spirit. And not only wastes at their flesh, but weakens and consumes the stronger parts of their body. 

Proverbs 17:22 says “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” A spirit broken with sorrow, whether on spiritual or temporal; as it weakens the nerves, it dries up the marrow in the bones, and weakens the body, and reduces it to a skeleton.

 

What Jesus says here is that it’s foolish, futile to worry because it solves absolutely nothing and it fixes nothing. Worry is one of the greatest deterrents in praying and walking by faith in Him. If we spend as much time in prayer as we do worrying there wouldn’t be anything to be worry about; and we would realize that worry is foolishness.  One thing I will say about worry as R C Sproul put it “Worry is one of our greatest incentives to prayer, because prayer is the greatest antidote to worry.” Unfortunately for us, we tend to spend more time worrying about things, first; when we should be falling to our knees in prayer. Everything we do, or go through, should drive us to our knees, but we tend to allow worry to overtake our lives and fill our minds with anxiety. Remember what Peter said “casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7. He is not a God… who is distant and uncaring as the pagans worshipped their so-called gods. He is a God who is ever-present, who provides and oversees your life today, tomorrow, and into eternity. 

What is there to truly worry about?

If the Living God is over our lives? 

How quickly we forget this truth! A prime example is the disciples and their time spent with Jesus. “And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Matt 14:25-33

This event happened right after the great miracle that feed thousands of people. You would think this would end all avenues of worry in one’s life. Right?. Worry in the bible never gets resolved because it’s unsuccessful; but it always comes with a lesson to be learned by those going through it. The lesson here was that the disciples realized Jesus was more than just a man. But the sovereign God who controls all things including the elements and molecules. 

Another example is when Jesus was sleeping in the middle of a storm. How quickly we forget about who God truly is. “On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" Mark 4:35-41

 

Worry is one of Satan’s greatest tools to keep us from living a life of joy and peace through Christ Jesus. Martin Lloyd Jones wrote “Here we are reminded once more of the terrible subtlety of Satan and of sin. It does not matter very much to Satan what form sin takes as long as he succeeds in his ultimate objective. It is immaterial to him whether you are laying up treasures on earth or worrying about earthly things; all he is concerned about is that your mind should be on them and not on God.” This is the problem and he will not stop attacking you from all directions. You might think you have won the fight by locking the front door, but realize he never comes knocking at that door.

 

He breaches the side, the vulnerable,

weak side of your heart. 

We can get so caught up… in worrying about tomorrow and all the “what-ifs” that we fail to see how God is working in our lives and leading us.

For example:

Health issues

politics

finances

employment

school

relationships

acceptance of peers and society

church life

Worry is sin, because it’s a symptom of unbelief; and the only way to reverse this train of thinking is to saturate your life upon our heavenly Father. Jesus gives examples  “Do not, don’t, stop worrying” This is a present imperative, a command calling for constant and continuous action. In His sermon for those listening to understand that worry is futile and that we can truly trust the sovereign providence of God.

 

Jesus Uses A Lesson From Wildlife And His Providential Care For Creation (V25-26). Look how God provides and takes care of the birds of the air. They don’t plant, or till the ground for food to grow, or store it in barns when its harvest time. Nevertheless they have food that God supplies through agriculture and farming to provide the needs they require. But here is the important point Jesus is making here! Though God provides for them He gives them a question to ponder. (v26b) 

“Are you not more valuable then they?” 

We are created in the image of God “Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:26-27

We are the pinnacle of God’s creation that He has placed over created things. We have been bought at a great price. “for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Cor 6:20. What was that price? “but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” 1 Peter 1:19 

Are we not more valuable then they?

 

Let that sink in this morning, seriously in light of your present thought life and what you presently going through. We can truly trust in the providence of God and that He will provide for our basic needs (food & shelter) and beyond as we rest in Him. All things are ordered by God for our good. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:28-32

 

Its understanding who our master is and that He providentially supplies what is needed because we are His image-bearers. “I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8. Knowing this truth we are left with a series of question that Jesus asks (v27)

 

Can you change anything by worrying?

Can you add one moment to your life by worrying?

Worrying about life is pointless, because you cannot add one day, week, month or year by worrying. Worry will certainly affect the quality of life you live; but it will not add to more days. Theologically your life is in the hands of a sovereign God. God has numbered your days as one theologian said “God has determined both the moment of one’s birth and the moment of one’s death.” Why would he say that? Deut 32:39 says “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.” Job 14:5 says “Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,” 1 Sam 2:6 says “The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.” Eccl 3:1-2 says “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;”

Psalm 39:4. Matt 10:28 says “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

 

Our lives are completely dependent on divine sovereignty not on human anxiety. Our lives have already been mapped out by God, so why worry when you have a God who is over your life? Your health, your life, your death is not an accident that is foreign to God. Jesus is affirming that truth in this portion of His message. “Therefore” Jesus says this three times to remind us that “Because of this” we serve a God who is in complete control of your life. Not only is He in control of your life. He is also able, caring, and mindful of your situation and your heart’ reaction.

 

“Are you not of more

value than they?”

 

God know we are prone to think the worst; but Jesus says “Do not be anxious” With worry we tend forget the Biblical truth and reality that is before us every day. We are to cast all cares into His sovereign care and rest in Him in order to overcome whatever worries us. How? We read in Psalm 37:3-8 “Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.”

 

(v3) says “Trust in the LORD”

(v4) says “Delight yourself in the LORD”

(v5) says “Commit your way to the LORD”

(v7) says “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him”

 

If you don’t (referring to worry) the outcome leads to the same area anger does as David explained (v8) “Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil” it lies upon the verge of sin and futility.” May we remind ourselves as we go this portion of Scripture as Jesus reminded His worrywart disciples “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. “ John 14:27

 

God commands us to not worry

and to trust in Him.