“No Need to Worry!”
(Matthew 6:25-34)
Series: God’s Fulfilled Promise [on screen]
Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD
First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida
January 27, 2019
The Passage
Read Matthew 6:25-34
25 “Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? 27 Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 30 If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith? 31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Introductory Comments:
Illustration: Robert the robin was a bird that had lots of years of experience living as a bird. [on screen] He had a young son named Ricky. [on screen] Robert wanted to teach Ricky how to get worms to eat for breakfast. Robert flew with his son to the nearest patch of grass and looked around until he saw a worm slithering under the grass. He quickly pecked at the grass and pulled the worm out of the ground. Ricky was impressed and couldn’t wait to try it for himself. Then, Ricky seemed to be concerned. “What’s wrong, Ricky?” asked Robert. “Dad, what if the worms aren’t here tomorrow? What if they are all of a sudden all gone?” Robert smiled at his son and calmly said, “Son, the worms will never run out. They are always here. God provides the worms for us every day. They were here yesterday, they are here today, and they will be here tomorrow.” Ricky seemed relieved and starting looking for his own worm.
You see, robins and other birds have nothing to worry about when it comes to their provision. It’s always there. Jesus speaks to us in today’s passage about the focus we put towards the things of this world.
Remember, last week’s lesson was asking the question, “Where is your focus?” Jesus is now continuing that theme by pointing out that sometimes we are so focused on the things of this world that it leads us to worry.
We’re going to learn that we have no need to worry.
Have you ever tried to reassure someone when they are worried about something and you know everything is going to be ok? You might say to them, “No need to worry.”
Well, today we’re going to learn three reasons that there is no need to worry.
Before we do, let’s go to God in prayer.
(Prayer)
Ok, three reasons now that there is no need to worry.
First, . . .
I. No need to worry because it doesn’t help. [on screen]
Jesus addresses this very explicitly in verse 27. He says, “27 Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying?”
This is a rhetorical question, meaning that it doesn’t need an answer. The obvious answer is, “No!” You cannot add a single moment to your life by worrying.
Worry cannot add a single minute to your life. Worry cannot add a single dollar to your bank account. Worry cannot add a single point to your GPA. Worry cannot impress your boss. Worry cannot help your kids behave better. Worry cannot increase your church attendance or help your preaching. Worry cannot strengthen your marriage. Worry cannot help any of us.
(pause)
However, did you know that worrying can have negative effects in your life?
Worry can damage your health. Worry can damage your relationships. Worry can rob your joy. Worry can rob opportunities. Our worry can affect ourselves. Our worry can affect others. Our worry can affect our relationship with God.
Worry only has negative effects.
One might respond, “Pastor, if I don’t worry I won’t get important stuff done.”
Let me point out that there is a genuine place for concern. Concern and worry are not the same thing.
Concern acknowledges that something needs careful thought. Worry is given to consuming trepidation.
Concern gives way to planning. Worry gives way to fear.
Concern leads to healthy attention. Worry leads to unhealthy anxiety.
The Life Application Study Bible adds this: Concern moves you to action. Worry immobilizes you. Planning for tomorrow is time well spent. Worrying about tomorrow is time wasted.
(pause)
Jesus concludes this passage by saying in verse 34, “Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Each day has enough to occupy our minds, why would you want to add any worry to what we already have?
There’s no advantage to worry or anxiety! It doesn’t help!
Worry and anxiety has no positive effects, only negative effects.
No need to worry because it doesn’t help!
Second, . . .
II. No need to worry because God knows what you need. [on screen]
Jesus gives us two primary examples from nature to prove this point to us.
First, He gives us the example of the birds of the air. Remember Robert and Ricky the robins?
Look at verse 26.
26 Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?
I think there’s very little explanation needed for this point.
Jesus is a masterful teacher, so we understand what He’s saying here, right?
The birds (and other animals for that matter) have plenty of food to eat. You rarely ever hear of a wild animal dying of starvation.
God’s natural created order has provision built in for feeding His creatures. God provides for His creation!
How much more does God provide for the pinnacle of His creation: human beings!
Jesus asks, “Aren’t you worth more than they?” The emphatic answer is: yes! We are worth more than all the rest of Creation.
God knows what we need more than we know what we need for ourselves.
Our culture may be losing its value for human life, but rest assured that God has not lost His value for human life. We are His prize, we are His people, we are His favorite in all the universe.
(pause)
Jesus then gives us this second example in verses 28 through 30.
28 And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 30 If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith?
Some of your Bible translations may say “lilies of the field,” but this probably referred to generic flowers in the field.
Jesus’ point here is not about exactly which flower is adorned the best, but that God adorns the flowers of the field.
Again, the point translates very easily for us. If God can cloth the flowers of the field, the lesser part of Creation, won’t He also cloth human beings, the greatest part of Creation?
So, do we trust God in this matter?
Do you trust that you are important to God, more important than all the rest of Creation?
Do you trust that God can provide for you?
Do you trust that God knows what’s best for you?
He is our Creator, and for those of us that have given ourselves to Him, He is our Father!
Everything that we need comes from Him.
James tells us in the book of James 1:17 that every good and perfect thing comes from Him. Food, clothing, money, family, faith, love, grace, forgiveness, it all come from our Creator God! It all comes from our Heavenly Father!
Towards the end of verse 30, Jesus even challenges our faith on this. He says, “. . . you of little faith.”
He’s saying that our worry related to earthly necessities comes as a result of our lack of faith in our Heavenly Father.
If the focus of our life is on only the things in this life we have a faith problem.
We’re concerned with our food and our finances and our fashions, but Jesus is concerned with our faith because our focus is messed up.
Well, where should our focus be?
Look at verse 33.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
This takes us to our final point.
Third, . . .
III. No need to worry because what we really need is God. [on screen]
When there is something in our lives that takes precedence over lesser things that usually causes us not to be concerned with the lesser things.
Like on your car, if your radio is broken and you also have a broken transmission, you need to be more concerned about the transmission. Or, when you go to a steakhouse, you don’t eat too much bread because the steak is coming and you need to save some room.
Really Jesus started this passage off with this thought.
Look again at verse 25. Jesus said,
25 “Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Jesus is telling us that there’s more to life than food or clothing, or any other physical necessity.
Jesus didn’t say that these things don’t matter. Jesus didn’t say not to concern ourselves with these things. Jesus didn’t say don’t work for these things.
What Jesus is saying is that life if more than these things. There is something greater than these things! There is something else that should really consume our focus!
Then He tells us what the greater thing is: He is greater. Seek first the kingdom of God.
When we do seek God and His ways first and foremost, these other things will work out. He says, “All these things will be provided for you.”
Get your priorities straight, and everything else will fall into place.
We need to recalibrate and refocus our lives on what’s most important!
He says in verses 31 and 32,
31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
Remember, in this context, the Gentiles means non-Jewish or godless people. Jesus says that the godless people put their priorities on these things, but we shouldn’t.
Godless people should be focused on earthly things, because that’s all that they know as their prize. They don’t know the greater prize.
That don’t know that faith is greater than food.
They don’t know that charity is greater than clothing.
They don’t know that grace is greater than gain.
They don’t know that love is greater than luxury.
They don’t know that the blessings of God, and God Himself, far outweigh the needs of this world.
They are focused on these things.
Followers of God should be focused on God.
God knows what we need. Seek Him first and foremost.
Concluding Thoughts:
Should we be concerned with the things of this world? Yes!
We need to plan and work and take care of ourselves and our families.
Should we be worried about the things of this world? No!
We should seek God and His ways and the rest will work out.
We need to focus on God more. That takes us to our bottom line:
Bottom Line: Do not worry; seek the Lord of glory. [on screen]
(repeat)
Jesus tells us three times in this passage to not worry or not to be anxious. Do you think this is important to Him?
Put your trust in God, and the rest will work out. Seek Him and He’ll take care of you.
Challenge yourself this week in the following ways:
Weekly Challenge: [on screen]
Answer these questions:
- What am I worried about? [on screen]
Some of us are worried.
Identify the source of that worry.
Ask yourself, “Why am I worried about this?
- What am I seeking? [on screen
Verse 33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”
What are you seeking?
Are you seeking the things of the world or the things of God?
Closing:
When’s the last time that you’ve really sought God and His ways?
Did you know that God is seeking you? He loves you and wants great blessings for you. Blessings far greater than food and clothing and material matters.
(Gospel Presentation)
(Closing Prayer)
Invitation Song – Jesus is Lord of All
Benediction:
If you have any sort of spiritual decision that you would like to make, you can contact me or Pastor Richard and we would be glad to talk to you anytime.
Don’t forget about our mission trip meeting tonight at 4 PM in the multi-purpose room directly below us.
I’ll see you tonight at 5:30 as we study our world religions study and we take a look at Hinduism.
Let’s dismiss by singing the Doxology.
(Sing Doxology)
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