This post is all about how to not worry, based on Matthew 6:25-34.
There are so many places in the Bible that God commands us to not worry. To not be anxious about anything. But why would God give us a command that seems impossible to follow, and how can we truly not worry about anything?
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Matthew 6:25-34
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
*This same sermon is found in Luke 12:22-31.
Setting the Scene – the context behind not being anxious
Therefore… In the previous section, Jesus was talking about material things, and this is just a continuation of that thought. If we truly want to be disciples of Jesus, then we cannot be consumed by material things. We need a new way of thinking about the necessities of life. We need to place more value on heavenly treasures than earthly treasures.
Just like in the previous verses in which Jesus says you cannot serve both God and money – you cannot have two masters – Jesus is again saying “either you can serve the world and your anxieties, or you can serve God.”
You cannot have Jesus AND anxious thoughts, or Jesus AND material possessions, or Jesus AND {fill in the blank} it has to be Jesus ALONE.
Get rid of anxious thoughts
Do not worry. This phrase is also translated “take no thought.” While this may be a more extreme translation, because some thought and care is required, it serves as a good reminder to not be consumed by these worries. Material things should only be a passing thought. You need to think about food enough to meal plan and cook diner nightly, but you should not be consumed by eating only organic for fear of pesticides, or finding the rice that is cheaper by 3 cents per ounce.
Do not be anxious over the little things
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes? This is a rather rhetorical question. Obviously life is about more than food. Obviously the body is about more than clothes. But when we are so focused on material things, we have no time to focus on God. Instead of giving God the first-fruits of our time, we wait until we are drained from anxiety before approaching the throne.
We spend more time thinking about what we are going to wear than we spend in prayer. These things are necessary, yes, but the word of God is more necessary. Jesus’ desire for His children is to be simply in communion with Him, giving ourselves to the undivided service of God and trusting Him alone.
In these following verses, God doesn’t just tell us what to do, but he gives us reasons as to why we need to do them.
Three reasons not to worry
1. The birds of the air are fed
Have you ever seen a bird anxious over what they are going to eat for the next meal? I haven’t. Birds go about their day working, but they do not worry. Birds are not anxious over where their food comes from because they are busy doing what God has instilled in them. They work diligently finding food and providing for their offspring.
The birds teach us an important lesson: there is a difference between a godly, responsible concern, and ungodly worry. We are called to be stewards of what God has entrusted to us. We are not called to be anxious over it. Colossians 3:23 commands us to work with all of our heart in whatever we do. We need to be in prayer about the line between worry and responsibility. We need to be more concerned over spiritual things and less concerned over material things, just as John writes “he must become greater, I must become less” (John 3:30).
Are you not more important than they? If we were to realize the love that God has for us – his tender compassion and care for even our smallest needs, would we worry like we do? Much of our worry over material things is founded in a lack of understanding of our value before God. We simply don’t comprehend how much He loves us and desired the best for us. When we understand how much God loves us and cares for us, then we don’t worry.
2. Worry cannot add an hour to your life
Worry is perhaps the most self-defeating sin there is. It is absolutely useless. It accomplishes nothing. We can worry all we want about adding another hour to our life, or another inch to our height, but at the end of the day, it will accomplish nothing. We will still be the same height, we will have added no time to our life. In fact, worrying can take away hours in our life because stress reduces life expectancy.
Related Post: 7 things to do while waiting on God. How to stay faithful in the waiting.
3. Lilies are clothed in splendor
“Little faith is not little fault, because it fundamentally denies the goodness of God.” When we have little faith, we are denying that there is a good God who loves us. Solomon was a great king who was used to being dressed in ornate clothing. Yet not even he can compare to the flowers of the field. If that is how God clothes something that is here today and gone tomorrow, will He not much more clothe you?
Do not worry
God is calling us to freedom from anxiety. We do not have to worry about material things because we know that God is with us and cares for us. If we are children of God we are under his protection.
The gentiles worry. These are the people who do not know God. We, as those who do know God, are meant to be set apart. If we have the same worry over material things that those who don’t know God have, then it is a shame to us.
How to not worry
God doesn’t just tell us not to worry and leave it at that. He gives us something to replace the worry with. Seek first the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God was not meant to be just another thing that we add to our busy schedules. It is meant to be our only priority, and out of it, everything else flows. It should affect everything we do in our lives.
Related Post: 31 of the best Bible verses for resting in God.
How do we seek the kingdom in everything? How do we seek the kingdom in school, or in staying home with the kids? What about in being a wife? Or in going to church? How do we seek the kingdom in making friends, or in cooking meals?
Seeking the kingdom first doesn’t necessarily mean having to give up the things God has given to us. We almost never have to choose between loving God or honoring our husband. God doesn’t ask us to choose between Him and feeding your children. We seek first the kingdom of God, by doing what he has called us to do – care for those He has given us.
These things will be added to you
When you put God’s kingdom first, not worrying about what you will eat or drink tomorrow, God provides fro your needs. Paul writes “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” (Philippians 4:12). The secret is putting God and His kingdom first. Making Him your first priority, the one you base everything else off of. By seeking His kingdom first, you gain real relationship with Him and those around you.
Each day has enough worry
This last verse is given as a consolation. Jesus tells us not to worry. But He knows that most will not be able to follow His strikingly simple, yet demanding command. Thus He gives a caveat: “do not worry, but if you must worry, then only worry about the troubles of today.” There is nothing wrong with remembering the past or making plans for the future. It is good to remember the past when you know that God works everything for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). It is good to look ahead and make plans for the future when you know that the Lord will direct your paths (Proverbs 16:9). God wants us to remember His faithfulness in the past, plan for His promises in the future, and live presently in His favor.
Living life free of worry
God tells us not to worry because HE WILL PROVIDE. In Genesis 22, when Abraham was told to sacrifice his only son Isaac, he went up the mountain and was not overly consumed with worry about his son because he knew God would provide. When Isaac asked where the sacrifice was, Abraham’s only response was Jehovah-Jireh. The Lord will Provide.
As Christians, we are not called to simply stop worrying, but to replace worry with a dedicated pursuit of the kingdom of God. How can you stop worrying and serve Jehovah-Jireh today?
More verses to consider
1 Peter 5:7 – Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
Matthew 11:28-30 – Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Philippians 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
1 Peter 4:10 – Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
This post was all about how to not worry by seeking first the kingdom of God!
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