How To Win Over Worry

Back To School With God Series A Sermon By Jim Hammond from Matthew 6:25-34

What a Difference a Year Makes

One seven-year-old daughter was thrilled when her dad took her to Disney World for the first time. She headed straight for Space Mountain. The dad worried that the roller coaster would be too scary for her, but she insisted. To her delight, they rode it twice. The next year they returned to the Magic Kingdom, and the daughter, now eight, again dragged the dad to Space Mountain. As they stood in line, though, the dad could see her soberly studying the signs that warn about the ride's speed. "Dad," she said, "I don't think I want to go." The dad then asked her why she would be nervous when she had enjoyed herself so much the last time. She replied, "This year, I can read."[i] Isnt education wonderful--the nice thing about being educated is that it enables us to worry about things all over the world! The fact is, worry has become an obsession in our modern world. Focus: Worry and anxiety are common sources of misery today. Jesus tells us how to win over worry.

I.

Theres plenty to Worry About (v. 25).

There is no shortage of potential items to worry about. Jesus mentions several matters of common concern.
25

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 important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

A. Whos Worrying?

Theres plenty to worry about for EVERYONE. Christians like to pretend that they dont worry. They just call their worries, prayer concerns. Though Christians struggle with worry, we dont have to be defeated by it. When you hear Jesus words, it sounds like he is talking to people who are in poverty here, doesnt it? I believe wealthy people worry just as much if not more than poor people. Theres plenty to worry about for the wealthy and the poor. Here Jesus addresses some of the things we worry about. Healthdo not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body Possessionswhat you will wear

The poor worry about how they will get these, the wealthy worry about losing them. We could add our own list of concerns. People worry about . . . Accidents Aging Criticism Terrorism Biological Warfare or Bio-terrorism seems to be a new prominent point of worry.

Theres no end to the kind of things we can worry about.

95 And Worried
A ninety-five year old woman at the nursing home received a visit from one of her fellow church members. "How are you feeling?" the visitor asked. "Oh," said the lady, "I'm just worried sick!" "What are you worried about, dear?" her friend asked. "You look rather well and healthy today. Are they taking good care of you here?" "Oh, yes, theyre taking very good care of me."

"Are you in any pain?" she asked. "No, Im not in any pain at all." "Well then, what are you worried about?" her friend asked again. The lady leaned back in her rocking chair, sighed a heavy sigh, then slowly explained her major worry. "Every close friend I ever had has already died and gone on to heaven. I'm afraid they're all wondering where I went." The word worry in the Greek, means to be divided. The Greek word (merimnao) is formed by two root words divided and mind. To worry means to be pulled in many different directions. First one fear pulls you one direction, then another fear pulls you another direction. It is even possible to have hope, then, pull you in another direction still. Back and forth your mind goes as it clicks into high gear. If we keep this up we soon get pulled apart; we can literally worry ourselves sick. Have you ever felt yourself pulled apart by worry? Whats your biggest worry right now?

II. Worry Is A Bad Investment (vv. 2633).

Matthew 6:26-33 (NIV) 26Look 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? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If 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, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
28

A. It doesnt Add It Subtracts (v. 27)

27

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

It will not add an inch to your height or a hour to your life. The simple truth is that worrying doesnt ADD it SUBTRACTS from your life. It can subtract hours from your

day, but even more it can subtract days, months and years from your life. Worry is a bad investment of time and energy no matter how you look at it.

1. It is senseless
Many have recognized the senselessness of worry at least with their minds. We reason something like this: There are only two things you can worry overthings you have control over, and things you dont have control over. It makes no sense to worry about things you have control over because if you have control over them then you can do something about them and there is no sense in worrying about them. It makes no sense to worry about what you dont have control over, because if you dont have control over them theres no use worrying about it. We know worry doesn't do any good. We know this because we know most of the things we worried about didn't happen. Can you think of one good thing worry adds to your life? Worry is senseless.

2. It is harmful (v. 32)

Jesus doesnt mention the physical harm that worry causes. He doesnt talk about poor physical health. He is more concerned about spiritual harm. Worrying makes us like the heathen, and it damages our witness.
32

For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. Shouldnt the Christian live differently than those who have no relationship with God (v. 32)?

III. How to Win Over Worry

A. Sing and Search (v. 26)
26

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? The rest of Gods creation does not worry, but God provides for them. Will he not do the same for us? This does not say we should not work, only that we should not worry while we work (v. 26, 28). In fact, work may be one of the natural helping stabilizers when we worry. Theres something Ive noticed about birds. They sing. Their singing brings glory to God. Could there be something to this. Sing your troubles away--who ever saw a bird worry? I never saw a bird with worry lines. I never saw a bird with feathers gone gray.

Jesus tells us the Father feeds the birds. Have you ever noticed the way he does this? He provides food as the birds go around looking for it. The birds dont just stand in one place and sing all day. They sing and they search.

Circus Audition
A man decides to join the circus. He shows up to demonstrate his skills to the Circus Master. "I have the most unusual act," he announces. "I'm sure it will amaze you." He proceeds to climb a tall tower, and jumps off. He flaps his arms wildly, and finally his fall slows. He soars forward, then swoops upward, turns and swoops back again. Finally he stops in mid air and gently lowers himself to the ground landing softly on the toe of one foot. The Circus Master stares blankly at him for a long time. Finally he says, "Is that all you've got? Bird imitations?"[ii] The way Jesus asks us to imitate birds is not all that difficult. Dont worry, sing and search for Gods provision. Worship God and look for what he is doing.

B. Dont just fret there, Bloom! (v. 28-29)

28

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. There is something I have noticed about flowers. They are beautiful when they bloom where they are planted. If we concentrate on blooming in the midst of our troublesome situations we might stop wasting our time laboring and spinning in ways contrary to what God intends for the situation in which we find ourselves. God wants us to bloom. There is something else I notice. A flowers orientation toward the sun helps it to bloom effortlessly. It is the blooming flower that is beautiful. Husbands, have you been so focused on some other kind of beauty that you have not recognized the truly beautiful wife that you have. I have found that sometimes I am the one casting a shadow making it difficult for her to bloom. There are times when Im not even thinking about how I play a role in this. I can become an encouragement or a detriment. You might consider how to be an encouragement for her to bloom by watering and getting out of the way of the sun. It isnt the outward adornment that makes us beautiful people; it is the inward adornment. You can often see on the face of someone a glow of reflective beauty when he or she, like a flower, has been filled with the life that comes from the son.

C. Take a Look outside (v. 26, 28, 30)

26

Look at the birds of the air; . . . See how the lilies of the field grow. If that is how God clothes the grass . . .

28

30

Are you discouraged, trapped in the pattern of worry? One very practical suggestion that comes out of Jesus teaching here is often overlooked. Lift up your eyes and enjoy Gods simple pleasures. Stop and take time to focus on the minute details of Gods loving care over creation. Stop and look at the flowers. Stop and look at the grass. Stop and take a look at the sunrise. Breathe in the fresh air. Literally, stop and take some time with God recognizing his creation. The intricate care of God over the minutest detail of creation should encourage us. You will find some practical steps in this process all by itself. The simple truth is this. Worriers have a difficult time stopping their worry. Here are the practical suggestions of Jesus. Stop what you are doing and go outside. Spend some time with God in his creation. Perhaps a daily regimen of this all by itself will help you win over worry.

D. Choose to Trust God (v. 26, 30, 32)

Trust the heavenly father to provide for us as he has promised. 26 . . . and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 30 . . . will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 32 . . . and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. According to Jesus, a worrier is someone who exercises very little faith (v. 30). The ultimate cause of worry is the lack of faith. How does one enlarge a little faith? The Bible tells us faith comes by hearing and believing the truths about God. Increasing your knowledge of God increases your faith. This is both informational and experiential, or relational. The Bible tells us what we need to know in our heads. Our experience with God personally tells us what we need to feel and know in our hearts. When we have an adequate knowledge of God and we have a personal relationship with God, but we still worry, it is because we have chosen the wrong focus. We have chosen to worry instead of trust. If we have enough information, trusting God is a matter of choice. We can choose to believe God is big enough to handle the point of concern. We choose to trust that he will provide what we really need. We can choose to place ourselves in the hands of a trustworthy potter who is shaping us.

E. Seek First His Kingdom (v. 33)

33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Here Jesus gives the motivation for choosing faith over fear. Faith and worry are matters of orientation. It is the orientation of our hearts and thoughts. Our orientation is affected by our priorities. If you seek FIRST anything other than Gods will, you will put yourself in the path of worry. Why? Because God may be using circumstances, bumps in the road, trials and suffering, to get your attention in order to redirect your course. Most of us dont want change until there is pain. Then we want something to change. God takes an active role in our lives, training us to stay on course. When you seek first his kingdom, He will reinforce your correct orientation with a peace and confidence in your life. By seeking first his kingdom you put yourself in a place where you dont have to worry. Sounds good doesnt it? Now let me throw a curve at you. We almost always think of worry as a bad thing. But sometimes God uses worry for his good purposes. Heres what I mean. God does not want you to be feeling secure and peaceful if you are secure and peaceful while you are at odds with Him. When Jesus says in 6:25, do not worry, he is addressing those who have come to hear the will of God and want to adjust to God. To those who are busy seeking first their own kingdoms, and deliberately doing things their own way instead of Gods way, Jesus does not say do not worry. To someone like that he would say, Worry if you arent first seeking Gods will. Dont worry if you are. The only lasting place of confidence, security, peace and joy in this world is when you are seeking FIRST Gods Kingdom! The reason Jesus said this is not because every Christian will always have every perceived need met now. There have been Christians who seek first Gods Kingdom who died horrible deaths. The reason Jesus said this is because even in those unusual cases, what is added unto you far outweighs what was taken from you! All these good things will be added. Thats a promise. Is your health failing? God promises that if you seek first his kingdom, all these things will be added unto you. He has just been talking about your life, your health. Thats one of the these things on the list. But this promise may not mean that immediately you will become well. He might heal you because he has determined to use you longer for his purposes because your orientation is correct. But if he chooses not to, he still will give to you what he has promised when you go through the ultimate healing and you are ushered into his presence. Only this kind of confidence built on the whole picture is an unshakable confidence. Only this kind of confidence produces the joy filled life Paul speaks of from a prison cell while awaiting his execution (Philippians). Only this kind of confidence can say, Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

No matter what happens, if you have Christs orientation, the promise here is true. You will be given all these things and more!

F. Live in the Present (v. 34)

34

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Jesus said, Therefore connecting these thoughts. It is because of the previous promise that you dont have to worry about tomorrow. Live one day at a time. Handle each worry as it comes. Many points of worry will never come to pass. Those that do occur can only be handled as they come, in the present. When the Bible tells us God will never give you more than you can handle, he takes this verse into account. If you add to todays troubles, tomorrows worries, you may not have enough energy to handle it. But God has given you enough to handle todays concern. Faith connects the present to the future in the positive and frees us to take positive steps. Worry connects our present to the future in the negative and constricts our mobility with fear. Planning for tomorrow may be part of todays concern, but worrying about tomorrow is not. Arthur Somers Roche said, Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.[iii]

When Worry Pays Off

Sometimes worry has a pay off, though its rare. For several years a woman had been having trouble getting to sleep at night because she feared burglars. One night her husband heard a noise in the house, so he went downstairs to investigate. When he got there, he did find a burglar. "Good evening," said the man of the house. "I am pleased to see you. Come upstairs and meet my wife. She has been waiting 10 years to meet you." [iv]

Dear Lord, We want to begin our prayer this morning by asking for your forgiveness. We have all allowed worried to have its way with our hearts. We know that worry is senseless and harmful. We know this in our heads, but we still struggle to choose the way of faith over the way of worry. Thank you for loving us even though sometimes we are the ones with such a little faith that we worry. Lord, we choose to trust you. We choose to seek you first. We choose to orient our lives in the direction of faith instead of fear. Lord, we choose to be more like the birds today. We want to sing your praises and search for your will even in the midst of difficulty. Lord, we choose to be more like your flowers today.

Forgive us for fretting. We want to bloom right where you put us even if it is in the middle of difficulty. We will trust the way you are using these difficulties to shape us and protect us. Lord, help us to remember when we start to take up tomorrows concerns rather than todays. Lord help us to choose to live by faith in the present. Lord we want our lives to reflect the peace you offer us so that we might be able to help others around us. We thank you for our calling and purpose and the provisions you give us. You always give us what we need to be able to please you, so with that in mind, Lord, we choose today to sing and to smile. We love you. In Jesus Name,

Amen