The Christian And Anxiety Series

The Christian and Anxiety

Matthew 6:25-34

I suppose anxiety or worry is one of the most profitable tools of the Devil. It has been said why pray when you can worry. I am afraid many of us take that attitude. A man once told me, “Worry is like a rocking chair. It keeps you busy, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.” We are often willing to trust God with our souls, but afraid to trust him with our daily needs. This message tonight may not keep you from worry entirely, but my desire is that it will help and that it will cause you to lean more heavily on Christ and less on yourself.

I. The Object of Worry

A. Life

1. God gave it to you, and he will take it away in due season.

2. If God is using your life, then he will care for it; if you have complete control then it becomes your responsibility.

B. Food & Drink

1. The children of the righteous will never go door to door begging bread.

2. God gives you a job and income and by the same token he can take it away.

C. Clothing

1. It is not the covering but the content.

2. You cannot tell a book by its cover; neither a man by his clothing.

D. Tomorrow

1. It is in the future and may never occur.

2. Often what seems hopeless today will be filled with hope tomorrow.

3. If you take care of today, then tomorrow will take care of itself for today is yesterday’s tomorrow.

II. The Futility of Worry

A. Height. You worry about how tall you are but that will not cause you to grow.

1. Don’t worry about a larger church just cause yours to grow.

2. Don’t worry about a better Christian just become a better Christian yourself.

B. Clothing. All the money in the world will not buy the created beauty of God’s universe.

1. If God is so gracious to the things of nature that will soon fade, how much more will he care for you.

2. How can you make yourself attractive to God?

C. Food & Drink

1. My father would not let me starve surely my heavenly father who loves me so much more will not let me starve.

2. If God decides to cut off the food supply, there is absolutely nothing I can do about it anyway.

D. Tomorrow

1. I cannot change it.

2. I wouldn’t know how to, if I could.

3. I can accomplish nothing today if I am wrapped up in tomorrow.

III. Our Center of Interest

A. The kingdom of God

1. Serving Christ in the capacity called and not concerning ourselves with someone else’s talents.

2. Going forward for Christ even when we lose ground in all other realms.

B. The Righteousness of God.

1. The purity and holiness which only comes by having Christ as our hearts desire. The natural man seeks the things of the flesh. Spiritual beings should desire the things of the spirit.

Note: if we will take care of God’s business, we can be assured that God will take care of ours. Always remember this, God does not always do what we want nor give us what we desire, but He always gives us what we need.