A Question About Peace Series

Introduction: FILM CLIP FROM CITY SLICKERS

Life would be simple if we could discover the “one thing” in life we are suppose to be about. Unfortunately the worries of this life rob us from discovering the one thing!

Worry is a strange creature, Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but doesn’t get you anywhere.

• The best definition I heard of worry; Worry is wasting today’s time to clutter up tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday’s troubles.

As Americans we like to worry – We worry about… Our jobs, our children’s schools, the Traffic, The Crisis in Iraq, Rising Gas Prices, Hurricanes, Our Kids, Our Parents, our Church, our Finances, our Retirement, our Health.

WE ARE WORRIERS!

We have every right to worry, right?

Maybe not, in the book Scared to Life, Douglas Rumford cites a study that explains why we shouldn’t allow worry to rule our lives:

• 60% of our worries are totally unfounded;

• 20% are already behind us;

• 10% are so petty they don’t make any difference;

• 4-5% of the remaining 10% are real, but we can’t do anything about them.

That means only 5% are real worries that we can do something about.

QUESTION = WHY IS WORRY SUCH A PROBLEM FOR GOD’S PEOPLE?

If I took a poll this morning and asked, “Have you worried about something in the last 24 hours?” I believe the majority of us would answer yes.

SOME OF YOU MAY BE WORRIED RIGHT NOW!

In “The Sermon on the Mount”, Jesus called his disciples to live a distinctive life, one marked by prayer, relationships and choices, but right in the middle of his Sermon he speaks to his disciples about worry. In fact this section of the Sermon on the Mount covers more content than any other part of the Sermon except the Beatitudes. (9 verses)

Before we get into our text this morning let me make 2 observations about worry

1. There is a difference between worry and concern:

Legitimate concerns motivate us to action. Concern is a change agent in our life.

• When it comes to health – I am concerned – I make changes, I exercise, I watch my diet, etc. But if I am worried I sit and think about what might happen, I make excuses or do nothing.

• When it comes to money – I am concerned – I take action I watch my spending, I become a wise steward of my purchases, but worry I fret and have anxiety

Concern should stir one to action, but worry often paralyzes us.

2. Unchecked worry has damaging effects.

• Worry affects our relationships.

• Worry damages our health.

• Worry hinders our witness. Worry is an indication that we think God cannot look after us – Oswald Chambers

Once we understand the damaging effects of worry we are able to look at how Jesus told us to cope with worry

In MATTHEW 6:25-34 Jesus gives us 4 reasons why worry is unprofitable for God’s people.

Worry is Unfaithful because God is our Master

"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? 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? Matthew 6:25-26

A. Jesus begins this passage by saying THEREFORE I TELL YOU, DO NOT WORRY

1. First we have to note this is a command – not a suggestion!

2. Second we have to look at the context of the message – “THEREFORE”

In the previous section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has confronted his disciples with the stark truth, they able to serve only one Master – You can serve God or Money, but you cannot serve both. Followers of Christ have but one Master – God.

Jesus is teaching his followers, “BECAUSE GOD IS YOUR MASTER DO NOT WORRY!”

3. In the Master/Servant relationship, the Servant’s only responsibility was to do the desires of the Master. For the Christian when we recognize God as our master our desire is to please him, and not to worry about the things of this life.

4. Worry is the sin of distrusting God’s providence and provision for our life. Worry is a sin Christians commit often. The root word for worry means to strangle – and that is a good word picture for worry, worry strangles us physically, mentally and emotionally.

5. The goal of a Believer is not worry but contentment. Every believer should be able to say as Paul said in Philippians 4:11-12, I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.