Matthew 6:25-34
Anxiety
Manuscript
Last Sunday we looked at investments. We looked at Matthew 6:19-20.
Matthew 619 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
That sermon couldn’t have been timed better, what with the global financial turmoil we’ve seen the last week. Stocks down, talks of a double dip recession, talks of a new GFC. Will America default? Will Greece default? And the latest – will France default? These things are on the other side of the world but have the potential to affect us all - not the least is our super – plummeting in value. And if the economy does go down well things will be tighter than they already are. How timely that we reached Matthew 6:19-20 which tells us to focus our our time, effort and money on heavenly investments rather than the fleeting riches of earthly investments. And we also looked at verse 21:
Matthew 621 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
and verse 24
Matthew 624 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Last week we saw two things: Firstly, that laying up treasures in heaven, or we could say, heavenly investments, which last for eternity, are a much better investment that laying up treasures on earth - earthly investments, which only last for our lifetime at the most, and might not even last our lifetime if they are lost through moths and rust, or in our case – GFCs, falling stockmarkets and global panic. But even if we do manage to hold onto to our earthly investments through to the end of this life, no matter how much we accumulate here, we can’t take any of it with us into the next life. The only investments worth anything in the next life are the ones heavenly ones we invest in.
And the second thing we learnt from last week was that this is not just good investment advice from Jesus, but that Jesus told us that where we invest now - what we do with our time, effort and money - that shows plain and clear to Jesus whether He is our Lord and master, or whether wealth is our Lord and Master.
Now, very well you might say. That’s all very well to say I should be putting my time, effort and money into kingdom of God stuff, but what about real everyday life? Very well to say that we cannot serve both God and money, but money is a fact of life. I need to eat – it costs me money to buy food. I need to buy clothes – it costs me money. I need a roof over my head, so I’ve either got to pay rent or pay off my mortgage. And one day when I get older I won’t be able to work anymore like I used to, and so I need to be putting money aside to live on for when that day comes. So, what about our everyday needs? And especially in this time of global uncertainty we tend to worry about our needs more. What if there is another GFC? Will I lose my job? If so, how will I pay my bills and keep my family off the street? And if I’m struggling to find work now, it will be even harder if the economy gets worse. What about my super? We’ve probably all seen those super calculators and maybe used them - we need to put aside a certain amount, but they are all based on a reasonable rate of return, and if that rate of return doesn’t happen, what will I live on when I retire? Or if you are retired, you may be worrying about what the events of the last week or two mean to your current income. It certainly is a worrying time to be alive. And it’s true, we need money to survive. So how do we deal with money? How do we deal with these needs of life and yet not let money be the master of our life? Well they are good questions and Jesus goes onto answer those questions in the passage we are looking at today - Matthew 6:25-34.
Matthew 625a “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.
So that’s Jesus’ answer about the financial worries that we may have. We tend to worry, and Jesus’ advice – actually, it’s not advice – in the Greek it is in the imperative, which means it is a command. Jesus’ command to us is, don’t be anxious about these things! Don’t worry about what you will eat or drink or about what you will put on - that is, your clothes. Don’t worry about these things! Now we might say, very easy to say don’t worry! Much harder to do!
Now of course Jesus was speaking to people who had much more reason that we do to worry about these things. What to eat and drink were constant worries for the people back in those days. No Centrelink. So if you were unemployed or your crops failed, you really didn’t have anything to eat. You know also when I read this I thought why does Jesus say don’t worry about what you will drink? I mean, water is everywhere. You can tell I was brought up in the big smoke - you just turn on the tap and there is water. And probably about half of us here today are on town water - we never worry about what we are going to drink. But for the other half of you here today who aren’t on town water and rely on the rains to fill your water tanks, you know what it is like during a time of drought to worry about what you are going to drink.
And then clothes. Now we live in the age of cheap imported clothes from China, so while we might worry about what we might wear to a wedding, most of us don’t worry about having enough clothes to keep warm. But back then clothes were much more expensive. The raw materials were expensive, and they hand made which made them expensive. So the people back then were much more vulnurable that we are, but still Jesus says to them, don’t worry about what you will eat or drink or put on for clothes.
Still, we might say, and we do say, that’s fine to say don’t worry, but I need to pay my bills! Well Jesus then gives two examples of how our heavenly Father provides for the needs of both the birds and the wildflowers in the field. Firstly, notice that Jesus calls God, our “Heavenly Father”. Now one of the functions of a good father is that he provides for his family. As a dad, I provide for my kids. They don’t have to worry about where their next meal is coming from because they know that Marcela and I will provide it for them. So even the language Jesus uses to describe God - our “Heavenly Father” - tells us that God is our Father who will look after us. A few weeks ago we looked at the Lord’s prayer, also addressed to “Our Father in Heaven” - that is, our heavenly Father, and one thing we pray for is:
Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
And then Jesus gives us these example of how our heavenly Father provides for birds and the wildflowers in the fields. First, God feeds the birds
Matthew 626a Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Now we should note here that Jesus is not telling us not to work just because the birds don’t work. On the contrary, 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 says:
2 Thessalonians 310 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
Nor is He is He saying that it is wrong to plan for the future. But what Jesus is saying that even the birds who don’t sow crops or reap them or gather in a harvest - even them God feeds. And then Jesus gives another example from the plant world - God clothes the wildflowers in the field:
Matthew 628 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
The lilies that Jesus is talking about here, they are the wild flowers that grow up in the field. Not planted by anyone, they just appear. In other words, they are just weeds. Weeds – which people back then would rip up and then use for burning in their ovens. If such weeds can have such beautiful flowers, and indeed they do – have you taken the time to notice how beautiful some of the flowers are on weeds? - if God clothes the weeds in such beauty and finery, how much more so will he clothe us? Jesus is telling us, don’t worry, don’t be anxious. Why not? Well, God is our heavenly Father and He provides foods for the birds and clothes for the weeds. He can do the same for us. After all, as Jesus says at the end of verse 26, the verse that talks about the birds, at the end of that verse Jesus says:
Matthew 6:26c Are you not of more value than they?
That is – we are of more value than the birds. And this little comment is important here. People are more important than animals. I don’t care what the Greens say, people are more important than birds or any other animals. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t look after our environment, but to say when it comes to value, we – people – are of more value than animals. And I hope we also value people more than animals too, whether they live across the street from us or on the other side of the world, because God values people more than animals as it says here, so let us too value people above animals. And I for one find that very encouraging to realise that I am of more value than birds or animals or the flowers in the field.
But what makes us different to the animals or the grass of the field? Yes, we are made in God’s image, but also – we have a purpose in life apart from just surviving. You see, the reason Jesus tells us not to worry about food, drink or clothing is found in the second half of verse 25. Let’s read all of verse 25 this time:
Matthew 625 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Think about the birds – any animals really. Think about the weeds of the field – any plants really. What is their purpose in life? Quite bluntly – it is to survive. That’s all it is. Survive – and then reproduce – so the next generation can survive and reproduce. There is no other purpose to an animal or a plant’s existence. But what about us? What is our purpose? You see if we spend our life just being anxious for the necessities of life - food, drink and clothing - that is, we are consumed with just surviving and the reproducing so the next generation can do the same thing. Then what are we here for? Yes, we must survive, but that’s not what life is all about. As Jesus says, “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” If we are anxious about these things, if these things consume us, then we aren’t living. As the old adage goes, “Do we live to eat? Or eat to live?” Jesus is telling us that, we eat to live. And besides, Jesus tells us in verse 27
Matthew 627 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
As we all know, being anxious about something actually doesn’t help. And in fact modern medical science has shown us that being anxious about something leads to stress and can actually lead to a shorter life, much less add to it! Anxiety doesn’t help us get the the things we need to survive.
So what have we seen? We’ve seen that Jesus told us not to worry. He’s reminded us that our Heavenly Father feeds the birds and clothes the weeds of the fields, and that they are of less worth than we are, therefore our heavenly Father will look after us. And Jesus has reminded us that life is more than food and clothing, more than the gathering of possessions. So what are we to do?
You know there have been people throughout history, and in recent history and even today, who do decide they aren’t going to worry about food, clothing, all that boring survival stuff. They are going to get out of the rat race and chill out man. Back in olden times they would retreat to monasteries and mountain tops and get away from it all. And today there are people who do that too, whether hippies or people who go bush. Yes it’s true that Jesus tells us not to worry about the things of this life, but He doesn’t tell us to tune out from everything! In fact – while we shouldn’t be anxious about the things of this life, there is something we should seek after instead. We see that in verse 33:
Matthew 633 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
What were we made for? What are we to seek after, strive after? Two things – which are linked.
1. The Kingdom of God.
2. God’s righteousness.
That’s what our life is all about. That’s the reason we are here. To seek the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness. Now does that remind you of anything? It reminds me of the first part of the Lord’s Prayer:
Matthew 6:10:
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
We are to pray for God’s kingdom to come. And now in today’s passage says we are not just to pray for it, but to seek after it. And we are to pray for God’s will to be done. God’s will – that we live righteous lives. And we are not just to pray for it, but to actively be seeking after it. What is God’s kingdom and God’s will, and His righteousness? Well – God’s will, God’s righteousness is living the way He tells us to live. And as we’ve been going through the sermon on the Mount we’ve been looking at some of those things. Living as salt and light – living a life of good deeds that brings glory to God. Not murdering – and not even being angry with others, and being reconciled and at peace with each other. Having faithful marriages and not committing adultery, whether in action or thought. Tellng the truth: loving our enemies and not retaliating. Giving to the needy. In other words, living the life of love and righteousness that Jesus calls us too in the Bible.
And how will we know what Jesus wants from us? We need to read His instruction book, His manual - the Bible. Make sure you are reading it. As I’ve said before, for me the easiest Bible reading plan is to start at the front and just read a chapter or two a day, and if you do that you’ll get through it in three years – the whole Bible. You won’t know what God wants you to do unless you read His instructions.
But Jesus also talks about seeking after His kingdom. Now we should seek that in our own lives, but not just for ourselves but everywhere. We are in the Gospel of Matthew, and God’s rule, His reign, is a constant theme in Matthew. The Lord’s prayer tells for us to pray for God’s kingdom – His rule - and His will to be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6.33 tells us to seek after the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness. And then the Gospel of Matthew, after Jesus rose from the dead, concludes with Jesus’ final instruction to us:
Matthew 2818 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus tells us to pray for God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. And then after Jesus rose from the dead He tells us that now all authority in heaven - and not just heaven – but also on earth - has been given to Him. But does all the world – all humanity - recognise Jesus’ authority now? No – why not? Because they aren’t yet following Jesus, they haven’t been told yet about His kingdom, which is why Jesus final command to His disciples after His resurrection is all about kingdom business.
Matthew 2819 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
The word there “nations” is the same word that is normally translated Gentiles elsewhere in the Bible - that is – unbelievers. Jesus is saying - I’ve been given all authority on heaven and on earth, therefore go and make disciples of all the unbelievers, that is – those not yet under the rule of Jesus. As it says in Matthew 6.33:
Matthew 633 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Our life goal ought to be seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Our goal shouldn’t just be survival – food, drink and clothing. Yes we need those things, but we need them in order to be able to do the main thing we are here for - Kingdom business. And if you are unsure of what you can personally do for the kingdom, please come and talk with me. We can talk about the gifts God has given you and your situation in life and pray together about how you can get more involved in seeking after spread of the kingdom of God here in Gympie and beyond.
And this verse 33 contains a wonderful promise for us too. That is, if we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all these other things – the things we need for survival - will be given to us. And here I would like to give a personal testimony of that. As you know we served overseas for about four years before coming here. And before that I studied full time at Bible college while working part-time. Halfway through studying at Bible college, Anezka was born so Marcela couldn’t work anymore, so we were surving on one part time salary raising a young family and paying for college fees. And then when we went overseas it got even worse. I’m not sure if you know or not but if you go overseas to serve, it’s not like applying for a normal job that has a salary attached. No – you have to raise support. You have to let churches and friends know that you are going overseas to do kingdom of God business, and then you have to pray – and trust God for the money. And you aren’t just doing that here in Australia, but in a foreign country. I want to testify that when we did that, that God came through. The money came in as we concerned ourselves with the Kingdom of God and His righteousness in Asia, a part of the world that knows very little about the Kingdom of God. God provided our basic needs. And we know so many others who can testify of the same thing. I’m not saying this to tell bignote ourselves, because we didn’t do anything but trust God, and I will admit sometimes it was shaky trust! But God provided. And if He can do that overseas He can certainly do it here in Australia. And if He can do it for us, He can do it for you.
Yes, work hard. Work for your food – Jesus is not telling us to be lazy. But don’t make your life pre-occupation the things of this world. You need the things of this world, but not as an end in themselves. You need the necessities of life, so that you can seek after the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. And as you seek after the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, as the most important, number one priority in your life, then God will supply all those other things you need. Will we be like the Gentiles – that is, the unbelievers, who as Jesus says in verse 32:
Matthew 632a For the Gentiles seek after all these things,
For those without God, their purpose in life is to seek after worldly things. Yes, we need those necessities of life and God knows that as Jesus reminds us in the rest of that verse:
Matthew 6:32b and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But our focus is to
Matthew 633 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
And when we do that we trust in Jesus’s last word on this matter:
Matthew 634 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
