Win Over Your Worry
The Habits of Happiness Part 5
Matthew 6:25-34
We all want to be happy.
I bet there is no single person who intentionally chooses to be unhappy.
However, so many people in this world are not happy for one reason or another.
In order to be happy, this is what we have to realize.
Happiness is our choice.
Happiness is something that we choose.
In order to be happy, we must do things that will bring happiness.
Therefore, during this series, we are talking about habits that we must build to experience happiness in our lives.
And today we will talk about the importance of winning over our worries.
We all worry from time to time.
Some of our worries are rational, and some are irrational.
However, worrying never help us to be happy.
This is why in order to be happy, we must learn to win over our worries.
What if this happens?
What if that happens?
We can all agree that when it comes to membership in the human race, worry is a part of the package.
It is because every one of us worries sometimes.
However, Jesus was very clear on this issue of worry.
In a nine-verse passage in Matthew 6, Jesus used the expression “Do not worry” three times.
Therefore, if we summarize the teachings of Jesus on the subject of worry, we can state it in three words: Do not worry.
But before we take a closer look at the passage in which Jesus discussed about worry, let me offer these simple disclaimers.
First, do not worry does not mean do not plan.
In Matthew 6:34, Jesus said, “Do not worry for tomorrow.”
And some people think that it is a prohibition against career ambition, financial planning, life insurance, or any number of things.
However, no one who takes time to read the Bible would say that Jesus had a problem with planning.
He planned for His ministry after His death, resurrection and ascension.
He spent plenty of time preparing His disciples for Jerusalem and beyond.
He also taught that we should count the cost of following Jesus.
Therefore, to live without planning is not pure spirituality; it is pure stupidity.
In fact, I realized this over the years.
If we plan ahead of time and prepare for the future, we will worry less.
Therefore, do not worry does not mean do not plan.
Second, do not worry does not mean do not be concerned.
Some people quote Philippians 4:6 which says this: Do not be anxious about anything…
And they use this passage as an excuse for a careless lifestyle.
“Don’t worry, be happy.”
However, this is not what the Bible is talking about at all.
For example, if we do not worry about our children playing near traffic, we are not a good parent.
There are things that we need to be concerned about.
There is a difference between carefree and careless.
This is why the second part of Philippians 4:6 says this: …but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Realistic concern and restless worry are two separate things.
The difference is this.
Concern focuses on the present.
Worry focuses on the future.
The present is here and there is an action that we can take.
But the future is out of our hands.
Therefore, what did Jesus say about worry?
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus taught us what worry is all about and how we can face it.
I. We must realize the futility of worrying (vv. 25-32).
Verse 25 says this.
“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?
This is an argument from the greater to the lesser.
Jesus listed things that we must not worry about.
We must not worry about our lives, bodies, what we will eat or drink, and what we will wear.
Jesus wanted us to think about it.
Who gave us lives?
Who created our bodies?
If God gave us our lives and created our bodies, then will He not give us food, drink, and clothes?
If He created us, then He will sustain us as well.
If we believe in the Creator God, then we must also believe in the Sustainer God.
Then Jesus went on and said this in verse 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?
This is an argument from the lesser to the greater.
If God takes care of the birds of the air, will He not take care of us who are much more valuable than the birds?
Then Jesus said this in verse 27.
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
The answer is nobody.
No one can add a single hour to their lives by worrying.
If anything, worrying will shorten life.
Worrying is a useless thing to do because worrying does not benefit us at all.
Then Jesus repeated the same thought in verses 28-30.
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 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?
This is also an argument from the lesser to the greater.
If God clothes flowers of the field, will He not give us what to wear—you of little faith?
Worrying is a sign of little faith.
We worry because we do not trust God enough.
It is ultimately a faith issue.
It never benefits us.
It steals our happiness.
If we have faith in God, then we must not worry.
We must realize the futility of worrying.
Jesus summed it up in this way in verses 31-32.
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
People who do not believe in God worry because they do not know that there is God who takes care of them.
However, those of us who believe in our Heavenly Father should not worry.
Worry is contrary to our faith.
Worry does not accomplish anything.
Worry does not benefit us.
We must realize the futility of worrying.
II. We must set our priorities in order (v. 33).
If Jesus commanded us not to worry, then why do so many who claim to be the followers of Jesus worry?
It is because many Christians have messed up priorities.
Jesus said this in verse 33.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
In what context, did Jesus tell us not to worry?
In Matthew 6:19-20, Jesus told us not to store up treasures on earth, but store up treasures in heaven.
And then He told us not to worry.
Therefore, what Jesus said is about our priority.
If we seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness first, then God will provide what we need.
However, if we seek this world and what we desire first, then God may not provide what we need.
As the consequence, we will worry.
Therefore, Jesus has a simple prescription.
We must set our priority in order.
We must seek the things of God first.
We must focus on living a righteous life.
Then everything else will be taken care of.
Everything we need will materialize.
It is this simple.
Think about some of the things that we worry about.
What do we worry about usually?
Does that have to do with the kingdom of God or this world?
Two weeks ago, I talked about “Judging our Jealousy.”
After the sermon, someone told me this.
The reason for most of our jealousy has nothing to do with spiritual things but with material things: What others have, what others wear, and what others do.
However, we do not feel jealous about spiritual things.
We do not feel jealous because someone is more spiritually mature than us, someone serves God more than us, or someone give more than us.
This is proof that our priorities are messed up.
It is also true for parents.
We may feel jealous when other kids are doing better than our kid in regard to playing piano, playing sports, and grades.
However, parents do not feel jealous about other children’s faith and knowledge of the Bible.
In order to not worry, we must set our priorities in order.
What are our priorities?
We must rebuild our system of priorities with God at the center of the structure.
We must set our priorities in order.
III. We must learn to live in the present (v. 34).
Jesus said this in verse 34.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
This is a great strategy to weed out worry.
We will not sink under the burden of today’s issues; however, tomorrow’s agenda can put us over the weight limit.
Have you ever tried to carry too many bags of groceries at the same time?
After cleaning the broken eggs from your drive way, you will know better.
It is better to make two trips instead of one.
Jesus is telling us to carry today’s bags today, and make a fresh trip tomorrow.
I do not know whether you realized this or not, but living in the present tense is an art.
Do you know someone who is “not all there” because the person’s eyes are focused on some invisible horizon?
This person is preoccupied with tomorrow’s problem.
Also, have you ever known someone who lives completely in the present?
Such people seem focused, full of energy and charisma, and you will not catch them worrying.
This is how Jesus wants us to live—one day at a time.
There is a reason why God placed us within the moment, fenced away from both the past and the future.
The past is closed for good, and the future is still under construction.
But today has everything we have.
We must not dwell on yesterday’s regrets.
We must not dwell on tomorrow’s worries.
Jesus told us that tomorrow will take care of itself.
We must leave tomorrow alone.
At the present time, we have the grace and the strength that God has given us for today.
Our calendar gives each day its own number.
We must live them in that order.
We must stay in one square at a time.
We must not totally ignore the future.
We plan and prepare.
However, calm preparation and obsessed worry are two different things.
We must live in the present tense and live every day fully.
We must learn to live in the present.
Conclusion
Do I ever worry?
Of course, I do.
I have a daughter and that qualifies me as an expert on the subject.
For me, worry is a small town I pass through, not a place to dwell forever.
It is a momentary phase, not a lifestyle.
For many people, worry becomes so ingrained in their personalities that they do not know how to live without worry.
Once the old worries are gone, they search for new ones.
However, Jesus tells us not to worry.
We must realize the futility of worrying.
We must set our priorities in order.
We must learn to live in the present.
If we learn to do that, we will build another habit of happiness.
