Title: Anxiety
Theme:
Text: Matthew 6:24-34
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought (don’t be anxious) for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat (food), and the body than raiment (clothing)? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they (of much value)? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed (dressed) like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek (are worried about):) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow (don’t worry about): for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matthew 6:24-34 AV)
Introduction
Rev. Vance Harver once said, “Worry, like a rocking chair, will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere”.
I know that we covered these verses last week but I felt that I put more empasis on working and earning and not allowing God to provide than worry. I believe this passage is mainly about anxiety.
What Jesus is not saying.
Vs. 25 “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor what yet for your body, what ye shall put on.”
It is so important to see their perspective as Christ is sharing this verse. Truthfully most of us here today don’t worry about what we will eat tomorrow. If we don’t have the food in our cabinets we know where to get it. We don’t go day to day thinking about worrying about how we will eat. We have taken it a step further. Our worry (anxiety) has become deeper and prideful. What people think about us. What will happen when we can’t control.
Definition of Anxiety
anx·i·e·ty [aNG'zi?de]
NOUN
1. a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome:
Medical Definition
Anxiety is a multisystem response to a perceived threat or danger. It reflects a combination of biochemical changes in the body, the patient's personal history and memory, and the social situation.
Facts of anxiety and stress
In the 1900’s the major causes of death were from infectious diseases. Now in the 21st century the major causes of the top 10 at least 6 can be affected by stress. Things like Heart disease, strokes, diabetes and suicide.
Historians will probably call our era “the age of anxiety.” Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered in anything short of God and His will for us. —Billy Graham
What Jesus is saying
No matter what you face in life if you have me then you can deal with it. So don’t worry about what is going to happen.
Quote “Empty men have been overwhelmed with anxiety; trusting men have been confident.”
Story: Maybe you have heard the story of a man who was walking down a dusty road, staggering under the weight of a very heavy bundle. A kind farmer overtook him and picked him up in his wagon. The traveler was very grateful but kept his bundle on his shoulder. “Put your bundle down in the wagon,” the farmer said. “Oh, no,” the man replied, “I could not do that. It is enough for your horse to have to haul me without having to haul the bundle also.”
Many people have laughed at this old story and the silliness of the traveler. But isn’t anxiety about the future which goes beyond a trustful thoughtfulness the same thing? We can sow and we can reap and we can gather into barns, but the effectiveness of any one of those things depends on what the Father does.
The Bible’s most common word for worry is the Greek term merimnate. The origin is merimnao. This is a compound of a verb and a noun. The verb is divide. The noun is mind. To be anxious, then, is to divide the mind.1 Worry takes a meat cleaver to our thoughts, energy, and focus. Anxiety chops up our attention. It sends our awareness in a dozen directions.
Reasons why not to worry.
1. Life is more than eating, drinking and clothes.
Life is more than the necessities we need to survive. We don’t live to eat or drink or even clothe ourselves. If this is the only reason we are alive then we live a very boring life. But there is more to it.
In other words there has to be more to this life than eating and drinking and wearing our clothes. There must be a height purpose in life. If all we have before is all we will ever have I will be very disappointed.
Yet there is more.
There is the will of God. There is work for the Lord. There is knowing the creator and building a relationship with him.
This is what he is saying when he says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you”. It is trust. Not survival but knowing what is right and doing it. It is trust in the Lord. Knowing he will provide
2. Look at the Birds and the flowers
How do we know he will provide? Well if he provides for the birds want he also provide for us. He knows every bird and sees it fall don’t he care about us. Are we not worth more than the fowls of the air.
God cares for you. He loves you.
Oh how people need to hear this message today. God loves you and he cares for you.
3. We can’t add one inch to our life nor can we add one beat to our heart.
If anything stress and worry will take away from the quality of our life and not add to. If anything we can have a heart attack but we cannot consciencely control our heart. So what can we do. We may be able to live a healthy life but still it is by God’s hand that we live.
We are not be as the pagans. We are not to be as the world. So wrapped up in our needs that we can’t see our purpose in life. So wrapped up in our wants that we can’t see what God wants.
What do we do?
We trust in God. Vs. 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek (are worried about):) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Gentiles – unbelievers. Those who the only one they trust is themselves. They have now concept of who God is or the release He gives to us.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
(Mat 6:33)
We are to trust in God. He knows our needs and he will provide. Jesus would go onto says in chapter 7 verses 7 ¶ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
We have to trust him and seek him first and all the necessities of life will be added to us. Will it be perfect no. Will there be times of testing? Yes. But there will be peace. Oh the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ that lives in your heart.
I will tell you that I am like any other person. When something happens in my life I have these wild things that go through my mind. Maybe it is something dealing with a problem in the church. I have worried for a day. Wondering what would happen. Then I prayed. The problem was still there yet the anxiety was gone.
Even in death. Even in sorrow. Even in financial need. Even in sickness. No matter we have a promise, “Cast all your cares upon him for he cares for you”. He is with us.
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
(Mat 11:28-30)
MSG "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Mat 11:28-30)
Conclusion – Stay CALM
Men who were visibly shaken in the Bible
Jehoshaphat
And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. (2Ch 20:3)
Hezekiah
And so it was, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord. (2Ki 19:1)
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. (Psa 56:3)
Jacob – wrestled with God
So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies. (Gen 32:7)
Genesis 32 – When Jacob had to face his brother.
I believe we can see others in the Bible. Like David facing the death angel, Jesus in the Garden, Judas betraying Jesus, Jonah dealt with depression as he left the work of God, Elijah dealt with depression and anxiety after 1 Kings 18 and the great victory.
And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!" (1Ki 19:1-4)
C – Celebrate God’s Goodness
Philippians 4:4-8 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. (5) Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Let us be known by our simplicity. (Sam Walton richest man in the world yet known for his simplicity. So how much we have does not have to affect our attitude.)
A - Ask God
(6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
L – Leave Your Concerns with Him (Leave it all the altar)
(7) And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
M – Meditate on the Good Things
(8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
