The other day, when I was out on my walk and I noticed the birds, all different kinds of birds, chirping, eating stuff off the grass, and doing what birds do. Then it came to mind; though the world is in a global pandemic, and having social uprisings, it’s not effecting the birds. I thought jokingly to myself, did someone forget to tell the birds about Covid-19, and how the pandemic has led to schools, businesses, restaurants and Churches being closed. How people have to stay 6 feet apart. How social unrest has the nation in grips. Immediately, it popped into my mind what Jesus said about the birds… 26Behold 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?
Matt. 6:25-34 (KJV)
"25Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought 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, and the body than raiment? 26Behold 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? 27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30Wherefore, 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? 31Therefore 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:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
If you are reading the NIV or some other translation, you will see the word “worry” instead of the phrase “take no thought”. Although, the word worry - does not appear anywhere in the original text of the Bible, Hebrew or Greek, Old or New Testaments. Yet, it is a word which most appropriately conveys what Jesus means when He says take no thought.
The word worry, is a modern English word, which originated around the 1600’s, which meant to annoy, bother or vex. And, in the 1800’s the meaning for worry adopted in its definition "to cause mental distress or trouble". By mid-1800’s “the sense of feeling anxiety or mental trouble" was added to the definition of worry. Today’s definition of worry defines worry as "mental distress or agitation, anxiety resulting from concern, usually for something impending or anticipated”.
So the word “worry” aptly defines what Jesus is telling us not to do, when He tells us, “take no thought”, which is the Greek word µe??µ??? merimnaó: (marri-naw-O’) meaning, to be anxious about, to be apprehensive, unduly concerned, distracted; which also implies being drawn in opposite directions; "divided into parts".
Now, Jesus tells us not to worry about such things as food and clothing, that our Father in Heaven know we have need of such things.
Let me totally honest with you? When I read this passage and when I think about worry, personally, I don’t think about food or clothes. Now, I know that is a real concern for many people throughout the world, especially in third-world countries. However, in most of the modern world, the reality is, most of us don’t worry about what we’re going to eat or wear each day.
Truth is, our list of worries is a little more complicated or at least we think they are more complicated, than just food and clothing.
Todays’ life is a little more complicated than it was in Jesus’ day. And, I know many of us quote this passage, but truth is, many of us don’t relate to it, because we feel like it doesn’t apply to us, because our worries are not so simple as food and clothing. Let’s be real! Are worries are:
Paying rent or mortgage
Getting sick or injured.
My job, whether I will fired or laid off, get a promotion or not, or find a job.
Worried about Car accidents or being injured.
Whether something happens, and will I have enough insurance to cover it.
Safety of my kids
Price of gas
Price of food
Politics and social unrest
Crime
Being harassed by the police
Corona virus
Aging, ungracefully and being struck with Alzheimer’s or some other debilitating disease
My relationship with my spouse, or girlfriend or boyfriend, and a host of other things.
In today’s world, it seems are worries are much more complicated than what Jesus describes in Matthew 6.
So, the question, many of us should ask is, “Did Jesus have our lives in mind when He told us “do not worry about your life” (verse 22)?
The answer is Yes! Yes, He did!
What Jesus is attempting to teach all people, including us today, about worry, µe??µ??? merimnaó (marri-naw-O’), is how thoughts of concern, can and do create in us anxieties that pull on us, and lead us away from relying and trusting – having faith in God.
In His teaching about worry, Jesus used examples that were most common, and familiar to the people of His day. Food and clothing, about worries of the body. The examples He used were not the point. The examples are only examples and are meant to make people think about their lives in the midst of the eternal truths He is presenting, which apply to everyone’s life no matter when they have lived. You see, the Bible is full of Truths that are true in Jesus’ day and are true in our day and will be true in another 1,000 years from now.
So, if we read Matthew 6:25-34 and replace the examples with something we might connect with today, what we are left with is three core eternal principles that apply to our lives no matter what your worries, you will find that Jesus words apply to you.
I. PRINCIPLE ONE: WORRY SUBTRACTS FROM OUR LIFE Jesus says in verses 27, “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit (or hour) unto his stature (life)?”
Jesus plainly ask a rhetorical question, actually in the companion scripture of this passage in Luke 12:25-26 Jesus ask and answers the question, and then ask another rhetorical question: "25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?" Jesus simply tells us, that a person cannot by thinking on, worrying about, concerning themselves over, can add any more time to what is most valuable about life, life!
Many people worry about dying, or losing a loved one. Yet, worry will not, cannot and does not add not even one hour to someone’s expected lifespan. So, what Jesus is telling us, is that worrying over your life or another’s only brings anxiety, mental anguish – which is fear, and fear brings confusion, and in most cases immobilizes and divides a person, and they lose sight of their fulfillment and joy of life, in exchange for mental anguish and worry.
In Hebrew or Old Testament, the word commonly used for worry or anxiety is s????? ya^re^’ (Yah-ray); meaning “to fear; cause to be frighten: be afraid, dread(-ful), fear(-ful, -fully, -ing).”
There are over 50 scriptures in the O.T., where God says “Fear Not” – or Don’t worry. God repeatedly tells the people “Fear s????? ya^re^’ (Yah-ray) Not”. The word “not” is ??? lo^’ (low) meaning, nothing or not exist; no, none, nay, never, neither.
God continuously tells the people not to not worry, have anxiety or mental anguish – over something, but too Trust in Him.
God sees our worry and anxiety as fear; which, truth be told, worry and anxiety is nothing but fear in disguise. So, when Jesus tells us “take no thought”, merimnaó µe??µ???, (marri-naw-O’). He is telling us that worry and anxiety only causes mental anguish and fear, which only creates within us instability and double-mindedness. Worries pull us in the opposite direction from our trusting and relying upon God – faith.
Hebrews 2:14-15 tells us,
"14Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death."
Though, we fear death and even resist it — and we are right to do so. Yet, we are to have faith in Jesus’s defeat of death, and live in that faith without the worry of death.
John 11:25-26
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”
This is why Jesus tells us we are not to worry about dying, by telling us “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”
Jesus also tells us that worrying is but a trap;
Luke 21:34, "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life (merimnaó µe??µ???, (marri-naw-O’), and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.”
Worry is a trap that subtracts from our lives and weighs us down. Worry does not add anything to our lives. And this principle is true no matter the issue that is causing you worry. It simply doesn’t help… worry subtracts from life.
Worry subtracts faith and trust in God’s purposes and will for our lives.
Worry subtracts peace and assurance that God will take care of us.
Worry subtracts hours of sleep and health and can cause varying physical heart issues (webmd.com)
Worry subtracts from your muscles and causes aches and pains
Worry subtracts from your thought life and can cause memory loss and lead to depression (webmd.com)
Worry subtracts from your relationships because it can spread and become frustrating to others
Worry subtracts from your willingness to do and to act.
II. PRINCIPLE TWO: GOD KNOWS, SEEK HIM (VERSES 30-32)
People worry, have anxieties, mental anguish, phobias and fears, about a many of things pertaining to life, of what may or may not happen. Many of us live in mental anguish and stress about getting sick, having a tragic accident, worry of what people think, worry about having enough money, our children, our jobs, our cars, where we live, etc.; insert whatever worry you wish. Many people live in a constant worry of something, only to be divided in parts of something may or may not happen to them or someone they love.
Jesus said, "32(For after all these things do the Gentiles (non-believers – seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you".
Jesus teaches us that no matter the issues we are facing, God knows. We serve an all-knowing all-caring God who is intimately invested in our lives and knows what we need even before we do. No matter what issue we face or think, it is not above God’s notice or God’s power. He knows our situations, and everything about our lives. Jesus says, Luke 12:6-7
"6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
So, Jesus tells us to seek the Lord no matter what your circumstances or emotions are, because faith in God is the best provision for our problems or issues.
Are you worried about your job, getting a job or a promotion at your job? God knows. Seek Him. Are you worried about any type of medical problem or condition? God knows. Seek Him, He is Yehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals. Are you worried about the safety and well-being of your children? God knows. Seek Him, He is Yehovah Ra’ ah’, our shepherd and protector.
III. PRINCIPLE THREE: MIND YOUR HEART (VERSE 34)
"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof".
This is a tough one. Most all of us, take thought of future events; our rent or mortgage, car payment, our jobs, our kids learning and growing, our health, what we’re going to do for this or that of future planned events, etc. These things are real! They will and do happen. Each month, I must pay my rent or mortgage or be put out on the street. Each month, I must pay my car note or be without a car. I must fulfill the expectation of my job or business or be without income. I must expect to deal with my kids, with school, health, society, etc.
So, how do we actively push away thoughts of tomorrow? How do we do that in the midst of all the things we know are expected, anticipated, ahead of us?
I’m glad you asked that question. Here is the practical application of what Jesus is saying. Earlier, we gave the definition for the phrase “take no thought” used by Jesus, µe??µ??? merimnaó” (marri-naw-O’); meaning, to be anxious about, to be apprehensive, unduly concerned, distracted; which implies being drawn in opposite directions; "divided into parts".
In Jesus statement in Matthew 6:34, rather than applying the definition of being anxious, the more appropriately applied definition is “being distracted, divide into parts – drawn in opposite directions.”
To be distracted, means literally to pull a thing two different ways -- divided. We distract a person’s attention, when we call him or her from looking at one thing to make him or her to look at something else. Anything which interrupts our attention from what’s at hand or puts a thought on something else, is called a distraction.
What Jesus is telling us, is for us not to be divided in our thought – being distracted from our today's work and faith, with anxiety and worry about what if, or what may happen tomorrow. This only distracts us from being firmly grounded in today, walking in our business of faith needed for today. We are not to have vain worries and anxieties or vain hopes about the future; but do our duty here and now.
Jesus says, sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. Meaning, there is enough things in each day to trouble you, without looking for future troubles -- which may turn out to be nothing to worry about. You may or may not even make it to the day your anticipating, hoping for or even worrying about.
James 4:13-15
"Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
Our concern should be on our daily reliance on the Lord, each day. That’s the lesson the Lord tried to teach Israel, when He feed them Manna daily, telling them not to store any for tomorrow. But, be of faith that God will provide what you need - daily.
Heb. 3:13 says,
"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today," so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."
Don’t wait to encourage one another or to even encourage yourself in the Lord, as long as, it’s called today. We are to have sufficient enough faith for today. Not, tomorrow, but today. We are to make up our minds not to worry but to trust God, each day. I know it’s easy to say, but not so easy to do. But, know this, that it is a constant decision that we must make to affirm our faith in God, daily.
What we see in Jesus’ teaching in Matt. 6:25-34, is this is how people of faith are to deal with obstacles of life, no matter what the issues or circumstances. We are to make up our minds to trust in God and He molds our hearts to deal with the stress and circumstances of life.
Sometimes God changes the worrisome situation and sometimes he changes us in the midst of the worrisome situation. He works both ways. But, with faith in Him, He always works on our behalf.
We are told, in Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Focus on worries and cares leads to the destruction of faith and trust. Destructive anxiety eats at faith, brings unrest to the soul, deprives sleep, robs us of peace, satisfaction, and joy, and misleads our direction away from God.
God tells us not to worry, have anxiety or fear, because He knows realistically trying to deal with problems of life does bring worry, anxiety and fear to us, and He wants us to rely and trust in Him to take care of these issues of life for us.
We are to either have faith and trust in God or don’t. You can’t have faith and worry. Either pray to God about it and leave it there or don’t pray. You can’t do both, that’s being “divided in parts - Double-Minded!
Worry is an enemy of faith. Faith has many enemies, but the one that we most experience is worry. Jeremiah 17:7-8 tells us, “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. 8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
Worry cannot change anything in life, but trust in God and prayer changes things, people and the course of life’s directions.
Be Blessed my friends. In Jesus Name. Amen!
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