It’s so appropriate that all our money has the motto, “In God We Trust.” To understand why it’s there, you have to go all the way back to the Civil War when a Pennsylvania pastor requested the Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase, place a Christian motto on our currency. Because of this request, Secretary Chase then instructed the Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, to prepare a motto, in a letter dated November 20, 1861:
“Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins. You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition.”
“In God We Trust” was then first placed on a two-cent coin in 1864. Nearly a century later, the 84th Congress made the phrase, “In God We Trust,” the national motto under President Eisenhower. The phrase also first appeared on our paper money in 1957. Every time you look at a coin or a bill, we need to be reminded of this, “In God We Trust.”
Whenever I see the words In God We Trust I reminded of the battle we all face. How good are you at trusting God? If you were to grade yourself with A being excellent to F being a failure in trusting God… … how would you grade yourself?
It’s hard work trusting God especially when we are facing increased anxiety. As foolish as it really is, there are times that I trust myself more than anyone us.
The Scripture you just heard read is part of the most famous sermon in history, The Sermon on the Mount. I suppose I chose this text today for myself as much as for anybody. Jesus mentions the words, “be anxious” 6 times in the passage you just heard read to you. It’s obvious He’s warning us against worry and anxiety.
All of us have wrestled with anxiety in our lives. Americans spend billions of dollars each year trying to understand anxiety and minimize its impact on our daily lives. Watch and see how Jesus offers us Kevlar for our minds.
1. Worry Doesn’t Work
Someone has said that worry is like a rocking chair; it gives you something to do but it doesn’t get you anywhere.
Most of the anxiety Jesus is dealing with here is about food and clothing: “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” (Matthew 6:25)?
Jesus says there is more to life than food. There’s more to life than what we will wear. Take note of the very first word of verse 25, the word “therefore.” Whenever you find the word “therefore,” you should not go on forward until you understand what it is “there for.”
Jesus’ prescription against worry is really an extension of His thought in verse 24: “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” (Matthew 6:24).
Jesus’ words are just as true today as they were then.
1.1 Worrying about Money
A University of California at San Diego study found that a sharp decline in the stock market was followed by a higher rate of hospitalizations over the next 2 days. They didn’t see this as a coincidence but they understood there was a correlation between financial troubles and anxiety. In a series of clever experiments involving both farmers in India and shoppers in New Jersey, scientists found that people are worse at solving puzzles when they’re first reminded of money problems. A Princeton psychologist, who helped lead the study, said the obvious, “Financial constraints capture a lot of your attention.” He continued, “Then there’s less bandwidth left to solve problems. Your cognitive ability starts to slow down, just like a computer.” I prefer how Jesus said it, “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life” (Matthew 6:27)?
Worry just doesn’t work. Yes, there’s a lot of anxiety to daily life. We stress about meeting next month’s mortgage payment, rent, or making our car payments. We stress about how our children are doing in school. And we feel anxiety’s grip on us as we consider the progress of our careers. It’s as if we can invent things to stress about at times.
1.2 Three Times
If Jesus says something three times, it must be a big deal. Jesus knew ahead of time the battle we face each time we consider a dollar bill or a Roman denarius. Three times Jesus repeats the same message: “do not be anxious.” Three times.
“Do not be anxious” about what you will eat and drink.
“Do not be anxious” about what you will wear.
“Do not be anxious” about tomorrow
Again, if Jesus says something three times, it must be a big deal. And anxiety about money is a big deal. Anxiety about finances can give rise to craving money and greed. Anxiety about finances can give rise to hoarding and stealing.
1.2 Birds
To combat worry, Jesus tells us to be bird watchers: “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they” (Matthew 6:26)?
The word for “Look” in verse 26 is a word that means to watch intently. It’s the very same word used to describe the look of a blind man does when Jesus miraculously restores his sight (Mark 8:25). Can you see that man stare through the eyes that worked for the first time? It’s not a quick look but more of a gaze.
1.2.1 Birds in the Bible
Birds are a big deal in the Bible. The very first story in the Bible included God’s command to birds when He said, “…let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens” (Genesis 1:20b). When Jesus was baptized, the Bible teaches us the Holy Spirit hovered over Him like a dove (Luke 3:22). A raven feeds the prophet, Elijah (1 Kings 17:1-6), and a raven was released by Noah from the ark (Genesis 8:6-7). Famously, it was that a rooster that crowed to remind Peter of Jesus’ predictions of his denials when Jesus was crucified (John 13:38). Yes, birds are a big deal in the Bible.
1.2.2 Birds in the World
And birds are a big deal in our world today. There is a beauty and diversity to birds that capture all of us. Scientists believe there are about 10,000 species of birds spread out over every continent of our world. The tiniest bird is the Bee Hummingbird of Cuba coming in at 2.25 inches in length and a mere .056 ounces in weight. It is easily confused with an insect. On the other end is the Wandering Albatross with a wingspan around 12 feet. There’s also the Arctic Tern that breeds in Northern Alaska and Siberia among other places. It weighs only 4 ounces but it flies over 22,000 miles a year to the Arctic to the Antarctic. On top of all this, new species are discovered each year in some remote locations.
Again, Jesus said look at the birds if you’re worried.
1.2.3 Three Misunderstandings
1.2.3.1 Plan Ahead
Some of your translations say, “Take no thought for tomorrow.” Jesus truly said, “…do not be anxious about your life.” But, Jesus isn’t against a plan for your tomorrow. In fact, Jesus Himself said, “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it” (Luke 14:28)? No, the Bible is not against thinking ahead in life.
In fact, the Bible points us to another creature, the ant, as an example that we should save for the future (Proverbs 6:6-11). Acorn woodpeckers follow the example of the ant. A woodpecker will store an acorn in a hole in tree. No, the Bible is not against planning. But, the Bible is definitely against worry.
Plug FPU here – I worry a lot more when I didn’t have a plan. You need a plan to handle your finances.
1.2.3.2 Accidents
When Jesus pointed to the birds, He didn’t mean accidents will not occur. Jesus Himself said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father” (Matthew 10:29). Jesus doesn’t keep His followers from a problem-free life.
Accidents do happen. Sparrows may NOT fall to the ground with the Father knowing, but the fact is, they do fall on the ground. Yet, no accident happens without your Father’s permission. You ask, “Why does the Father permit accidents in our lives?” and that’s a sermon for a different day -?.
1.2.3.3 God Feeds the Birds
This is the third misunderstanding of Jesus’ statement for us to look at the birds: Jesus is not offering you a lesson in laziness. Remember, Jesus tells us to be bird-watchers: “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they” (Matthew 6:26)?
Jesus doesn’t feed birds like you feed Fido, your dog. You put his food in his bowl every morning and every evening. No, birds will eat berries, seeds, fruits, or insects. Some eat worms and some suck nectar from flowers. Jesus knew that He feeds the bird indirectly. We must remember that the Bible teaches that people with the physical ability to work, must work: “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8).
Jesus is not offering you a lesson in laziness. Jesus said look at the birds if you’re worried.
What’s His point? “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they” (Matthew 6:26)? Essentially, Jesus is telling you if the Father cares for birds will He not care for you even more? God really cares for every one of you who has trusted in Christ.
If you are outside of Christ, this doesn’t apply to you. Every one of God’s promises are superglued to one who has trusted Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Yes, God’s promises of care are superglued to the believer.
Jesus tells us here that worry doesn’t work. One lady said, “Don’t you tell me that worry doesn’t work. Most of the things I have worried about have never happened to me.” President Calvin Coolidge said, “If you see 10 troubles coming down the road, you can be sure that 9 will run into the ditch before they reach you.”
Again, Jesus tells us here that worry doesn’t work. Look at His words in verse 27:“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life” (Matthew 6:27)? Jesus says you cannot worry yourself into being taller. And you cannot worry yourself into a longer life.
Many of you are addicted to worry. Worry exaggerates the problem and it simply doesn’t work.
1. Worry Doesn’t Work
2. Worry Doesn’t Worship
Worry and anxiety say to God, “I don’t think you have my best interest in mind.” Listen again to Jesus’ words: “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all” (Mathew 6:31-32). Do you see how Jesus is comparing believers to those who don’t believe in this verse? “Gentiles” is Jesus’ way of saying, non-believers. If you adopt the behavior of constant worry, you are copying the behavior of those who don’t believe in Christ. Again, anxiety says to God, “I don’t think you have my best interest in mind.” When you have constant anxiety, you’re acting like you’re an orphan without your Heavenly Father.
2.1 Linda
Linda has hit a rough patch in recent days. She lost her job due to Covid. And her boyfriend of the past three years recently left her for another woman. Her elderly mother is in a rehab center with a broken hip and she has not seen her for months now. All this leaves her sick father isolated at home and all the responsibility for caring for him is on Linda. Her brother does next to nothing to help. Linda thought, “It’s one thing after another. My boyfriend left me, my parents are sick, and I don’t know how I am going to pay next month’s rent. This is just too much.”
2.2 Jaws Theme
One person compared being anxious is like constantly hearing the "Jaws movie theme" soundtrack all the time. You’re always looking around for the fin. You’re sure something’s is about to go wrong. Worry and anxiety are voices that creep up inside your mind and say, “I think there will be problems down the road.”
2.3 Lilies of the Field
Listen again to Jesus’ words: “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” (Matthew 6:28-29).
Like birds before this, Jesus now points those who are worried to the lilies in the field. Jesus first makes us bird-watchers before now calling us to be botanists. I am the last person to talk about flowers; I have trouble differentiating between a rose and a daisy. King Solomon was the highest achievement of Hebrew wealth.
Jesus never said, “Consider the roses of the florist.” Instead, He said, “Consider the lilies of the field.” Most of the roses we see today are hybrids. There are over 100 wildflowers versions of a rose but over 20,000 hybrids of rose. The next time you picture giving someone roses, you probably have the hybrid in mind. The hybrid is engineered, or man-made and it needs special care from a human. He says “Consider the lilies of the field” and “they neither toil nor spin,” yet, the greatest example of wealth in Hebrew history – King Solomon – was not clothed like any old wildflower. Jesus chooses to compare Solomon to a wildflower. Even God’s wildflowers are dressed better than you could ever dress.
His point again is straightforward: “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” (Matthew 6:30)? So why should you worry about what to wear when your Heavenly Father clothes wildflowers and they are beautiful. Solomon’s clothes could not compare to that of even one of “trashy” flowers.
2.4 Jesus’ Big Point
In both the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, Jesus’ point is the same. Don’t you realize your Heavenly Father cares for you? Some people worry about food and others worry about fashion but Jesus says both are essentially the emotional response of atheists. God cares for you; He really cares for you.
2.5 An Equal Opportunity Worrier
Again, anxiety will say to God, “I don’t think you have my best interest in mind.” Have you noticed that nearly everyone worries? The ignorant worry because they don’t know enough. The smart worry because they know too much. The rich worry because they’re afraid of losing what they have. And the poor worry because they don’t have anything. The old worry because they’re facing death. And the young worry because they’re facing an uncertain future. Worry doesn’t work and worry doesn’t worship.
2.5 Six Commands
Someone here is saying silently to me right now, “Pastor, it’s no use in you telling me not to worry. I cannot help myself.” Really? There are six commands in verses 25-34. Six imperatives directly from the lips of Jesus.
Jesus commands you in verse 25, “do not be anxious about your life…”
He commands you in verse 26, “Look at the birds of the air…”
He commands you in verse 28, “Consider the lilies of the field…”
He commands you in verse 31, “do not be anxious….”
He commands you in verse 33, “seek first the kingdom of God…”
And lastly, He commands you in verse 34, “do not be anxious about tomorrow…”
Count them – six times the all-knowing Jesus commands your mind in the area of anxiety and worry. If you could not control your mind, do you think Jesus would issue six commands to do what you cannot control? Yes, your genetics may be predisposed to great worry than someone else. But your Creator says you still have control over your mind. Don’t make excuses for yourself and let yourself skate. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you take control of your mind.
2.6 Conclusion
Listen to Jesus one more time: “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34).
Worry is interest paid on borrowed trouble. I have all the trouble I need for this life – I don’t need to borrow any trouble.
If I went out to the Ford dealership and began to kick the tires on a new Ford pickup truck, one of the things I would notice is the little decal on the back of the truck. Some Ford trucks are 150 and others are 250 and still others are 350. One truck is a one-ton truck when the next one is a two-ton truck and one further down the line is a three-ton truck. The manufacturer knows the frame of their trucks. They know how much each truck can bear. And when you know the kind of truck you have, you also know not to overload the truck. You don’t place two tons on the back end of a one-ton truck. No, you don’t overload it.
God is your manufacturer and He knows you shouldn’t take on the weight of tomorrow today. When you add the weight of tomorrow’s troubles to today, it’s a burden you cannot bear. If you do, you will overload your truck. Someone is going to have to call you a wrecker and pick you up on the highway of life. Trust your Manufacturer.
