Title: “Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Christ Cure for Anxiety” Script: Mt. 6:19-24
Type: Expository Where: GNBC 3-22-26
Intro: In 2004 the BBC launched a new television program that would become a global phenomenon with nearly 20 different versions produced around the world. Each episode of “Who Do You Think You Are” features the family history of some famous individual. The show explores everything from disappeared relatives to distant royal connections to ancestor’s migrations. Participants often say: “I hope this experience will help me understand myself and my family.” I am convinced that many Christians need to be able to make sense of life in it’s array of stressful issues and problems. Trouble and difficulty come to everybody. People at every level of society live life in a minor key. Sickness, suffering, disease and death afflict both rich and poor. Job suffered deeply and cried, “ … man is born to trouble” (Job 5:7). The psalmist said, “… You have made me see troubles, many and bitter (Psalm 71:20). Yet, in the midst of this, Christ wants our focus to be upon Him and not the things in life that cause stress or concern. Living a life of discipleship in Christ will keep us from many of the concerns and worries.
Prop: Today we’ll notice 3 truths Disciples Need to Realize to Live a Joy-filled life.
BG: 1. Section we are looking at today is called “Sermon on the Mount”. Longest section of Xst. 2. Christ words speak very clearly to a culture of rife w/consumerism, cash, credit, and care! 3. Cares weigh so many down today.
Prop: Follow with me as we notice 3 truths Disciples Need to Notice to Live Joy filled lives.
I. Disciples Understand the Key to the Christian’s Life. Vv.19-20
A. Christian Discipleship is maintained with and through Jesus Christ alone.
1. Discipleship is maintained so long as nothing comes between Christ and the Christian.
a. Our Christianity is not based upon Christ and the Law, Christ and my personal piety, Xst and the attractions of the world. Being a true disciple means having a willingness to trust Him completely in all aspects of life, from the highest highs to the lowest lows. It means we are not only willing to trust Him to provide for our salvation, but we trust Him for the future. We are to trust Him even when we do not know, like, or understand when or where He is leading, or when it is unpopular. As we grow in Christ, we have to keep our eyes on Him. In doing so, we will be of better use to Him and become increasingly unsatisfied with anything less than His call and character.
b. Being a disciple of Christ does not mean that we won’t become anxious in life, however, it means that we should take our anxiety to the foot of the cross and leave it there. It means that we are to live in a way that Jesus tells us to so as to not experience anxiety over the same things that the rest of the world does.
2. How does discipleship take place in relationship to my “stuff”?
a. Transfer your treasure to heaven (6:19–21). Jesus commands you to prioritize heavenly treasures over earthly trinkets. I know what you’re thinking: “Oh no, this is a message about money! Ugh! I’m going to stop listening.” It’s not and please don’t! Sermons on giving are a lot like root canals—they are painful but they are necessary and even helpful.5 In Mt. 6:19, Jesus begins with a negative command: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” This verse is better rendered, “Stop storing up treasures for yourselves!”6 The words translated “store up” (thesaurizo)7 and “treasures” (thesaurous) have the same root.8 So Jesus is literally saying, “Do not treasure for yourselves treasures.” What does He mean? Should we not bother with a savings account? Is He saying don’t invest in Wall Street? Don’t have any money put aside for tough times that may come? This can’t be what Jesus is saying because the Bible applauds saving9 and caring for our family members.10 The apostle Paul even indicates that you can enjoy what God has given you.11 What Jesus prohibits here is the selfish accumulation of goods.12 Notice the phrase “on earth.” Jesus’ concern is stockpiling on earth rather than stockpiling in heaven. He doesn’t want you to have a wonderful earthly bank account while your spiritual bank account is bouncing checks because what you have stored up is solely for yourself or myself.
b. IN Jesus’ time period people did not really have banks. So, guess what, they usually stored up their wealth in one of three ways: purchasing fancy clothing which could be sold if necessary, yet was very susceptible to being destroyed by moths. Second, could purchase grains and store in barns. Famine was always a reality and food was worth more in a famine than gold! The word “rust” actually means “to be eaten” and Jesus may have actually been referring to the gains in the barn being eaten up by rats, mice, mold, etc. Finally, one could exchange assets for gold. However, 1st century Palestinian building codes were not to the standard Tom Palmer enforces in N. Liberty. Homes were made of baked clay and robbers only had to dig through the outer wall of the home to be able to rob someone blind.
B. When we realize our Identity as a Christian is Found in Jesus and not position or stuff, anxiety’s grip is cut on our lives.
1. Find Your Identity in Christ rather than in your stuff!
a. Why do you and I seek to accumulate “treasure” on earth? I think there are about 5 main reasons: (1) Security. We want to know we’re taken care of, hoping it brings us security of life and soul thru material security. (2) Personal worth, esteem, and value. Material possessions and wealth often indicate that people are successful in what they have done with their lives. We feel good about ourselves if we dress, drive, dine, and decorate well. (3) Power. With wealth and material success, we believe that we can have and get and be what we want. We think wealth gives us control over our own fate and over other people. (4) Independence. With wealth I can be my own “god” and not rely on anyone else. (5) Pleasure. With wealth we can indulge our every fantasy, whether it is the exotic vacation, the luxurious wedding, the finest dining, or the most decadent home.
b. All of those reasons we seek treasurers are actually found in a relationship you have with Jesus Christ. You are God’s masterpiece. (Ephesians 2:10) The dictionary defines a “masterpiece” as “a person’s greatest work of art,” or a “consummate example of skill or excellence.” Now, when God’s Word describes you as His masterpiece, what comes into your mind? Do you accept His assessment, or do you think, Well, He must be talking about someone else…if He really knew me, He wouldn’t think that! Your personal identity—how you see yourself. Maybe your parents said things to you as a child that made you doubt your worth. Maybe you were rejected or abused. Maybe failed realtionships. Does not change the fact that Christ loves you and has declared you to be His “workmanship”!
2. Growing in the Christian life allows us opportunity to trust Christ.
a. Illust: last week Zach preached on hypocrisy and prayer. At first glance it may seem strange that Jesus should develop His sermon by first speaking of hypocrisy and then anxiety. If the theme off vv. 1-18 is “Do not be like the hypocrites.”, then the theme of this section (v.25, 28, 31) should be “Do not be anxious.” There is no need to worry! As we think about it hypocrisy and anxiety aren’t as far apart as we may think.
b. Loving and trusting Lord Jesus is the first step we need to take in order to grow in our Christ because the divine life we have received when we repented and trusted the gospel is actually this living Christ in us. In the case of the hypocrite the temptation is to be noticed and approved of by others. In the case of the anxious person is to supply one’s own needs.
C. Applic: If you are a Christian, walk with Christ and find joy daily, in relationship to Him and His people.
II. Disciples Understand the Purpose of God’s Gifts vv21-24
A. We need to be reminded that Earthly Gifts are given to be used, not collected.
1. The world attempts to scare us into hoarding & storing rather than using & giving God’s gifts.
a. Illust: I really get annoyed when I hear the modern financial analysts scaring people into thinking that if one doesn’t have $1-2 million in an IRA/401k upon retirement that will be eating cold beans in a shanty! End result is that we worry, stress, skimp, save and often hoard money that God has given us here and now to meet the needs of others.
b. Illust: Dave Ramsey: “God increases our standard of living so we can increase our standard of giving.” Has anyone ever given you something with a scowl on his face? You knew he really didn’t want to do it, but someone else was forcing him to release the goods. Maybe it was your little brother when your mom forced him to share the ice cream. Possibly it was a dishonest client when the judge ruled in your favor in a civil case. Or, maybe it was a sales manager who resisted paying your commission until his boss told him to do so. If you don’t enjoy giving…give more. You know why most Christians are anxious about money? Because they don’t tithe their money! Tithing affords the Christian the opportunity to defeat anxiety every time we are paid. (Illust of young man recently told me.. Stressed over bills and needs. Heard God say…”Give a double tithe this month!” God supernaturally supplied next week. "Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, emphasis mine, NASV)
2.We need look no further than the example of Israel in the desert.
a. Illust: If you remember the story of Israel in the desert, wandering for 40 years after freedom from Egyptian slavery. God met their needs. Provided water, quail, and manna, daily. Even says that neither clothes nor shoe wore out during the years of their wandering (Dt. 29:5). Interestingly, God told the Hebrew child to take only a certain amount for each day and not to take more than needed or else it would not last. In fact, turned moldy, smelly, and full of maggots (Dt. 16:19-20). Hoarding was discouraged, faith was encouraged. Just as Israel was supposed to, we are to trust God daily to meet our needs. .
b. Let me tell you, if anyone stores up the “manna” of God’s gifts to us today as a permanent possession, he spoils not only the gift, but he spoils himself as well. The disciple’s heart becomes focused on what he accumulates rather than upon the God Who gives! Jesus is telling us that where our heart is our treasure is. Hoarding is idolatry. (Not planning is stupidity or slothfulness, but hoarding with the intention of security is idolatry!).
B. Do you realize that God has given you gifts for a Purpose…To be generous and not anxious!
1. If God is the Giver of our gifts, He’s probably given them to use with a purpose.
James 1:17 says: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” “Coming down” almost makes us think of the manna coming down from the sky! The Heavenly father is the Giver of all the good gifts we receive! We are to use those gifts, we are to employ those gifts in ministry to ourselves and others. However, we are never to take our security in the gift, but rather in our relationship to the giver! Illust: Maybe you remember as a child a loved one, parent, grandparent, uncle or aunt, giving you a special gift. Birthday or Christmas present. That gift did not just materialize. Rather, an individual lovingly picked out, purchased, or made you a present. The present was an expression of the person and his/her love for you! Same is true with God.
2. Discipleship Requires we use God’s gifts generously.
a. Generosity breeds light while stinginess breeds darkness. In 6:22–23 Jesus says, “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” In this context, the eye is used metaphorically.39 Many English versions imply that Jesus is concerned about the health or clarity of the eye. But these translations are somewhat misleading.
b. Illust: The KJV is more accurate with its literal rendering, “If your eye is single…if your eye is evil.” But what does it mean to have a “single” eye or an “evil” eye? In our culture, we have various expressions about the eye. Sometimes the eye can describe a person’s physical condition. Someone who is red-eyed or bleary-eyed is tired. Sometimes we refer to the eyes to describe a person’s feelings or character. Someone who is dreamy-eyed is in love. Someone who is sharp-eyed is crafty. Someone who is cock-eyed has a distorted view of reality. Someone who is bug-eyed is excited or surprised. In the OT we find references to people being single-eyed. A single-eyed person is someone who is generous.41 The New Testament also uses forms of the word to refer to those who are generous.42 When Jesus refers to someone having a single eye, He means that person is someone who gives to others with open-hearted generosity. The warm heart shines through warm eyes. The opposite of the single eye is the evil eye.
C. Applic: Do you want to not worry and be happy? Then, freely, and joyously give of your gifts to meet God’s people’s needs when God directs you to.
III. Disciples Understand the Temporary Nature of “Stuff”. Vv.25ff
A. Christ calls us NOT to be anxious about our needs in life.
1. Christ knows that we have needs, so don’t be anxious about our “stuff”.
a. “Anxious” – v.27 – Anxiety is an emotion characterized by an unpleasant state of inner turmoil, often accompanied by nervous behavior. Jesus says that being anxious cannot add 18” to the span of one’s life. Jesus’ examples in this passage are relatively temporary: flowers, grass, sparrows. Nothing grand or glorious. Here today and gone tomorrow. Yet, noticed by God and provided for by God!
b. Next, He gives a few illustrations in support of His teaching: “Don’t be anxious about food or drink or clothes.” God knows you have a need! Notice how God arrays the Lilies and grass of the field, how He feeds the birds!” If He can do this for these, won’t He care much more greatly for you?! Tell yourself right now: “I am important to God.” “God cares for me.”
2. Earthly Possessions Dazzle our eyes and delude us into thinking they can provide security and freedom from anxiety.
a. v.19 – “Stuff” is temporary at best! “Planned obsolescence” is the byword associated with many products today. “Stuff” won’t last. It breaks, it burns, it rusts. If we really think these items will last forever, we torture ourselves. If our hearts are set on our possessions our reward will be anxiety with an intolerable burden. Illust: Years ago I remember we “upgraded” our family van. We replaced our older one with a newer one. Within a week hearing noises. Had it into the service department 4x in the first month! Little irritations! Irritations are unmet expectations! I had an expectation of perfection and I had to give that expectation to the Lord. Imperfection causes us to long for perfection.
b. Let me ask you dear one, “For what are you anxious right now?” Is that anxiety helpful or hurtful to you and me? Illust: A man told his psychologist my anxieties are disturbing my dreams. I dream that I am in a pup tent, and then I dream I am in a Teepee. The doctor said I know your problem… you are too tense.
B. Don’t Seek Security in the Temporary.
1. When we seek Security in our Possessions we dive out Care with more Care.
a. God never gave us possessions or wealth to find our security. Our security is to be found in Christ alone. Christ alone is eternal. In Christ alone you are eternally secure.
b. Jer. 9:23-24: This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.” In this world of sin and sorrow, ending soon in death and judgment, how foolish for men to glory in their knowledge, health, strength, riches, or in any thing which leaves them under the dominion of sin and the wrath of God! We will all render an account! Illust: Saw this past week the great Chuck Norris died. Norris was the object of all sorts of jokes about his strength and invincibility…and yet, he died. PTL Chuck Norris is more alive today then ever before because about 30 years ago trusted Christ due to overwhelming anxiety and addiction.
2. The way we can Misuse our Possessions is to Use them as Insurance Against Tomorrow!
a. Anxiety is always directed towards the future, whereas stuff, in the strictest sense, is to be used today. When we attempt to ensure for the next day we are only creating uncertainty in today. Sufficient, Jesus says, are the problems for today! I realize that this may seem really odd to you. However, if you’re a Christian, then you know that this is a promise of the Gospel. In the coming day, maybe even in the coming hour, something will be placed beyond our control and we will have to choose Christ or anxiety.
b. Illust: A man in New York City had a wife who had a cat. Actually, the cat had her. She loved the cat. She stroked it, combed its fur, fed it, and pampered it. The husband, however, detested the cat. He was allergic to cat hair; he hated the smell of the litter box; he couldn’t stand the scratching on the furniture; and he couldn’t get a good night’s sleep because the cat kept jumping on the bed. When his wife was out of town for the weekend, he did a terrible thing and put the cat in a bag with some rocks, dumped it in the Hudson River, and uttered a joyful goodbye to the cat. When his wife returned and couldn’t find her cat, she was overwhelmed with grief. Her husband said, “Look, honey, I know how much that cat meant to you. I’m going to put an ad in the paper and give a reward of $500 to anyone who finds the cat.” No cat showed up, so a few days later he said, “Honey, you mean more to me than anything on earth. If that cat is precious to you, it is precious to me. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll buy another ad and up the ante. We’ll increase the reward to $1000.” A friend saw the ad and exclaimed, “You must be nuts; there isn’t a cat on earth that is worth $1000.” The man replied, “Well, when you know what I know, you can afford to be generous.”48
C. Applic: If you have an understanding of heavenly treasures and how God’s kingdom works, you can afford to be generous. You can establish priorities by the way you give and live.49 Generosity is possible because you realize that life is short and your money and possessions will fly away like an eagle (Prov 23:5). You can’t take it with you, but you can send it ahead.
