Why Worry? Series

July 29, 2001

If You Only Knew the Father – Part 1

INTRODUCTION

Transition from drama…

It sure is tougher than it sounds. Worry is something we’ve all experienced it to some degree or another.

In a weak moment worry whispers a little something in our ear, like, “Hey, what if - ?”

If that doesn’t make your stomach churn, then he returns in the middle of the night and fertilizes your imagination with several somewhat extreme possibilities, leaving you mildly disturbed if not altogether panicked. The Scripture today comes from Matthew 6:25-34 (p. 960-961). Let’s hear what Jesus has to say about worry.

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1. The dictionary says worry is a mental distress or agitation resulting from concern usually for something impending or anticipated.

Chuck Swindoll says worry is…

2. “Anything that drains your tank of joy – something you cannot change, something you are not responsible for, something you are unable to control, something (or someone) that frightens and torments you, agitates you, keeps you awake when you should be asleep.” (Chuck Swindoll, Laugh Again, p. 200)

That’s worry.

One man told his friend, “I have a mountain of credit card debt. I’ve lost my job, my car is being repossessed, and our house is in foreclosure, but I’m not worried about it.”

“Not worried about it!” said his friend.

“No,” said the man, “I’ve hired a professional worrier. He does all my worrying for me, and that way I don’t have to think about it.”

His friend said, “That’s fantastic. How much does your professional worrier charge for his services?”

“$50,000 a year,” replied the first man.

“$50,000 a year? Where are you going to get that kind of money?”

“I don’t know,” said the man. “That’s his worry.”

At times it might be nice to have a professional worrier. Someone who frets and stews over our problems while we live a carefree life. But Jesus says we have someone better than a professional worrier. We have a Father in heaven who is on the job 24/7.

And Jesus would have us know…

Big Idea: Because of my Father’s care, I can stop worrying about everything.

TRANSITION: This morning let’s have Jesus show us why this is true. In Matthew 6, Jesus creatively illustrates something we should never forget – and that something is…

I. I CAN TRUST GOD (v. 25-26; 28-30)

Matthew 6:25-34 begins with the word “therefore.” “Therefore” always points us to what precedes it.

Think of what we’ve learned in Matthew 6 the past few weeks.

Therefore…

Because earthly treasures won’t last

Because our vision is easily distorted

Because the choice before us is between God and Money

Therefore, don’t worry about Money and material things! Verse 25, Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

Of course so, from an eternal perspective. Of course food and clothing are important, but ultimately they are not the most important things.

Jesus reasons with his audience:

The argument goes like this: “If this, then how much more that?”

For instance Romans 8:32 – Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t God who gave us Christ, also give us everything else?

In other words, Paul says God showed what He is like when He gave Jesus to die for us. If he did this, then we should be able to count on Him for the less important gifts too, wouldn’t you think?

The reasoning Jesus uses to help us understand: “If God does this, then He will certainly do that too!” He asks us to…

 Think about wild birds

v. 26 – Look at the birds of the air. Maybe one just flew past when he said this.

Jesus says in verse 26, They don’t sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Have you ever stopped and watched the birds? Maybe a Robin on your front lawn looking for worms. Somehow he won’t go hungry. God is taking care of him.

Jesus is not suggesting we should stop farming and storing grain. On the contrary He’s actually acknowledging that farming is a part of the human condition – the ability to tend crops and harvest them is a skill He gave only to people.

God didn’t even give birds the ability to plant crops and harvest them, and yet He feeds them. Jesus asks, Are you not much more valuable than they?

God values birds because He made them. But He made you alone in His image. You are the crown of his creation – Psalm 8 says you were made just a little lower than the angels. You alone have the ability to communicate with Him and love Him. Of course you’re more valuable to Him than birds.