What - Me Worry?
Matthew 6:25-34
Intro:
1. ILL: The Bricklayer.
2. No matter how bad you think you have it, you can always find someone who is worse off.
I. What is Worry?
A. Worry is . . .
1. Advanced interest paid on premiums that may never come due.
2. Wasting today’s time cluttering up tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday’s troubles.
3. ILL: Waiting for the Rooster.
B. What’s wrong with worry?
1. Worry is foolish - you believe God gave you life & then withholds the necessities to sustain it.
2. Worry is blind - natures shows us that God takes care of His creatures.
3. Worry is useless - you can’t do anything about most physical circumstances anyhow.
C. If God is Creator & in control of His universe - why worry? Phil 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
II. v26 - Why Worry About Food?
A. The excuse: “I can’t give to the Lord. I can’t tithe. My family comes first. With inflation & recession, you have to look out for yourself!”
1. To this, the Lord says, Look at the birds. I feed them!
2. Birds don’t worry about their next meal - they just go out & get it.
3. You are worth more to God than a bird - He will take care of you!
B. Examples of God’s care:
1. ILL: Manna in the Desert. (Ex 16:13-36)
2. ILL: The Birds Feeding Elijah. (I Kgs 17:5-6)
C. Put the Lord first in your life & you won’t have to worry about food!
III. v27 - Why Worry About Life?
A. The excuse: Ponce de Leon searched the Bahamas & Florida for the Fountain of Youth.
1. He feared old age & death like most of us.
2. But Lord Jesus said, I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. - Jn 5:24.
B. Our Lord has power over death!
1. ILL: The Healing of the Widow’s Son (Lk 7:11-17).
2. ILL: The Raising of Jairus’ Daughter (Mk 5:21-24).
3. ILL: The Raising of Lazarus (Jn 11:1-44).
4. The Bible promises to raise you from the dead. I Cor 15:22 - For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
C. Put the Lord first in your life & you’ll not have to worry about death!
IV. v28-30 - Why Worry About Possessions?
A. The excuse:
1. Advertising is to lure you into buying goods & services to give you the good life.
2. So you work hard to earn money - so you can use money to buy stuff - so that you can enjoy the good life playing with the stuff!
B. How many possessions do you really need to make you content anyhow? More & more?
1. Solomon was the richest & wisest man who ever lived (I Kgs 10:1-9).
2. All Jews held Solomon in high esteem.
3. It was their hope that the Messiah, when He came, would restore Israel to the glory she had during the time of Solomon.
4. v28 - Lord Jesus says, Look at the lilies!
a. God dresses the common field lily more beautiful than He did Solomon!
b. You are worth more to God than a lily!
B. Put the Lord first in your life & He will provide your clothing needs!
V. v31-34 - What Should You Do About Worry?
A. v34 - In this life you’re always going to have troubles.
1. Expect it.
2. Pray about it.
B. v32a - Worry is a characteristic of the people in the world, not the ones in the Lord!
C. v32b - God knows what your needs are.
1. He knows your needs better than you do.
2. Notice - it’s needs here, not desires!
D. v33 - Make Him & His ways the center focus of your life!
1. The promise is He will take care of your needs.
2. Everything you have beyond your basic needs is gravy - so be thankful!
I am not saying this morning, “You don’t have to be responsible!” God expects His children to be good stewards. But there is no reason for the Christian to worry about the necessities of life. God will provide for this life as faithfully as He will for the next one. Just trust Him!
I Pet 5:6-7 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
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