Do Not Worry

Matt. 6:25–34

I. Introduction

A. Jesus began this section with the words: "Do not worry..."

1. This is something that speaks to all of us because we all have our own worries.

2. It would be easy to dismiss Jesus' words by saying, "Oh, that was a simpler time. I have a lot more to worry about today."

B. That is true to some extent, but we also must remember that:

1. In Jesus day the average life expectancy was about 35–40 years of age.

2. Infant mortality was high and death from childhood diseases were common.

3. There were no hospitals and what medical care was available was very limited.

4. Antibiotics, immunization, and even things as simple as aspirin or Tylenol were unknown.

5. There was no Social Security, medical insurance, Medicare, or retirement.

6. Most of those who heard Jesus worked hard, physical labor just to provide the minimum clothing, food, and shelter.

7. Jesus' original hearers lived in a land that had been conquered many times by invading armies and was at the time subject to a foreign nation.

8. If anything, life in Jesus' day was much more difficult than today and people had much more to worry about.

C. So how could Jesus tell his audience to not worry or be anxious?

1. It is because he gave them a new way of looking at life and a new way of living.

2. This has been his message all through the Sermon on the Mount and we will see it again as we study this section.

II. God promises the basics

A. Jesus used the word "worry" or "anxious" several times in these verses.

1. The original word means "to be divided or distracted," "to be anxious," "to be troubled with care."

2. Jesus used the same word to describe Martha in Luke 10:41.

B. Jesus was not saying that his followers should not make plans for the future or to have legitimate concerns about our needs or the needs of others.

1. Instead, Jesus was saying to not let worries or anxiety take over your life.

2. What Jesus was really doing was to give his followers priorities.

C. Some things are more important that others (v. 25).

1. This does not mean that we don't need food, or that we should run around without clothes!

2. Jesus was saying that some things in life are more important than others and that we as his followers should not worry about the less important things.

D. Jesus used analogies from nature to make his point.

1.Birds do not plant or harvest crops, yet God feeds them (v. 26).

2. Flowers are more beautiful than all the riches of Solomon could provide, yet they do not spin, weave cloth, or make clothing.

3. These are arguments from lesser to greater. If God takes care of birds and flowers, won't he also take care of you?


III. Worrying will not help.

A. Anxiety achieves nothing (v. 27).

1. It cannot add a single hour to a person's life (or make them any taller as in some versions).


B. Worry and anxiety come from a lack of faith.

1. W. Barclay observed: "Worry is essentially distrust in God."
(Matthew, DSB, vol. 1, p. 258)

2. Another writer described worry as "practical atheism."
(Mounce, Matthew, NIBC, p. 61).

C. Jesus said, "The pagans run after these things" (v. 32).

1. The "pagans" were unbelievers, those who lived without God.

2. The pagans believed in unpredictable gods/goddesses and constantly sought to appease them so that they would give them good things.

3. They never knew how their god/goddess would respond and so they lived in a constant state of anxiety.

4. Jesus called people like this literally "little-faiths."

5. Jesus said don't be like them. Put your faith in God instead.


IV. Having the right priorities will reduce worry and anxiety.

A. Seek first the kingdom of God (v. 33)

1. Jesus began with the negative (i.e., "Do not worry..."), but ended with the positive (i.e., "seek first his kingdom...").

2. Put God first, and "all these other things will be given to you as well."

3. This should be the number one priority in the lives of Jesus' followers.

4. When you put God first, then everything else will fall into place.

5. Worry and anxiety will decrease when God becomes the most important thing in a person's life.

B. Live one day at a time (v. 34)

1. This is often easier said than done.

2. Jesus was saying to take one day as it comes and not to worry about things that may never happen.

3. Every day has enough troubles for itself, why worry about tomorrow's problems as well.

a. The writer Corrie ten Boom put it this way:

“Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength...It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”


4. This verse also reminds us that God cares for our needs, but does not promise us a life without problems.

a. Some popular preachers may tell you that becoming a Christian will solve all of your problems.

b. Jesus was much more realistic: "Each day has enough trouble of its own."

c. This does not mean that Jesus was a pessimist.

d. Jesus' take home message was: God will give you what you need and try not to worry about the rest.

A. Conclusion

A. I want to close this lesson these thoughts.

1. We all have things in life that we worry about. We need to realize that and then go on.

2. But if we are going to keep worry from controlling our lives, then we will need to take Jesus' advice and put God first and allow him to take care of the really big things that we cannot take care of ourselves.