Worry (Matthew 6:25-30)

If God has provided His people with the best, will He provide anything less as they follow Him?

In Matthew 6:25, Jesus said, “For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?” The “for this reason” statement refers to everything up to this point He had taught in His sermon on the mount.

Life is more than simply the here and now, but it is in the here and now that we learn to trust and obey Jesus Christ. God has given us eternal, abundant life in Jesus. He has paid our sin debt and forgiven us. We have the Holy Spirit, the Word of God and the promise of heaven hereafter. God has given us bodies and souls. Will He not provide lesser things for us? Of course! So Jesus’ point is simple: Don’t worry, but instead trust Him.

As Craig Blomberg has pointed out, “If the logic of his argument be granted, then worry can only result from a lack of genuine belief in God’s goodness and mercy.”

Worry-Bible-study_onlineJesus invited us to examine two examples of His creation: one, the birds of the air and, two, the lilies of the field. The birds of the air refer to small birds like sparrows that were plentiful throughout Israel. They were basically worthless, because two could be purchased for a penny, and two pennies would buy five. Yet God takes care of these birds. All the birds do is live like birds. God has given them food resources and the instincts to find those resources. Likewise, Christians are called to live by faith. Worry, the opposite of faith, is like a paralyzing death for a Christian. Faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6), but worry is something Jesus commanded us to not to do because it creates doubt and division in our hearts and minds.

The lilies of the field are likely wildflowers that were plentiful in Palestine and had little to no monetary value. Women of that day would often gather these flowers after they had bloomed (they bloomed for only one day), allow them to dry, and then use them as kindling to preheat their clay ovens. These day lilies were, however, beautiful — so beautiful that one of the wealthiest kings of Israel, Solomon, could not buy clothes that matched their beauty. Charles Spurgeon said, “Lovely lilies, how ye rebuke our foolish nervousness.” God created these flowers to live by His design. His design for us is to trust His truth instead of worry’s deception.

Verse 30 says, “If God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith?” In John 10:10, Jesus said, “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.” God’s children are promised more than enough if they trust their provider. Worry solves no problems, adds no years or even hours to our lives, and gives us no hope. But faith in God opens the doors of security, confidence and peace. If God cares for the flowers and birds He created and provides for them, we can be sure He will do much more for His children.

An unknown author penned the following: “Said the robin to the sparrow, ‘I’d surely like to know why these anxious human beings rush about and worry so.’ Said the sparrow to the robin, ‘Friend, I think that it must be that they have no heavenly Father, such as cares for you and me.’ ”

Peter listened to Jesus teach these truths, yet he seemed to worry about many things. But Peter grew and changed. Later in his life, he wrote 1 Peter 5:7: “Casting all your anxiety (worry) upon Him, because He cares for you.”

Jesus promises abundant life. Worry says, “I don’t really believe it!” The choice is ours: Believe Jesus, or listen to worry. He gives us freedom, but worry imprisons our lives.

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