Therefore…Do Not Worry

Therefore…Do Not Worry

Opening Illustration:

Good morning brothers and sisters. Today we are starting a new series called “therefore”. Over the next 8 weeks we will be looking at some of the most important “therefore” statements in Scripture. You know what I am talking about right? Therefore do not worry. That therefore was taking from Matthew 6. That is the therefore that we are examining this morning. What about therefore you are not condemned from Romans 8? How about this one, therefore become a living sacrifice from Romans 12? Oh, one of my all time favorites, therefore be steadfast from I Corinthians 15. I read along time ago that when we see these “therefore” statements in the Bible, we should ask ourselves “what is that therefore there for”. Any time you see a “therefore” in the Bible, God is clearly trying to communicate deep spiritual truth that can impact our lives in a real and tangible way. So, I hope that you will truly enjoy this new series. I also hope that this series brings you closer to Christ. I hope that it provides you some real life application points to live.

Point:

Brothers and sisters, there are a few things that bind us all together. There are certain emotions, certain feelings that make this human condition universal. Certain things that no matter your age, no matter your gender, no matter your socioeconomic status, that we can all understand. One of those emotions, one of those feelings, one of those commonalities is worry or fear. Every single person in this room has worried or been afraid at some point in their lives. To worry is to be human. To be afraid means that you are a member of mankind.

Even Bible characters worried. One of the earliest stories that we discover in Jesus’ childhood is the story about Mary and Joseph losing track of Jesus in Jerusalem. In the business of Passover, Mary and Joseph lost track of Jesus. 3 days went by without them knowing the whereabouts of their son. When they found Jesus in the temple, listen to what they said to Him, “And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." (Luke 2:48). Mary and Joseph, these people of great faith who were found to be worthy in God’s eyes to raise the Savior of the world, worried to the point of distress about the whereabouts of their son. They are not alone. Martha, the sister of Lazarus and Mary, was a worrier. What about Peter? Oh Peter! Peter worried in Matthew 26 after he denied Jesus Christ. Then there is John, the cousin of Jesus. John the Baptist as he is also known. John had been imprisoned and he doubted in Jesus’ purpose, His mission and His identity. He sent his followers to inquire of Jesus’ divinity. Was Jesus really the Messiah? Was He really the Son of the Living God? He was worried that he was throwing his life away. He was worried that he was going to die for a lie. This fear and worry was generated by the same man who baptized Jesus, saw the heavens open, he heard the audible voice of God and saw the Spirit like a dove. All of that and John the Baptist was worried. Even the Old Testament great Nehemiah suffered from worry and fear. When he found out what had happened to Jerusalem he went to the great King of Persia. When he presented himself to the King, the King noticed his countenance. Nehemiah was troubled. Afraid. Worried.

Friends, what’s on your mind this morning? What burden have you been bearing? What is wrecking your week? Oh all of us have things that keep us up at night? We worry about our finances. We worry about our children? Will we have enough to retire on or will I have to work forever? Am I going to be fired? How I will I pay the bills? It seems that instead of defeating doubt, dread, and discouragement, we tend to double down and tell life to hit us again. Let me tell you brothers and sisters, worry and fear is something that binds us all together. Worry and fear is a common thread that makes us all human. I have said before behind this very pulpit, 90% of all the pastoral advice I give centers around worry and fear.

Did you know that a great many of our illnesses relate back to worry, anxiety, and stress? It’s true.

38% of all deaths are heart related and many of those are related to hypertension, high blood pressure and anxiety.

Worry has been linked to cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis, gastrointestinal illness and suicide.

3/4 of all visits to primary care physicians are stress-related complaints or disorders.

Worry is something that affects all of us. Worry, doubt and fear have even trouble the Bible greats. Fear and worry maybe a normal occurrence, natural even, but worry and fear are never neutral. Worry is never good for us. It was never God’s plan for us to bear the brunt of worry, fear and doubt.

Do me a favor this morning. Fill in these blanks listed under “Today’s Thought”. We can trust God in moments of trails and tribulations. Friends, do you believe that this morning? Do you believe that you can truly trust God when you are afraid, when you are surrounded by darkness, or when you face difficulty? God has made numerous promises related to this issue of worry. Did you know that the phrase “fear not” or “do not be afraid” is said 365 times in Scripture. That is a Scripture or a promise from God for every single day of the year. That is a “fear not” for every day. Paul, in speaking to his young protege Timothy reminds him that God has not given him a “spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”. You can take what I am saying to heart when I tell you that God does not want you to be ruled by the false giant of fear.

Pastor John MacArthur is one of my favorite speakers, pastors, and writers. He understands the value of looking beyond fear and worry to see God’s strength and power. Listen to what he says about the subject fear and how it relates to sin, “For some reason, we think of doubt and worry as "small" sins. But when a Christian displays unbelief...or an inability to cope with life, he is saying to the world, "My God cannot be trusted," and that kind of disrespect makes one guilty of a fundamental error, the heinous sin of dishonoring God. That is no small sin.”

Did you hear that, when we worry we sin. When we worry we declare God not up to the task of caring for us. Now none of us would say that with our lips but we say it with our lives.

Today’s Thought:

We Can Trust God In Moments of Trials and Tribulations!

Today’s Quote:

“For some reason, we think of doubt and worry as "small" sins. But when a Christian displays unbelief...or an inability to cope with life, he is saying to the world, "My God cannot be trusted," and that kind of disrespect makes one guilty of a fundamental error, the heinous sin of dishonoring God. That is no small sin.”

-Pastor John MacArthur

Background and Context:

This morning we are reading from Matthew 6. Sadly if you are in my Life Group class, you have heard me teach on this chapter a lot in the last month. Not on purpose mind you. My class has been studying Matthew 6 for a while now. So they are getting a double dose of it. Go ahead and open your Bibles to Matthew 6:19-34. It is part of the Sermon on the Mount, which is Jesus' longest and most famous sermon. In this passage, Jesus teaches his followers about the importance of storing up treasures in heaven, rather than on earth where they can be destroyed or stolen. He also encourages them not to worry about their basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter, as God will provide for them. Instead, he instructs them to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to them. Overall, the passage emphasizes the importance of putting one's faith in God and trusting in his provision.

Statement of Faith:

We believe the Bible to be inspired, God breathed, infallible, and authoritative. We believe the Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training believer’s in righteousness. God’s Word gives life. It provides peace in trouble and protection in tribulation. It is alive, active, and cuts to the core of the human soul. Since there is no other book like it, let us stand to show our reverence and respect.

Today’s Scripture:

Matthew 6:19-34 ESV

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, [20] but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. [21] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. [22] "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, [23] but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! [24] "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. [25] "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? [26] Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? [27] And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [28] And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, [29] yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [30] But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? [31] Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' [32] For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. [33] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. [34] "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Jesus Provides 3 Ways To Whip Worry!

I. Prioritize Eternal Treasures vs. 19-21

Matthew 6:19-21 ESV

Friends, Jesus provides us 3 ways to whip worry this morning from Matthew 6. Our first point is to listen to Christ when He tells us to prioritize eternal treasures over earthly trinkets.

Have you ever heard the statement “keeping up with the Jones’”? I have. Do you know what it means? I do and I am guilty of trying to keep up with the Jones’. I will give you a “for instance”. For instance my across the street neighbor just had a lot of work done in his front and back yard. He got a new sprinkler system. He had a team of people come in and replace all of his plants, shrubs, and bushes. They pulled out all of his old dead grass and installed that new grass. You know the kind Im talking about. That grass that they put out on golf courses. The other day I was out in my yard. My grass had a fungus take root during the winter. Most of my grass died. My shrubs and sad and my bushes are balding. My sprinkler system is more like a spit system. It doesn’t even reach half of my yard. I was doing some yard work the other day. I looked at his yard, then my yard, then his yard, then my yard. I was depressed. My entire outlook on my day changed. I felt envy rise up in me. I wanted his yard. I deserved his yard.

What about you? How many of you have a truck? Ok so a lot of you have trucks. How many of you saw that new 2023 Ford Raptor R and immediately thought to yourself that your truck stinks? You used to be happy with your Chevy S10 but now you want that Ford Raptor R.

Maybe you’re like my wife. She has purses stuffed the top of her closet. She has purses a-plenty but you know what, she always seems to need a new purse. Why? She needs a new purse because she saw someone with a purse that she doesn’t have and now she needs it.

Do you see what I am getting at here this morning? It doesn’t have to be a yard, a truck, or a purse, it can be just about anything. We spend most of our lives being told by massive corporations that our lives are somehow not complete unless we buy the thing that they are trying to sell us. We buy the lie that we can only find happiness when we have what someone else seems to be enjoying. Instead of contentment, we grow cantankerous because we do not have what we want.

This is what it is like to focus on earthy things rather than heavenly matters. Do you know the problem with yards, trucks, handbags and the like? They all fade away.

Just the other day I was speaking to a staff member who beloved mother passed away. Over the years her mother had collected small treasures and trinkets. In some cases, her mother had spent a great deal of money acquiring these objects. She passed away recently and she told me that they were having an estate sale. Everything that her mother once owned was being sold for pennies on the dollar. I had the exact same discussion with a gentlemen in our church whose mother had also passed away. She, like all of us, had collected gifts and gadgets that were a treasure to her. Sadly she passed away and now strangers were claiming all of her earthly goods.

The point is this, placing value to things can often be a subjective choice. The sentiment or the way you feel for a family heirloom or cherished piece of jewelry wont be shared by everyone. It is extremely easy to become overly attached to worldly possessions. Likewise, it can be extremely easy for us to chase after things with all of our mind, body and soul, thinking that those things will deliver to us happiness when true joy and fulfillment comes through eternal measures.

Matthew 24:35 reminds us of Jesus words, “heave and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

One of the reasons we worry and stress so much is because we put too much of our own self value and self worth on things and chasing after what the world says we need and must possess. Yards, trucks, and handbags will all fade away and rot. Why are we placing so much importance on things that do not bring us true happiness? The Bible teaches that every material thing will pass away. All the money in our bank accounts, prized possessions passed down from family, even the most beautiful art in the most prestigious museums will one day be gone.

What endures are the things of eternal value. God, His Word, and the souls of people will exist for eternity. Those are the matters which truly deserve our attention. Don’t misunderstand me. There is nothing evil about having a home, driving a truck, or possessing a purse. It is when those thing take up our thoughts, drive our motivations, and take the place of God in our lives that we have a problem.

Ask God today to help you refocus on Him and the eternal things that truly matter. Paul states as much in his letter to the Colossians,

Colossians 3:1-2 ESV

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Jesus Provides 3 Ways To Whip Worry!

I. Prioritize Eternal Treasures vs. 19-21

II. Pray, God Will Provide vs. 25-27

Matthew 6:25-27 ESV

[25] "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? [26] Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? [27] And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

So, the first way to whip worry is to focus on things of God rather than things of this world. Prioritize eternal treasures. Our second step to whip worry is to pray, God will provide. We find this in verses 25-27.

By now you are starting to get the point that worry is not good for the Christian. Worry doesn’t help you. Worry doesn’t bring you closer to God nor does worrying take care of your deepest needs. Corrie Ten Boom had a great comment on worrying. Listen to what she had to say. “Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength-carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”

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

-Corrie Ten Boom

For those of you who are not parents yet or for those of you who have young children, I want you to pull in this morning and listen up. I want to tell you something that will happen to you in the future. This will absolutely happen to you if you have boys. I have three boys and inevitably the same thing, the same conversation happens between them and my wife on just about a daily occurrence. Every single day when Jay arrives home, he asks Angela a question that Jack and Jett have already put forth to their mother. Do you know all three boys ask of their mother every single day?

“Mom, what’s for dinner?”

Every. Single. Day.

Do you know why that question comes up every single day? By the way, the boys never ask me “what’s for dinner”. Only their mother. Do you know why? They don’t ask me because in the 23 years that my wife and I have been married, I have never cooked dinner. Not once. Well you might count that time I cooked peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or that time that I cooked SpaghettiO’s. That’s right men, I spare no expense for my beloved wife.

No seriously, do you know why my children ask my wife that question on the daily? They ask because they know with amazing certainty that their mother is going to have food for them. Not just food but good food. Home cooked food. Food made with tender love and care. They ask that question because they know with confidence that their mother is going to provide for them. Angela has a plan and her plan is a good plan. It is a plan to feed until full. My children have never doubted her or ever thought “will Mom come through for me today”. Not once. They have complete belief in Angela. Complete confidence. Complete trust. Because they have complete belief, complete confidence, and complete trust they do not worry. They do not fear.

Philippians 4:19 states, “and my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”.

Did you hear that church? God will supply every need. Not some needs. Not a few of your needs. He will supply all of our needs. As good of a wife and mother as Angela is to my boys, God is an even greater Father to His children.

Scripture tells us that we are God’s children by faith in Jesus Christ. We are no longer outsiders, slaves, or enemies. We are the legitimate children of the Most High God, the Owner of the Universe.

Are you fearful this morning? Pray.

Are you worried this morning? Pray.

Are you feeling pressured? Pray.

Think it through. If we are God’s children, and Scripture tells us that this is true, that means that God is responsible for us. Just like Angela is responsible for our kids, God is responsible for us. This means that God will care for you. He is responsible for our very well being.

You can pray to God because you know that God is going to provide for you. God has a plan and His plan is a good plan. It is a plan to feed you until full. God’s children never have to doubt God. You will never have to have the thought, “will God come through for me today”. Not once. You can have complete belief in God. Complete confidence. Complete trust. Because we have complete belief, complete confidence, and complete trust we do not have to worry. We do not have to fear.

We can cast all of our anxieties on God, because he cares for us.

1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, [7] casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Jesus Provides 3 Ways To Whip Worry!

I. Prioritize Eternal Treasures vs. 19-21

II. Pray, God Will Provide vs. 25-27

III. Pursue God’s Kingdom vs. 33

Matthew 6:33 ESV

[33] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

So, put eternal treasures in front of earthly pursuits. Pray. Pray confidently that God will meet your needs.

All of that is great. Chances are you are thinking to yourself, but preacher “when I walk out of this place this morning, I am still going to be racked with worry. I can’t help it. I know that I am suppose to not worry, but I don’t know how to stop”.

Good point. Sadly you will worry. Im not going to stand here this morning and tell you that I never worry about anything. That would be a lie because I straight up worry. However, Jesus does give us some help. He gives us some advice. Instead of worrying, we should seek God’s Kingdom. Conversely, you cannot truly seek God’s Kingdom while worrying. That’s right brothers and sisters, you cannot be focused on the things of God while simultaneously being focused on earthy matters. Here is the good news this morning. If you seek the Kingdom of God, God will give to you what you need. They will be added unto you. So, how do we overcome worry? What do we do when worry knocks on our door.

Question for you this morning, how many of you have played hide and seek? Like everyone. Very good. My kids, when they were little, loved playing hide and seek. All kids like playing hide and seek. Hide and Seek is a game in which all but one participant hides with the intent of being the last person found. But it wouldn’t amount to much of a game if one person didn’t seek the others would it? Consider us the “it” seeking God’s Kingdom with all we have, looking in every nook and cranny until our search results in finding Him.

The New Testament Greek Lexicon defines “seek first” by seeking in order to find, to aim at or strive for. It also means to look for, go after, or to search for.

Friends, God is not hidden. He is available. Visible. Attainable if we would open our eyes and look for Him.

Instead of worrying, worship. Instead of fear, focus on God’s Word. Instead of stress, serve. Sadly humans have conditioned themselves to wallow in worry and fantasize about fear. It is a strange desire to long for drama. That is not the life that God wants for us to have. How do I know this to be true, because Jesus straight up tells us not to worry or be anxious in Matthew 6.

Ok, put it in practical terms this morning. When I got COVID in January, I went to the doctor. She took my temperature, looked at my throat, and gave me a test. Sure enough, I was infected. She prescribed me some medications, antibiotics, and gave me a shot. How smart would it have been to just throw away the medicine and deny the shot? Pretty dumb right?

Again, there are ways around worry.

When you feel overcome by anxiety adore. When you worry, worship. When you feel that anxiety creeping at your door, start to worship the Lord. Put on some praise music and just shout to the Lord.

Another prescription for you this morning, when you are feeling stressed, serve. Jason Collins and I have become fast friends. Jason is a great guy, high powered, and entrepreneur. He is a busy business owner. The other day he was telling me about all the things that he doing, all the plates tha the is spinning, all the balls that he was juggling. We were supposed to go to lunch instead I took him to a nursing home and rehab facility where we prayed for people who are unable to come to church. Jason told me that was the best feature of his week. All of a sudden, Jason and I had perspective. There are people who are in desperate need of God’s touch and God used Jason to bring encouragement. All of a sudden, the stresses of life melted away. Serve here at church. We need you in the children’s ministry, the preschool, we need Sunday School Life Group teachers, and so much more.

Talk about Sherwood.

Oh friends, God does not want you to be held down by worry. God has agreed to meet our needs if we but seek His Kingdom. How will you serve the Lord today?

John 3:3 ESV

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Therefore…Do Not Worry!

Bibliography:

Websites:

https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon-illustrations/61054/worry-by-sermon-central

https://www.lightsource.com/devotionals/daily-living-for-seniors/prioritizing-the-eternal-over-the-earthly-senior-living-may-20-11731643.html

https://prayray.com/god-provide-all-your-needs-prayer/

https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/how-can-christians-seek-first-the-kingdom-of-god.html

https://www.gotquestions.org/seek-first-kingdom-God.html

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206%3A25-34&version=NIV

https://www.bibleref.com/Matthew/6/Matthew-6-33.html