Continuing in the Sermon on the Mount, today, we look at a subject that all of us have to deal with….worry!
Again, we want to give a shout out to our fellow teacher, Katie Hall, who is responsible for some of the content of this lesson. Thank you, Katie!
Matthew 6:25-34: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
The ‘therefore’ that starts this passage is referring back to last a discussion about money, which we covered in last week’s post. As we said then, Jesus tells the people “do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.” Why? Because here on earth, our wealth can go away quickly due to many things: moth, rust, thieves, etc. Our true treasure lies in the things of heaven.
Why, then, do we find ourselves worrying so much about the things in our lives here; and how should we worry about the things in our lives now, including the people in our lives?
This passage in Matthew starts out dealing with being worried about what you will eat and drink, and whether you will have clothing for your body. The answer Jesus gives to this is that God feeds the birds of the air, and we are worth more than them. He also reminds us of the beauty of flowers, and says that even King Solomon was not dressed so well! So what are we to do?
The answer is to trust God that He will supply all of your basic needs. Does this mean that we don’t plan, don’t save, don’t have a retirement fund, or anything of the sort? No. Likewise, does it mean to throw all caution to the wind, and have a lack of concern for important things like deadlines and checkups? No. There is a difference between reasonable planning and worry!
We worry when we don’t want to trust God’s sovereignty and goodness, and we won’t trust that He is working all things out for the good of His people, and for His glory, which is exactly what we’re told He’s doing in Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” The God who created us (and everything else) is able to sustain!
Verse 27 of this passage makes another good point about worry: by doing it, you can’t add a single hour to this life! Worrying is a waste of time. Not only are we told that worry won’t add a single hour to our life, but we’re told that each day has enough worry of it’s own. With that in mind, why worry about tomorrow? If you find yourself worrying about things that haven’t even happened yet (and maybe never will), STOP! God will give you the grace you need to get through each day….but He will give it to you when you need it; not before.
What can we do instead of worrying? Pray. And then leave it up to God. The point is…God is sovereign over everything. We are to trust that He is working everything out for His purposes. When we truly come to understand and believe that, it’s much easier to have peace about the things going on in your life.
We’ll leave you with a popular song based on this passage. Look it up. It’s an easy enough tune that you can learn it, and sing it to yourself to be reminded not to worry. I hope it helps.
by: C D MARTIN
Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
