"25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to 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, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Anxiety is now the number one mental health problem around the world, and it is still increasing. Because humanity has been gifted with the capacity to imagine an uncertain future, more and more people experience anxiety. This is especially true when triggered by the uncertain events of a worldwide pandemic. Due to government shut downs, increased job loss not to mention the recent supply chain issues, has created an overwhelming fear of the inability to support and feed one's family.
Unfortunately, occasional anxiety is normal and one of the unavoidable effects of being alive. Anxiety is the body's warning, a natural response to uncertainty and danger. However, many people who have poor coping skills, experience overwhelming anxiety, perceive danger even in situations where it doesn’t exist. For some, the reality of mortality which faces all of us creates anxiety. There is nothing more certain than the reality that one day we’re all going to die and we're not necessarily in control of when that will occur. That fact alone, causes many people a considerable amount of anxiety. I believe the pandemic fueled people's fears of dying. It's inevitable, no one escapes this life alive.
Man continually lives with fear, which must be why the phrase "Do not be afraid," or some variation of it is mentioned over 350 times in Scripture. Those who know Christ should not be consumed with worry and fear, because they know that God will provide for them. This is not a promise of a trouble-free life. God calls us to endure today and trust Him for tomorrow.
If God gave us life, will He not see that it is sustained, if we trust in Him. This entire portion of Scripture deals with worry. We should be concerned about our spiritual lives and that of others, but we should not worry. Worry negatively affects our health
and is deeply rooted in a much larger problem, our lack of trust in God. It has always amazed me how people will truth God for eternal salvation but not for His daily provision. Any way you cut it, worry is sin. If God gives the greater gift, will He deny the smaller?
Let us pray
Heavenly Father,
Father, thank You for Your Word for us today. We are so grateful for this powerful teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, that You are our Father Who loves us and knows everything about us. You have promised, if we will faithfully pursue the Kingdom and Your righteousness, You will supply our needs. Father, thank You for that promise, we acknowledge that we are unworthy of such care. May we allow that promise to become our source of peace and rest for our soul.We ask and pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen
Today's Message: Hope In The Age Of Anxiety
When our life becomes all about serving our physical body and needs, we debase ourselves to being like animals. Making the body appear more attractive, more pleasant smelling, more comfortable, and entertained is really what commercial advertising is all about. We live in a constant race to fulfill those desires, our concerns are temporal and not eternal ones. Even as we abide on the earth, we must keep our focus and concerns about the eternal affairs of heaven, like becoming holy, sharing the Gospel so that others are saved, and building God's Kingdom. The easiest way to conquer one passion is by focusing your attention on a greater passion.
Let's face it, things that happen that frighten us, things happen that cause us to worry. Everything from illness and disease, drug overdose to accidents on the job or on highways, there is a sense of impending death. What we face today would be considered small in comparison to the Black Death of the 1300's when over seventy-five million people died. I can only begin to imagine the horror that occupied the hearts of the people who were exposed to that as they began to contemplate the end of the human race. When people are cut off from all hope, everything becomes fearful to them, and it will always breed worry and anxiety. Those who disobey the Lord have no promise of provision, no provider, and no protector. They have every reason to be anxious.
Open your Bibles with me to the Gospel of Matthew chapter 6, verses twenty-five through thirty-four. This portion of Jesus' sermon reflects the doctrine of God’s providence. Those who belong to the Lord, He makes promises to them. I invite you to follow along as I read
"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
I'd like you to notice that Jesus tells us three times in this passage do not worry. Let's look at verse 25, "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"
If you are worrying about your life, then stop. If you belong to God, why would you worry about your life? If you’re a child of God, He will make sure that you have what you need. God is intricately involved in every aspect of His creation. Therefore, everything is dependent upon God. And, though birds gather their food, God is involved in the hunt for it. Nothing happens in this world apart from God. Christ’s teaching should create trust, as we begin to understand God’s sovereign care for us. Jesus' counsel was especially relevant to those who had nothing but the clothes on their backs because you had to make your clothing. They would often worry if there would be anything to eat the next day. Food and drink were not as readily available as it is for us today.
Christ’s command to not worry does not imply that we should become complacent. Just as the birds are active in feeding themselves, we too are responsible to work in order to provide for ourselves. In II Thessalonians 3, Paul said "For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either."
Whether you are rich or poor, there are times when it feels as though God has left us and we have to survive on our own. Although we may not say it, our thoughts and actions imply it. But if we are going to learn to overcome worry, we must remember to focus on God’s providential care for us. If you belong to God, worry and anxiety is actually foolish because you have a heavenly Father Who cares for you.
Verse 26 "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?"
I'd also like you to notice that Christ doesn’t say the "bird’s Father." Birds are not made in the image of God, they are not sons and daughters of God or co-heirs with Christ. Yet, our Father feeds them. How much more will God make sure that we have our needs? Have you forgotten who your Father is? The birds are satisfied with God providing what they need; how sad is it that we, His own children are not! Life is a gift from God, He has given us all life, God put each of us exactly where we are, we can trust that He will sustain that life. He will provide everything that you need. I can attest to the validity of that fact in my own life, our loving Father has always provided all I have needed. If God gave us His best, His Son, how will He not also provide everything else we need?
That's why in verse 11, Jesus teaches us to pray "Give us this day our daily bread." That's all we need to ask Him for. There's no sense in worrying about what you're going to eat tomorrow. However, I have noticed that some Christians act as if all they have to do is sit around and wait for Him drop some
Almas Iranian Caviar into their mouth on a solid gold spoon. That's not what Jesus is saying! Lest we forget God gave most of us the mind and capability to work.
Almas Iranian Caviar into their mouth on a solid gold spoon. That's not what Jesus is saying! Lest we forget God gave most of us the mind and capability to work.
And for those who aren't, let the prophet Isaiah's words in Isaiah 58:7 remind us "Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"
In Ephesians 1, Paul doesn't pray for us know our inheritance in God but to know that we are God's inheritance. We are His joy and passion. "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe."
In verse 27, He says "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?" It is a medically proven fact, worry will not make us live longer, in fact, it has quite the opposite effect. According to the May Clinic, Dr. Charles Mayo, you can actually worry yourself to death! Therefore, worry does not serve to benefit us physically, mentally, or spiritually. We should be concerned about certain situations in our life, concern is one thing, but worry is quite another. We never need to worry or be concerned about whether or not God can handle our current crisis. He is able!
As surprising as it might sound, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, we can feed every man, woman and child on this planet on less than 10 percent of the available agricultural land in the world. God provides more than enough food to eat, world hunger is not because we don’t have the resources, it's mismanagement and false religious systems that lack a spiritual connection to God to put them in the place of blessing. In India for example, 20 percent of all their food goes to feed sacred cows, they have plenty of food. And rodents, which are believed to be their reincarnated ancestors, eat another 15 percent. That's 35 percent of their total food supply! Listen, God absolutely provides for those who are faithful to His Word. In other words, we’ve made a god out of fashion. The world has missed the point.
Then, in verses 28 and 29, He says "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these."
There is such a wondrous beauty about a flower. However, they don't get tired of being one color then suddenly decide to become another. Nor do they consult others, "what color should I be today?" Yet, flowers grow freely, effortlessly and beautifully. That is exactly what our Lord is saying. This is another argument from the lesser to the greater, that they accomplish what they were designed to
accomplish. When we are constantly worrying, it hinders our ability to receive God’s Word and apply it to our lives. What does God’s Word profit us if we don’t believe Him? Worry stunts our spiritual growth. There are many in the church today, who listen to their favorite pastors, read all the new latest Christian books, yet fail to study God's Word and apply it to their lives. Therefore, it profits them nothing. Christ promises when we pursue God's kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be added to us as well.
In Jesus' day, many people were poor the couldn’t buy anything, because they didn't have the resources. Fashion is a major industry in our world, is a form of self-expression. People today spend a fortune on clothing, in fact, in 2020 the fashion market was valued at US $89350 million. There are some people who live for their closets. Our dressers and closets are full of clothes we've never even worn because we worry they've gone out of style. Fashion has a huge impact on people and the planet. It's just one more manifestation of the sin in our materialistic, lustful, carnal, selfish, prideful society.
In verses 30-31, "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’"
Jesus is telling us that the same God who would lavish such beauty on a flower, and clothes the grass will also takes care of us. Will He not lavishly provide all necessary things to His own eternal children? So stop worrying, God knows that you need food, drink and clothing, so He will take care of all that! If your heart is right, you have no reason to worry. Once again, it's a matter of the heart.
Jesus' hearers would have understood this. Historians tell us that they would start a fire and would use the dried flowers and dead grass that had become brittle to heat the hearth area where they cooked when the fire became low.
Then, in verses 32-33 He says "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Of the over 3,000 promises in Scripture, I believe that the promise of verse 33 is the greatest of all. When we make God’s kingdom and righteousness our priority, God will surely meet our needs. What a tremendous reality! If we will do our part, we have the confidence that God’s going to take care of us. Therefore, worry is absolutely unnecessary. Our faith in our Heavenly Father delivers us from fear and worry.
This is one reason why I believe we must constantly share the Good News of the Gospel, take advantage of opportunities to witness to others, and pray for the lost to know Christ. The world does not understand why they need to follow Christ. Not only does He help us to conquer the sin in our lives, God meets our needs. In this world today, who doesn't need that? It is important that believers must pursue righteousness by serving and discipling others. We are to draw others into the kingdom, by our example and testimony. That's why we as God's hands and feet, must feed the widowed, the poor, fight for the rights of the unborn, the trafficked, and abandoned and neglected. We are to love others as Christ has loved us, even when we haven't deserved it.
I often hear people say "You don't know what they've done to me! I can forgive them, let alone love them." Look at all you and I have done to Christ, yet He loves us so much that He gave His life for us! How much more should we individually, corporately as a church, and nationally as a nation, as a world of believers, demonstrate His love to others? Have we allowed ourselves to among those of little faith, those who don’t believe? Have we become self-serving like those our Lord condemned, who claim to be righteous and are not consumed with His greatest concerns? If we will invest ourselves in eternity, we need not to take thought about what we will eat or drink and with what we shall be clothed.
That brings us to verse 34, "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." What a powerful truth, the Who God gave us life, will also determine the length of our life and sustain it!
In Closing..
If we will pray in every situation, if we will bring our requests before God, if we will praise Him and give Him thanks in every situation, seek the kingdom and pursue His righteousness, He will give us peace and provide the necessities of life. And He will do it generosity.
Since dedicating my life to Christ,being consumed with His greatest concerns, serving and pleasing Him, I have personally never had to seek anything I need, except the kingdom and His righteousness. He has always provided everything I need!
May it be so..
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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