Why worry?
Matthew 6:25-34(NLT) “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Introduction: Calvary greetings to all beloved of the Lord that faithfully and diligently study what the Scripture speaks weekly on this medium.
I pray that His words will not be a Parable unto us in Jesus name.
We are continuing sermon on the Mount to Disciples of Christ, known as Beatitudes, which MUST be attitudes to be cultivated by all disciples.
This week, we are looking at last 10 verses of chapter 6, with a vital question raised by the Master; Why worry?
Some years ago during our early years in marriage at Ibadan, we hosted our group consisting of married couples. After my exhortation, a lady that was trusting God for the fruit of the womb confessed to how she succumbed to fetish activities even as a Christian due to worry.
When women are trusting God for children or husband, they are more fallible than men from my observation. Worldly care and worries make Christians to serve two masters. The word of God is choked in the hearts of worrying Christians thereby living unfruitful life.
Matthew 13:22(NLT) The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.
I have come to realisation that worrying over issues of life is useless and harmful to worriers.
Psalms 127:2(NLT) It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.
During incessant robbery incidence some years back, fear generated by worry took sleep away from people. Christian wives would want to go to vigil in the Church, not because they wanted to pray but to leave home for fear of robbery attack. Unfortunately, there was a day robbers attacked also the Church during prayer vigil. Unless the Lord watches over the city, watchmen watch in vain.
🛑 Worry removes rest and affects well-being of anyone. For whatever reason, many Christians worry about conversion of souls, which is exclusively the work of Holy Spirit, thereby exhaust energy on what is not needed while abandoning the needful words of God.
Hear what Jesus told Martha who was encumbered with feeding Jesus while her sister decided to be fed by Jesus through the word of life that takes away worries.
Luke 10:41-42 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
I have also realised that carnality breeds worry. Looking at everyday life with carnal mind generates worry. Worrying about when will I marry? Or have children? Who will take care of my children? And other necessities of life can generate worry through carnal mind instead of spiritual mind by the word of God.
Worry makes Christians to prefer carnal world system of acquiring necessities of life than God’s way of acquisition. Israelites away from Egypt towards God’s promised land preferred to go back to Egypt, land of bondage due to carnality.
Exodus 16:3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
Our association with unbelievers or Christians without heaven’s focus will surely trigger our carnal mind to take steps outside God’s will due to worry.
Numbers 11:4 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
In most cases, it is Worry that makes us to be hyperactive in the place of prayer, fellowship and religious activities in times of need and difficulties. When things are seemingly okay, we are hypoactive or underactive in place of prayer, fellowship and religious activities. The truth is, God knows that it is Worry and anxiety that pumps up our adrenaline to pray and embark on religious matters.
Hear what Jesus told disciples that were laboriously and desperately looking for Him.
John 6:26-27(NLT) Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”
❓Do you know that in all the creatures of God, man is preeminence?
Psalm 8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
Jesus said; If God sufficiently takes care of birds and flowers that are inconsequential, how much more man created in His image. Jesus therefore equates worriers to unbelievers.
Matthew 6:31-32(NLT) “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
Let us take stock of our past worries, could worry resolve any of our past challenges? If all our past challenges were resolved by God and NOT our worry, then it is advisable that we cast all our cares upon God.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Jesus said “don’t worry about these things, your heavenly Father already knows all your needs”.
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
✍ Finally brethren, absence of faith in God’s word brings worry, also inconsistency in the study of God’s word makes us to forget God’s promises in trying times, therefore tears in the eyes from worry blur the vision, thereby making us to see Jesus as a gardener. Jesus had mentioned unequivocally to His Disciples that He will rise up again but Marry and others forgot. Are you also looking for the dead among the living with tears?
John 20:15(NLT) “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for? ”She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”
❓Have you been accusing people for your predicaments?
Most assuredly you have forgotten or not read God’s word thereby allowing worry to blur your vision concerning God’s promises in your life.
From our text today; Jesus Christ said;
And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
In whatever circumstances we find ourselves, to deal with any worry that Devil may bring to us; let us remember what Scriptures speak in Hebrews 13:5-6(NLT)
Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
✋ Maranatha.
