Matthew 6:25-34 and Philippians 4:4-9
Let me ask you a question this morning; How
would you like to learn how to worry more? I mean, don’t you think your life
could be greatly improved if you could just spend more time worrying about
stuff? For some people worry is just an occasional visitor…but for others it is
a constant companion. I truly believe there are some people in this world who
are not happy unless they are miserable! Someone once said that worry is like a
rocking chair, it’s something to do but it doesn’t get you anywhere!
There is a medical book written in Egypt
around 1552 B.C. that tells us people some 3000 years ago worried about the
same things we worry about today. For instance; in the book there is a remedy
to prevent hair from turning gray…You don’t need Vidal Sassoon…according to
this book all you need is to anoint your hair with the blood of a black calf
that has been boiled with rattlesnake fat!...Only your hairdresser will know
for sure!While most of us have more to worry about than our hair turning gray, the fact still remains that most of our worries are unfounded and generally short lived. Did you know that researchers say that 40% of our worries never happen? That 30% of our worries are concerned with things in the past that we can’t change anyway. And, 12% concern the future which we also cannot do anything about; and the rest are so petty they are not worth thinking about.
In this scripture, Jesus turns our attention to perhaps some more important worries; what shall we eat; what shall we wear; and he tells us that while they may be important, they are not worth worrying about!
It’s interesting that the word in the Greek used here for worry is “merimnao” which means – to divide the mind. Remember what Jesus was talking about just before this? He was talking about treasures and how we can’t serve two masters, because it divides the heart…it divides our loyalty. Now he uses the same term for “dividing the mind”. I can’t help but think of the “Great Commandment” to “Love the Lord your God with all your ‘heart’ and all your ‘mind”.
Actually, our English word “worry” comes from the German word “worgen” which means to “strangle”. In Mark 4:18 in the Parable of the Sower, it says – “Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life come in and “choke” the word making it unfruitful.”
I can just see Jesus looking around the crowd and asking “Do you believe God?”…And, the people say “Sure, we believe in God.”… But, that’s not what I asked!”… Look at the lilies; look at the birds; God takes care of them! So, how much more will God take care of you? Verse 27 says – Which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? In fact, just the opposite is true; we waste time worrying about things we can’t change anyway! The King James version says “Which of you by worry can add even one cubit to his stature?” In other words, worry stunts our growth!...Our spiritual growth!
Instead, says Jesus, when worry starts to happen, then “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and everything else will fall into place!” (my words)
Even the Apostle Paul said “Don’t be anxious (worry) about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your concerns to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, (you can’t and never will understand or begin to explain it) will guard your (WHAT) “hearts and minds”…guard them from what? Being divided! That’s a life preserver!
I want you to know that we all have things in our lives that we ought to be concerned about, but there is a difference between having concerns and allowing worry to consume and choke the life out of us. If you are worried about something today, I want you to ask yourself these questions:
1. Have I taken this to God in prayer?
2. Do I really believe what I say I believe?
3. One month, one year, ten years from now, will this really matter? Is it really life changing?
4. Is this keeping me from making the most of today? Because every minute of life is valuable!
Trust me, I am not exempt from worry myself. But I try not to let worry steal my joy! I put on my Philippians 4:19 life preserver – “My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus!”
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