Why Worrying Makes No Sense?

When people say to me "don't worry", sometimes I want to say, "Well that is easy for you to say".  Telling someone not to worry doesn't usually help too much.  But today Jesus says to his disciples, "Do not worry".  But rather than just saying this, he gives them an explanation as to why worry makes no sense.

Do Not Worry

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

In this passage Jesus gives the disciples several reasons not to worry.  It is not that they won't have things that will happen which will cause them to worry, but he doesn't want them to be ruled it.  In fact when Jesus says, "do not worry" it is in the form of a command.  But again it is not usually very helpful to beat someone over the head and say, "I told you not to worry!"

Jesus gives us three very good reasons why worrying makes no sense? 

1. The things we worry about are often not that important compared to life itself.  It is easy for me to get worried about the stock market right now.  Most all of us are probably worried we or someone we love might get infected with the corona virus.  While these are not unimportant things, if I spend all my time worrying about these things I will miss out on life itself.  

2. The most practical reason worrying doesn't make any sense is that it doesn't solve the problem.  No amount of worrying has ever changed anything but your stress level.  Most importantly worrying cannot add a single hour to your life.  There is a time when God will call us home, but we don't control this either.  

3.  Finally, only God can provide the things we really need.  This is why we pray in the Lord's Prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread."  Bread represents the necessities in our lives.  Just as God provides for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field the basic things they need to survive, God provides us with what we need to live. We are made in His image and just like our earthly parents cared for us, how much more will our Father in heaven. 

But Jesus doesn't just tell us not to worry, he gives us something to replace worry with.  Jesus tells us to do something else with our mental energy.  He tells us to "Seek first His kingdom."  I usually worry when I have nothing to do.  I "sit around" and worry.  But Jesus tells us to seek His kingdom.  His kingdom is where he rules and reigns.  His kingdom is what Jesus spent his life focusing on.  His kingdom is where we see the first apostles putting all of their energy into.  

When we take our focus off of ourselves and put it on what God is doing in our world, we don't worry.  We don't have time for it.  Do you notice when you are doing something for someone else it is almost impossible to worry?  When we focus what is most important to God, our lives are put into proper perspective.  At the end of the day when my focus is on Him, I always seem to have what I need.  Not always what I want but always what I need.  

In our situation today we can spend all day worrying about getting the corona virus or the stock market tanking. Or we can ask God how is your kingdom coming even in this epidemic and how can I be a part of it coming?  How can you use me to show others that you care?  How can my non-anxious presence help those who are anxious?  

May God give you peace as you keep your lives focused on His kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven.