Why Worrying Makes No Sense? Matthew 6:25-34

 Do Not Worry

25 “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? 

Like many of you, I inherited the "worry gene".  Worrying is caused by anticipating a negative outcome that could you cause you pain physicially, emotionally or otherwise.  The outcome may or may not be realistic, but the mind doesn't usually consider this fact.  Worrying and anxiety are very similar.  Jesus addresses worry today.

Jesus starts by saying "therefore", which always points to something he said previously.  In this case the preceding passages talked about building eternal treasures that can't be stolen or waste way. Jesus concluded by saying, "Where your treasure there is your heart also".  

It's interesting that now Jesus goes back to us worrying about our most basic needs.  While yesterday Jesus talked about being obsessed with how much money we can hoard, today he is talking about how God provides for our basic needs.  

The other connection is if we focus on what God is doing in our life, we don't have as much time to worry about these basic needs.  Jesus didn't spend a lot of time worrying about food and clothing, though he barely had enough to subsist God always provided.  

26 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? 

As an illustration Jesus says all we need to do is look at the birds of the air.  Notice the birds still work for their food and we should too.  Paul said, "If you don't work you don't eat".  2 Thessalonians 3:10

The key point in this analogy is that if God feeds the birds will he not take care of those that are made in His image and made to worship him.  Though God cares for all of what he has made, human beings are the "apple of his eye".

27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

I think this is my favorite line in this whole passage.  Basically Jesus is asking if worrying about something ever changed the situation.  The only thing it changes is your blood pressure.  There are all kinds of health problems associated with excessive or chronic worry.  

Here are some of the negative health effects of worry (WebMd):

1. Suppression of the immune system.
2. Digestive disorders.
3. Muscle tension.
4. Short-term memory loss.
5. Premature coronary artery disease.
6. Heart attack.

This reminds us that when Jesus commands us to do something it is ALWAYS good for us.  The next time you are tempted to worry try to think through how useless and unproductive it is.  Most important think about why you are worrying and how does it relate to your trust in God to take care of you. 

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 

Jesus uses the same logic with another analogy of flowers.  Perhaps the only difference is flowers are not even animate and also clothes are little less needed for life than food. 

29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

"Even Solomon in all his glory ... - The common dress of Eastern kings was purple, but they sometimes wore white robes. See Esther 8:15; Daniel 7:9. It is to this that Christ refers. Solomon, says he, the richest and most magnificent king of Israel, was not clothed in a robe of "so pure a white" as the lily that grows wild in the field. " (Barnes)

30 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? 

Jesus moves from these analogies to a mild rebuke.  Jesus says, "You of little faith!" I don't know about you but this is the last thing I would want to hear from Jesus.  But since the disciples were still at the beginning of their faith journey it was probably more of a teaching moment than a rebuke.  Jesus knew much more challenging things lie ahead from them, and he was preparing them that they would need their faith as they encountered them. 

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 

Jesus returns to the same simple command he gave at the beginning, after he had given them his teaching analogies.  He says again, "Do not worry".  The Greek tense is different than the first instance he uses it in verse 25, for it is more personally directed.  (Ellicott)

32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 

Jesus compares the disciples to the pagans.  Being children of the covenant and promises of God, they should have a deeper confidence in God to provide for their basic needs.  The pagans made all kinds of sacrifices to foreign gods in hopes they would appease them enough to provide for them. I.e. Rain 

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

This is a classic verse, which is succinct summary of the Christian life.  Instead of worrying, seek God's kingdom, where He is ruling and reigning.  Be about being a part of God's kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven.  As you keep your mind focused on what God is doing in the world, your worries will move to the background of your mind.  You won't have time to worry.  

The righteousness is the good works that flow out of focusing on the kingdom and will be fulfilled when Jesus dies on the cross, is resurrected. We will be justified by His righteousness not our own.  The reminds that all we do as we seek God's kingdom is empowered by God's grace.

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

For a third time Jesus says, "do not worry". This time it is about tomorrow.  This is reinforced when we say in the Lord's Prayer, "Give us this DAY our DAILY bread".  If we stay focused on what God is providing today, we don't need to worry about tomorrow.  Tomorrow is also the source and cause many worries. But since we cannot control what happens tomorrow, it makes no sense to worry about it.  

What do you worry about most?  How can Jesus' teaching today help you?  It might be helpful to take a moment and recall all the ways God has provided for your basic needs over the years?  Has he ever failed you?  What is God calling you to do to be a part of his kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven?  How can focusing on this help you with you worry and anxiety?