Working Through Worry
11/19/2023
Working Through Worry
Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV) 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? 26Look 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? 27Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If 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? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Jesus’ thoughts about worry:
Worry is unreasonable.
Worry is irrational.
Worry is unnatural.
Psalm 145:16 (NIV) You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
Proverbs 12:25 (NIV84) An anxious heart weighs a man down…
Proverbs 14:30 (NIV84) A heart at peace gives life to the body…
Worry is unhelpful.
Worry is unnecessary.
Philippians 4:19 (KJ21) …my God shall supply all your needs…
Worry always indicates that you have a misunderstanding of what God is like.
Romans 8:14-17 (NIV) 14For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Worry is unchristian.
My greatest worry:
The antidote to worry:
1. Put God first in every area of my life.
Matthew 6:32-33 (TLB) “…your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to.”
Exodus 20:3 (NKJV) “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
2. Live just one day at a time.
Matthew 6:11 (NIV) “…give us today our daily bread…”
3. Trust God to care for things beyond my control.
Philippians 4:6-7 (TLB) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs… If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand…
Romans 8:32 (TLB) Since he did not spare even his own Son for us but gave him up for us all, won’t he also surely give us everything else?
2 Chronicles 20:15, 17 (NIV “This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s… You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you... Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”
Pastoral study references, attributions, & recommendations: Anxious For Nothing – Finding Calm in a Chaotic, by Max Lucado; Stop Worrying – Live in the peace & favor of God, by Tony Black; Winning The War On Worry: Cultivate a peaceful heart & confident mind, by Louie Giglio
Growing Deeper Together
Small Group Questions:
Use these points throughout the week as part of your quiet time, in your small group, or over coffee with a friend to help you apply what you learned in today’s message.
Read Matthew 6:25-34 and Philippians 4:6-9 aloud. Spend time meditating on them. Ask: Is there a truth to believe? A sin to repent of? A promise to claim? A command to follow? Is there anything that needs changing in your life in light of the text? How will you live differently after reading God’s word? Pray for God to open your eyes and change your heart. Give thanks for having access to his wisdom and his heart through his word.
Shane talked about how worrying has no value; that if we must be concerned about something, we should make it eternal, not external. What steps can you take today to change your priorities and concerns from worldly ones to kingdom ones?
What principle can we learn from verse 34? Should we care about or plan for tomorrow? What is the difference between planning and worrying?