Do Not Worry About Your Life

Topic: Worry
Passage: Matthew 6:19–34

September 4, 2022

Commentary

A common error of Judaism was to regard material wealth as always indicating the blessing of God. The book of Proverbs promises material blessings to those who honor God’s financial principles, but it does not imply that all wealth is a necessary sign of blessing. It is not wrong to possess things, but it is wrong for things to possess us. Don’t store up treasures on this earth where moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal (v. 19). The believer’s attention should be directed heavenward (v. 20). Your heart will always be where your treasure is (v. 21). The pursuit of wealth occupies our heart and mind (vv. 22-24). “No man can serve two masters” (v. 24). Either Jesus is our Lord or money is. The ultimate destiny of our lives is either earthly or heavenly.

Jesus gives a command not to worry (v. 25). Worry is the sin of distrusting the promise of God. All anxiety is provoked by worrying about material and temporal things. Jesus gives three illustrations of things we worry about: (1) Food (vv. 26, 31). – Birds don’t understand basic farming techniques and yet they never go hungry. If the Lord can care for the birds, He can certainly care for us. (2) Longevity (v. 27). – Our culture seems to be obsessed with trying to lengthen life, yet worry is that which puts many into an early grave. Worry affects the circulation, the heart, the glands and the whole nervous system. (3) Clothing (vv. 28-30). – It is an indictment of our day that so many waste so much on expensive clothes they will wear only a few times. If the Lord clothes the flowers, He will certainly supply us with the clothes we need. Solomon with all his wealth was not as well clothed. In closing, Jesus said (1) when we worry, we act like Gentiles, not God’s people (2) God knows your needs, (3) seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness should be our goal, and His blessing will follow that, and (4) it’s better to face today’s worries then to worry about tomorrow.

Application

What material needs (not wants) do I have right now? What have I worried about in the past that I shouldn't have? What do I have that I haven't turned over to the Lord?

Matthew 6:19– 34 (NET)

19 “Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and devouring insect destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and devouring insect do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

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. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? 27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? 28 Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! 30 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? 31 So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.