Worthless Worry
“…do not worry…”–Matthew 6:25, 31, 34 (NKJ)
Jesus knows us so perfectly, doesn’t He? He anticipates that His call to heavenly investment and serving God rather than money (Matt 6:19-24) will illicit all sorts of anxiety in us. Talk of sacrifice usually does that to us, doesn’t it? So after addressing the accumulation of wealth, the Master discusses anxiety over wealth, so that we can live the generous God centered lives He desires (6:25-34).
Think of the thickest fog you’ve ever seen. According to an article I read, dense fog covering seven city blocks 100 feet deep is composed of less than one gallon of water. It only takes a few gallons to cripple a city or cause crashes on country roads! People drive cautiously, seldom daring even the routine risks that accompany their normal driving patterns.
Worry over wealth and wellness is a lot like that.“What if I don’t hoard more possessions for myself? What if I give too much?” Just a smattering can cripple our thinking and harm our life. It chokes our generosity. Someone has said, “Worry is a thin stream of fear that trickles through the mind, which, if encouraged, will cut a channel so wide that all other thoughts will be drained out.”
Although anxiety is a part of life for all of us, let’s recognize what message obsessive worrying sends to God: “I know you mean well when you say you’ll take care of me, but I’m not sure you
can pull it off.” Worry is distrusting God’s promises, power, providence, protection and provision.
Worry is futile (vv. 25-27), faithless (vv. 28-30), acting Fatherless (vv. 31-32), and ultimately fruitless (vv. 33-34). And even though we can’t change the past, we can ruin a perfectly good present by worrying about the future.
God beckons us to trust Him to take care of us as we serve Him as our Master and seek to put His kingdom priorities first in our lives (vv. 24, 26, 30, 32-33). When that is our aim, then how we view, pursue, and use our resources will show it. Peace will follow prayer when we petition God (Phil 4:6-7), so“cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Pet 5:7)!
To Do and Discuss: Read and reread Matthew 6:25-34 slowly and in more than one version (if available). Then write these labels in your journal (Appendix E): arguments against worrying, assurances that prevent worrying, and alternatives to worrying. List, discuss, and apply insights from this text.
