Latest / Clifford Baptist / Sermon on the Mount: The Weary Worrier, Matthew 6:25-34
Transcript
- 0:00Speaker A: Welcome to Truth for the Journey from Clifford Baptist Church, 635 Fletcher's Level Road in Amherst. Please join us today as Pastor Jeffrey Campbell leads us in an in depth study of the Sermon on the Mount. Today's scripture is Matthew chapter 6, verses 25 through 34. And the Sermon is entitled the Weary.
- 0:16Speaker B: Worrier Matthew, chapter number six. And I'm going to give you some good news. We're going to finish the chapter tonight, finish Matthew chapter number six. I know it's been a few weeks as we have worked through our Christmas season and I'm sorry, I kind of get down the aisle a little bit further than I should sometimes. But as we have worked through the Christmas season, the busyness of it, and we began a new year, I'm thankful to begin that tonight together and we will have a little bit of focused prayer time at the end of our time together tonight. We've been studying the devotion of the heart over the last couple of messages of Matthew chapter number six. And the warning, if you will remember, of the treasure either in heaven or on earth. We have talked about the good eye and the evil eye. We have talked about serving two masters. And we ended before Christmas with the reminder of this. You cannot serve God and mammon. You can't serve God and something else. God must be first. And if God's not first, then you're serving that other thing. And so tonight as we close out chapter number six, we are going to see a battle going on. And a very clear reminder from the Lord that worry should not be the focus of ours. How many of you worry or you would consider yourself a worrier? All right, now listen, and I'll probably get tongue tied here. A warrior and a warrior both fight battles. But the warrior, it seems like the battle never ends. And for some they never get victory because there's something always making the mind run. I'm grateful for David Jeremiah. He can put things into perspective. That just blows my mind. I'm jealous of him. He must have people that pull stories for him and man, he's got all those resources. But David Jeremiah says this about worry. It seems two of the most terrible criminals live in our hearts. The diabolical duo of fear and worry. They stalk us when we board the plane, when we open a bill, when we visit a doctor, when we walk down a darkened sidewalk or glance at the clock, when our child is late for curfew. Any of those times resonate or cause worry for you? Absolutely. He also says, this worry is a small town. I pass through Not a place I hang my hat. And those words there are key. I don't know that we will ever totally avoid worry, but it's not a place that we can hang our hat and we can camp in that town that we stay a lot of time. We just keep moving on. Tonight as we see this battle of worry and how that anxiety rests in our lives and on our hearts and in our minds. And I want to use this little story. There was a pastor that told his congregation, worry is like carrying a heavy backpack you were never meant to carry. And that's funny because look, this is what I carry everywhere with me, right? And I'm going to tell you, there's some things that are in here that I need, but there's probably some things in here I really don't need. But worry is that backpack that we carry that we shouldn't be carrying. And he told his congregation about. He was worrying about a physical ailment that his daughter was going through and that caused worry. And it kept him up late at night. And he walked out on his porch during a windstorm and he just felt that breeze in his face. But in feeling that breeze, he looked over at the maple tree beside of his porch and he seen this little bird that was all puffed up and he was in that tree that the limbs were being blown around by the wind and up and down, back and forth and. But that little bird puffed up with his feathers was riding that branch. And sometimes the branches that we cling onto are our worry. Instead of trusting the Lord just to guide our every move like the bird's feathers do, we cling to the branches that cause worry and anxiety instead of clinging to the Lord tonight. Here's the question. What's in your backpack? What's in your backpack that should be carried by the Lord? Tonight you're going to get four truths for the weary worrier, not warrior worrier. Let's look at God's word. Matthew chapter number six, verse number 25. Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life what ye shall eat, what ye shall drink, nor yet for your body what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat and the body than raiment. Point number one tonight is simply this. There is more to life than to worry. There is more to life than to worry. When we think about the lyrics of Bob Marley's song Three Little Birds, there is the chorus that rings out. Don't worry about a thing, because every little thing is going to be alright. Sorry, this is going to Tell you how I was raised, okay. Or maybe Bobby McFerrin. It says, don't worry, be happy. We know those little tunes or those jingles. But greater than the message that these songs offer us is a reminder from Jesus himself, trying to get across to his followers the battle of worry and anxiety. And so when we understand the Lord's words in these verses that we shouldn't worry about earthly things, and we're going to get to that, we shouldn't even worry about what's going on tomorrow. But worry should be replaced with the pursuit of the things of God. How many of you know that there are more to life than the basic necessities? We think about it and we think we need to have food and we need to have clothes and we need to have a place to live. And those things are all important. And what happens when those physical needs consume our minds and consume our thoughts. It's all we can do to pursue those things. And remember, the battle here is not to replace God as the one being pursued. And so what Jesus says very clearly, if we pursue those earthly things, guess what? You are going to worry. If your pursuit is simply the earthly things, it will cause you worry. Is there more to life than even the basics of food and clothing? I look at this verse. In verse number 25, it says, take no thought. Don't worry. That's what that translates. Don't worry. Don't be anxious for your life, what you shall eat, what you shall drink, or for your body, what you should put on, what you should wear. I don't know how many of you get up in the morning. And maybe the heart. One of the hardest decisions of your day is what you're going to put on, what you're going to wear. There are people that get worried about that. Now, I want to be honest with you. I want to leave the house looking nice and fully clothed and covered up. I want to do that. But when I sit, especially on Sunday morning, there are some Sunday mornings I'm like, this looks good. And then I walk out and Terri sees it and she's like, what were you looking at? We worry about looking right, or we worry about where that next meal is coming from, if we have food or drink. And. And all of that is hard stuff. I've been in countries where the biggest concern of the day is where my next meal's coming from. And I want to say this, praise God, I don't have that worry, but many around this world do. And so, church, we need to be thankful, but we also need to recognize that there are things that we should not be worrying about, that maybe we take for granted or that are close to us that you shouldn't even be worrying about. And so when we understand this, there's more to life than worrying about the basic necessities. And we're gonna see why we don't need to worry about that. I wanna say this. Take no thought means that we shouldn't be worrying about those things, that the Lord is in control. But I also believe in biblical responsibility, and I've gotta be careful here. But I want you to hear me out second. Thessalonians 3:10 tells us, if you don't work, you don't eat. Those are hard words. Genesis, we see Adam work the ground for food. In Ephesians 4:28, it says, the thief should not steal. Let him labor doing honest work with his hands, that he may have something to share with anyone in need. So I believe there's Godly responsibility to providing, and God will honor that. But what we have to be careful with in that is the truth is this. Even though we work and even though we make money, and even though we can feed ourselves, who is that blessing coming from? It's coming from the Lord. If you sit here and say, I am what I am and I got what I got because of my own self, you're in dangerous territory. Everything you and I have, every need is met by the hand of God. So there are greater things in life than to worry even about our most basic needs. God will take care of it. And we're going to get to that in just a second. Point number two. Look at verses 26 through 29. Behold the fowls of the air. For they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you, by taking thought, can add one cubit unto a stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Point number two. There is more value than to your life than to worry. There's more important things in life to do than sit there and worry. And so when we understand these two examples, I believe Jesus, as he was on the mount, teaching and preaching, I believe these two examples were readily visible to them. Now, I couldn't bring you a bird tonight, and I couldn't bring. I could have brought You a flower, I guess. But I believe on that mount, Jesus said, look at this bird and look at this flower. Those are the two examples. But in looking at those, we know that Jesus says, as those birds, they don't sow, they don't reap, they don't store food in the barns, yet here's the truth. Your Heavenly Father feeds them. Now, I think that's important. Those words, your heavenly Father, that's a direct connection to God. And he's talking to a group of believers, of followers, and here's what he said. Your Heavenly Father cares about those little birds. The other day I was in my shed working, and one of those, I don't even know what you call them, great big group of birds landed in the trees right next to my house. It was probably thousands of them and they were looking for something. Now, I'm glad my youngest son wasn't out there because they would have had to run for their fly for their lives. They would have had to go. But as those birds were looking and flying, and then they all would swoop together, it was amazing. Right in front of my face and here's what I'm seeing. Those birds are looking for something. Yes, they're making a journey to or fro. But while they are doing that, guess what? In the field next door, God was providing. They didn't sit out on their journey saying, we need to stop over here next to Mr. Campbell's house and for lunch today, they didn't do that. God provided. And so what we see from the example of the birds is this. Your Heavenly Father feeds them. Note that and we'll come back to that. That bird as it flies and goes on its route, God always provides. But there's another question. In verse number 27, look there with me. It says this. Which of you, by taking thought, can add one cubit stature? One cubit is about 18 inches. And when we understand about 18 inches, Jesus is not saying, really, you can add that to your height. Some of us would love to be a foot and a half taller, right? But what he is saying is this. By worrying, can you add a length to your life? Does worrying make your life a little bit better and longer and more enjoyable? My argument would be, no, it makes it shorter, right? It drives the blood pressure up. But Jesus is telling them simply, this worrying doesn't add one moment to your life. It doesn't benefit you in one way to worry. When we think of that bird and the example of that flower. That flower. In verse number 28, Jesus says, consider the lilies, the field, how they grow. And they toil not, neither do they spin. And I say unto you that even Solomon in all of his glory was not arrayed like one of these flowers. Women love them. Amen. There we go. I don't like buying them because they just, what, die? I think that's the biggest waste of money I know, right? But listen, to be beautiful takes no work on the flower's behalf. That flower, as it grows and it blooms, it cannot do anything to make itself more beautiful. It cannot. The gardener cannot do anything to make it more beautiful. And in verse number 29, Jesus says, this Solomon, the wealthiest king of Israel, when dressed in his finest, most expensive kingly robes, was not as beautiful as that flower. And I believe this is what Jesus did. I believe Jesus literally pointed to the flowers that were on that mountain. We can't wrap our minds around that. The most glorious king and the richest and most expensive and expansive robes that this king had with crowns and jewels wasn't as beautiful as this flower. There's more value to your life than any bird or any flower. Here's what Jesus says. You are more valuable than any bird or any beautiful flower. If he will take care of the bird and he will take care of the flower, he will take care of you. I like verse number 26, and I'm gonna jump back there. For as I end this, it says this, the last question. Are ye not much better than they? Are you not more valuable than these things? And so tonight, as we contemplate worrying, there is more value to your life than to sit there and worry about what's coming your way, the things that you can't control, knowing that God controls it all. Look at verses 30 through 32. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you? O ye of little faith. Therefore take no thought saying, what shall we eat? Or what shall we drink? Or wherewithal shall we be clothed for? After all these things do the Gentiles seek for? Your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of of all these things. Point number three. Faith should lead you today, not your worry. Faith should lead you, not your worry. Jesus ends this portion of Scripture by saying this. Your Heavenly Father knows your needs. How many of you believe that the Lord knows your needs? Absolutely. It's scriptural. It's what he teaches right here. Our Heavenly Father knows your needs. Now remember that saying, right? Your Heavenly Father, your Heavenly Father knows your Needs. You have a relationship there. He knows your needs. But he also begins this by saying this, O ye of little faith, can people that have relationships with God also be weak in their faith? Amen. Yes, they can. And here's what Jesus is trying to teach. If God will take care of that bird and that flower and grass that only lives for one day, how much more will he take care of you? Here's where our minds start to race. We worry how he's going to do it or when he's going to do it, or what he's going to do it with. How is he going to do this? But faith doesn't question God. It looks for him, knowing that he already has the answer. So faith doesn't question. It looks knowing, hey, the Lord knows my needs and he already has the answer to it. I should not worry for that answer. Jesus says this. The Gentiles seek the same thing. Look at verse number 32. It says this. For after all these things do the Gentiles seek. What does that mean? Who are the Gentiles? Those are referred to as the unbelievers. And here's what Jesus is saying by that little statement. The unbelievers worry about these things. But you have a heavenly father. You're different. You have that relationship with the Lord. Unbelievers need to worry. Listen, unbelievers should worry. They should not only worry about the physical, but unbelievers should also worry about spiritual things. So if an unbeliever is full of worry, that should be happening. Jesus says, the Gentiles do that. But you're not a Gentile because you have a heavenly Father. As we think about our relationship with the Lord, I'm not sitting here saying that you should. That worry is going to be absent, totally absent from your life. One commentator argues there's some good kind of worry. I'm not even going to go down that route. But I believe there are times that we worry about people in our family that are not saved. But that worry should drive you to prayer and to go after them and to share the Gospel with them. So I can hear that argument. I can understand that argument. But unbelievers worry about physical, and they worry about spiritual. Unbelievers have a reason to worry. But you and I have a father who knows. Real quick. Matthew, chapter six. Go back to verse number eight. Matthew six, verse number eight. We covered this. I was going to say a few weeks ago, but it's been a month and a half ago now. It says this. Matthew 6, 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them. For your Father knoweth what things you have need of before you ask him, before you even make it known. The Lord knows exactly what you need down here on this earth. You may worry about some things, but your heavenly Father has the answer, and you need to trust him for that answer today. Don't trust worry. Don't lean into that. Lean into your relationship with. With the Lord. Don't live like the unfaithful, worrying about every little thing every single day, because that identifies you, not trusting in the Lord, not trusting in your Heavenly Father. So how do we turn that worry into faith today? Look at verse number 33 and 34. Here's your answer. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore, no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Point number four. Faith will take care of tomorrow. Don't worry. How many of you are already thinking about tomorrow? Be honest. Yeah, man, I gotta get up early in the morning. I hope this preacher hurries up. We're thinking about tomorrow. We got schedules. We got things to do. We got family plans. Hey, our minds are already on tomorrow, and we're not finished with today. And that's the warning here. Remember? I'm gonna go back to my backpack, right? We got enough in here today, and we're already piling tomorrow on today. Do you see how quickly the worry adds up and gets weighty and heavy? Because you're worried about the things of the day, and it's already a full bag and you're worrying about tomorrow, and we can't even fit that, and yet we're carrying this bag over and over and over. When we think about tomorrow, we get anxious over those things that may or may not even happen in our backpacks. We carry those worries of today and pack the worries of tomorrow. And some of those things that we are worried about don't even happen. Our mind races, David. Jeremiah says, those little worries carve a trench that the rivers just flood through. And here's what Jesus is trying to tell his followers. Believers, don't worry. I know you. You belong to me. And I will take care of you. I will take care of you today. And when tomorrow comes, I'll take care of tomorrow's worries when tomorrow comes. Don't worry about tomorrow. Today. And so that's where we're going to leave our study tonight. And all that we do and all that we Seek God every single day. Here's what we need to understand. God will take care of us. Our worries must be replaced with something. Look at verse number 33. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. And all these things shall be added unto you. Instead of spending your time and your effort and your energy worrying, here's what Jesus said. Seek the things of God. Seek God's will. Seek his plan. Seek the kingdom of God. Seek and be obedient to what God has for your life. Live it out in day by day. And he needs to be what place? Say it louder. Seek first the kingdom of God. Seek first. And when you put God first, he's going to take care of the needs. When you seek God first, you won't need to worry because your heavenly Father will take care of it. When you seek God first, you won't have time to be filled with worry. There's more to life than the physical needs. You are more valuable than any other creation of God. Here's the message of the night. God will take care of you. And your life needs to be led by faith in in Jesus, not by worrying about what's going on today. God will take care of your needs. Many of us in this room I'm looking at many families can testify to this. God will take care of us. And it's amazing that testimony. It's a reminder as we think about worry. I just wrote three things to deal with worry and it feels like I'm beating the same drum. If you're trying to deal with worry, pray, pray. Secondly, cling to God's word and his truth and then live it out. Walk by faith, not by sight. That will ease the worrying process. Let's pray, Father. God, thank you, Lord. Tonight, maybe in this room there is a weary worrier. Lord, I pray that you just go before our prayer time, Lord, and that you will just draw near to that one heart. Draw near to my heart. My mind races always to the worst. I'm guilty. So, God, I just pray, Lord, that you will continue to lead us and grow us and to trust in you more each and every day. Lord, maybe there's somebody in this room that has a big day tomorrow. On some level, they're already worried about it. Tonight, God, I just pray, Lord, that you will take what we have, that backpack that's full of our worries and concerns and that's so heavy. And as First Peter tells us to cast it on you, cast our cares upon you because you care for us, God, tonight maybe somebody needs to cast their anxiety and their worry on you. They need to lay down their backpack and let you carry it. Lord, I pray that happens tonight. And Lord, that you will teach us to trust you to carry all of our needs and all of our worries. And that you will take care of us. Thank you for loving us so much. We look to you now. In Jesus name, amen.
- 27:35Speaker A: You've been listening to Truth for the Journey from Clifford Baptist Church. You're always welcome to visit Clifford Baptist Church for Sunday School at 9:45, 5, worship at 11aM and Wednesday evening worship at 7pM Join us again next Sunday for Truth for the Journey.