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went to a Christian college to become a pastor. It was the first time
that I had left home for any length of time. I had to work while I went
to school so I worked for the American Board of Missions to the Jews
as a custodian. It was good work. I had been there for at least one year
when one of the pastors took me to breakfast and urged me to order pork
chops and eggs. I will never forget how wonderful that meal was! I must
have been hungry. He was concerned about me - apparently I looked like
I needed some food even though I did not feel hungry. I thanked God and
the pastor for breakfast. God has never left me hungry. Yet, there have
been times in my life when I have had other needs and have been anxious
about those needs. It is people like me and like you for whom Jesus has
some advice.
For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? . . . (NASB) Matthew 6:25-34 Anxiety. In our last study, Jesus had just
finished telling the crowd the world’s treasure is only emptiness
- nothing. In our pursuit of satisfaction we end up serving the things
of this world and end-up empty on the inside - always wanting and never
satisfied. We miss God.
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (NASB) Matt. 6:24. Jesus called us to be consumed with seeking God and not the things of
this world. In our passage this time, Jesus goes even further and tells
us that God is the reason to “ . . . not be anxious for your life
. . .“ The Greek word Jesus uses for anxiety, MERIMNAO, means to “care
for someone or something” in the sense of “a worrying and
tormenting care.” This is the first time that Jesus uses the word
ANXIETY in the gospel of Matthew. In fact, He uses it six times in verses
25-34. If we add the parallel passage in Luke 12, Jesus uses it 64 percent
of the time it occurs in the New Testament. Jesus is about to give us
a lesson on anxiety.
He wants us to not worry or torment ourselves about what
we will eat, drink or wear. While most of us do not fear being hungry,
we may be anxious about losing a job, paying our financial debts, or
collecting enough money to pay for an upcoming expense. Each of us has
different things which tempt us to be anxious.
Life Sustaining. Jesus’ message has
two parts: our life sustaining needs and our external needs. He speaks
directly to our deep need for food and drink in order to live. His illustrations
are simple and wonderful.
In my backyard, my wife and I see many different kinds
of birds every year: eagles, buzzards, owls, quail, hummingbirds, a red
breasted bird, roadrunners, woodpeckers and doves. Most of them eat the
seeds on the ground or whatever they can find in the trees. I am amazed
every time I see them in my backyard or in the wilderness areas. I have
never seen any of them planting seeds, fertilizing my grass, or my trees
or even watering them. Yet, they come every morning and evening, almost
every day of the year and eat.
The birds do no work, but yet God feeds them. Jesus is telling
us that if God cares for these birds, He will take care of us too. Why?
Because God considers us to be more important! This is Jesus’ point!
Yet, we worry about our lives. For those of us who worry, Jesus has a
question,
And which of you by being anxious can increase the length of your life’s span? Matt. 6:27 Jesus’ point is simple. Anxiety will not keep you alive! |
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| Sermon on the Mount | |||||
