Kingdom People Need Not Worry
In Matthew 6:25, Jesus commands us, "Do not be anxious about your life." The word "anxious" here comes from the Greek word "merimnao," meaning to be pulled in different directions. What a vivid picture of how anxiety feels!
It's important to clarify that Jesus doesn't advocate for carelessness. Reasonable concern for life's affairs is necessary. However, there’s a line between being responsibly concerned and being consumed by worry. Worry, or over-concern, is what Jesus warns against. This kind of anxiety, He teaches, is a sin because it shows a lack of trust in God.
Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us not to be anxious but to bring our requests to God with thanksgiving, trusting His peace will guard our hearts and minds. Similarly, 1 Peter 5:6-7 encourages us to cast all our anxieties on Him because He cares for us.
Anxiety stems from a heart that doesn't fully trust God. It's like worrying about symptoms without addressing the root cause. Worry is a sign of not trusting God to be God. Instead of letting anxiety take over, we should follow Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:25-34, where He addresses our most common worries: necessities, health, and possessions.
Jesus points to the birds and lilies as examples. Birds don’t store food, yet God feeds them. Lilies don’t toil for their beauty, yet God clothes them. We are of much greater value to God. By worrying, we cannot add a single hour to our life (Matthew 6:27). Modern science supports this, linking habitual worry to numerous health problems.
Our worth to God means He will provide for us. Instead of being anxious, we should seek first His kingdom and righteousness, trusting all our needs will be met (Matthew 6:33-34). Our freedom from worry is rooted in our adoption as God's children and fueled by our faith.
A powerful illustration of this trust can be seen in the story of a man who lost his credit card on vacation but remained untroubled because he didn’t realize it was missing. When he returned, he found it had been safely sent back by a friend. His peace came from not knowing there was a problem to worry about. This is how we should trust God. Even when we are unaware, God is already working on solutions to our problems.
So, what were you worrying about yesterday, last night, or this morning? Trust that God already has it solved. The journey to see His solution might be long and challenging, but He cares for you and will walk with you every step of the way. Let's yield our worries to Him and embrace the peace that comes from trusting in His provision and care.
Questions for further discussion and reflection
•What is the difference between reasonable concern and sinful worry?
•Can you identify examples in your own life where you've crossed from appropriate concern into worry?
•How do Philippians 4:6-7 and 1 Peter 5:6-7 guide us in managing our anxiety? What practical steps can we take to apply these verses in our daily lives?
•What are some specific actions we can take to "seek first the kingdom of God" and trust that our needs will be provided for?
Further Resources:
Biblical Reason Not to Worry by Armand Tiffe: https://biblicalcounseling.com/resource- library/articles/biblical-reasons-not-to-worry/
A Collection of Resources on Worry: https://www.biblicalcounselingcoalition.org/2020/03/18/23-biblical-counseling-resources-on-anxiety-fear-panic-attacks-and-worry/
It's important to clarify that Jesus doesn't advocate for carelessness. Reasonable concern for life's affairs is necessary. However, there’s a line between being responsibly concerned and being consumed by worry. Worry, or over-concern, is what Jesus warns against. This kind of anxiety, He teaches, is a sin because it shows a lack of trust in God.
Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us not to be anxious but to bring our requests to God with thanksgiving, trusting His peace will guard our hearts and minds. Similarly, 1 Peter 5:6-7 encourages us to cast all our anxieties on Him because He cares for us.
Anxiety stems from a heart that doesn't fully trust God. It's like worrying about symptoms without addressing the root cause. Worry is a sign of not trusting God to be God. Instead of letting anxiety take over, we should follow Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:25-34, where He addresses our most common worries: necessities, health, and possessions.
Jesus points to the birds and lilies as examples. Birds don’t store food, yet God feeds them. Lilies don’t toil for their beauty, yet God clothes them. We are of much greater value to God. By worrying, we cannot add a single hour to our life (Matthew 6:27). Modern science supports this, linking habitual worry to numerous health problems.
Our worth to God means He will provide for us. Instead of being anxious, we should seek first His kingdom and righteousness, trusting all our needs will be met (Matthew 6:33-34). Our freedom from worry is rooted in our adoption as God's children and fueled by our faith.
A powerful illustration of this trust can be seen in the story of a man who lost his credit card on vacation but remained untroubled because he didn’t realize it was missing. When he returned, he found it had been safely sent back by a friend. His peace came from not knowing there was a problem to worry about. This is how we should trust God. Even when we are unaware, God is already working on solutions to our problems.
So, what were you worrying about yesterday, last night, or this morning? Trust that God already has it solved. The journey to see His solution might be long and challenging, but He cares for you and will walk with you every step of the way. Let's yield our worries to Him and embrace the peace that comes from trusting in His provision and care.
Questions for further discussion and reflection
•What is the difference between reasonable concern and sinful worry?
•Can you identify examples in your own life where you've crossed from appropriate concern into worry?
•How do Philippians 4:6-7 and 1 Peter 5:6-7 guide us in managing our anxiety? What practical steps can we take to apply these verses in our daily lives?
•What are some specific actions we can take to "seek first the kingdom of God" and trust that our needs will be provided for?
Further Resources:
Biblical Reason Not to Worry by Armand Tiffe: https://biblicalcounseling.com/resource- library/articles/biblical-reasons-not-to-worry/
A Collection of Resources on Worry: https://www.biblicalcounselingcoalition.org/2020/03/18/23-biblical-counseling-resources-on-anxiety-fear-panic-attacks-and-worry/
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