Sermon: "A Life Free From Worry"
This morning we are going to look at a command from Jesus which many Christians constantly disobey and generally do not feel that they have done anything wrong. Those who do feel they have disobeyed Jesus normally don’t do anything to try and obey him in the future.
This command of Jesus which is so often disobeyed is found in our scripture lesson.
MATTHEW 6:25-34 – 25Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat’? Or ‘What shall we drink’? Or ‘What shall we wear’? 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given toyou as well. 34Therefore do notworry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Do not worry! A clear command from Jesus, but a command that most of us have a hard time obeying.
Would you like to live somewhere on planet earth where you could escape from all your problems?
In 1991 four men and four women tried to do just that. A project had been funded to build an entirely self-sustaining ecosystem large enough to support humans. It was a great glass dome built in Arizona. The dome was a 3.1 acre sealed glass structure that included a 900,000 gallon ocean, a rain forest, a desert, farming areas and small apartments for the eight people who would live there. The dome was called Biosphere 2.
The eight people were sealed in the Biosphere 2 dome for a two year experiment. They should have been free from worry. They had escaped from all the troubles and heartaches we experience. They had no financial struggles and didn’t have the pressures of a busy schedule.
However, things didn’t go as expected. Micro-organisms in the soil consumed more oxygen than anyone had anticipated. Therefore oxygen had to be pumped in from the outside. They also encountered what was called “social difficulties” which is a nice way of saying they ended up hating each other. The group split into two factions and people who had been friends became enemies. At one point one of the eight had to exit briefly for medical attention.
They couldn’t get away from everything. Their dome failed them. Another group tried in 1994 but only lasted eight months. Eventually the dome was turned into a research lab for students. Then in February of 2006 Fairfield Homes purchased Biosphere 2 and its 1,600 surrounding acres to build a housing development. At this point the Biosphere 2 Dome is still open for tours.
As long as we live here on earth we aren’t going to be able to escape from everything that causes us to worry, so we need to find a different solution. That solution involves – THE MIGHTY ONE, GOD, THE LORD.
Last week we saw that he is a God we can trust. We can trust him because he is sovereign (supreme in power) and good.
No matter what is happening to us or around us we can say with confidence:
- I know God knows what’s best.
- I know I don’t.
and
- I know he cares.
With that as our foundation, let’s now tackle the problem of how to not worry.
You can obey Jesus’ command to not worry by living in the dome God is willing to provide for you.
Let’s begin by looking at …
I. THE TRUTH ABOUT WORRY
The first truth is …
A. MOST WORRY IS NEEDLESS
Someone did a study concerning the things about which we worry. Here are the findings of their study.
40% of the thing things we worry about never happen
30% of the things we worry about are unchangeable … things in the past
12% of the things we worry about concern the opinions of others which we can’t
control
10% of the things we worry about concern health issues and worry only makes things
worse
8% of the things we worry about concern real problems that we can do something
about
100%
So if that study is correct – 92% of the things we worry about are needless. Next we see that …
B. WORRY IS WORTHLESS
Our lesson says …
MATTHEW 6:27 – Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
Jesus went on to say that we should not worry about food, drink or clothing. Why? Because he knows our needs and will take care of us. Do you see how this lesson connects to last week’s lesson concerning trusting God?
That leads us right into the next truth concerning worry.
C. WORRY IS A SIGN OF A FRAGILE FAITH
Jesus said that very thing. He mentioned how God takes care of the wild lilies, including how beautiful they appear and then says…
MATTHEW 6:30 – If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Worry is a sign of a weak faith. A weak faith that doesn’t really trust God as he desires us to trust him. We don’t want to doubt God but when we worry that’s exactly what we are doing.
The last truth we want to look at concerning worry is that …
D. WORRY DIVIDES
The Greek word for worry means – “to divide the mind.” Worry splits us down the middle. Worry doesn’t take away tomorrow’s troubles, it cancels out your strength for today. Worry divides your strength by causing you to think about tomorrow and then you don’t have the energy to be doing what you should be doing today.
Paul had some Christian friends who were dealing with a lot of problems. They lived in a city called Philippi. Like many of us they had a tendency to not trust God completely and instead to worry. Like us they knew Jesus told them not to worry. Like us they knew that worry doesn’t change a thing. Yet, like us it was easy for them to forget that the Mighty One, God, was their Lord and they would start to worry. Let’s look at Paul’s words to them and learn …
II. WHAT TO DO IN ORDER NOT TO WORRY
Paul offers a two part approach to overcome worry there is – God’s part and our part. Here is what Paul wrote to his friends in Philippi.
PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7 – 4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Let’s look first at …
A. OUR PART IN LEARNING NOT TO WORRY
You need to …
1. Remember the times God has been good to you
Paul says we are to rejoice. It is hard to rejoice if all you are doing is worrying. In order to rejoice you need to take the time to count your blessings. That’s what it means to remember the times God has been good to you.
There is an interesting story in the Old Testament that deals with this issue of remembering the times God has blessed us. Listen to the account.
I SAMUEL 7:7-13 – 7When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. And when the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. 8They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it up as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him.
10While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. 11The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Car.
12Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far has the Lord helped us.” 13So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again.
Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines.
Samuel set up what I suspect was a large boulder which he called – Ebenezer. He did that so that every time the Children of Israel would see the rock or hear the word “Ebenezer,” they would remember how good God had been to them and how he had helped them.
Years ago we used to sing a song that was designed to help us remember God’s goodness to us. It even contained the word Ebenezer. We are going to sing it in a few minutes, but let’s first look at some of the words from each verse.
Verse 1
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, (that is referring to God, and in particular, his Holy Spirit who lives within believers)
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace (Holy Spirit help me to be able to rejoice because),Streams of mercy(from God) never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise.
Verse 2
Here I raise my Ebenezer (at this moment I choose to remember all the times you have been with me)
Hither by thy help I’m come(God I made it this far because of your help)
And I hope by thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home(God, with your help I hope someday to be in heaven).
Verse 3
O to grace how great a debtor, Daily I’m constrained to be(God I need your grace every day. I would have no hope without it).
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, Bind my wandering heart to Thee(God in your grace tie this fearful, sinful, unfaithful heart of mine to yourself).
Now let’s sing this song and allow it to remind us of how good God has been to us so that we can start to overcome the tendency we have to worry.
SING – “COME, THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING” (P/P)
So to live a life free from worry we count our blessings by remembering all the times God has been good to us and we …
2. Thank God for His blessings
Paul told the Philippians …
PHILIPPIANS 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
The Philippian Christians were not the only Christians Paul wrote to concerning giving thanks to God. Here is what he wrote to the Colossian Christians.
COLOSSIANS 3:15 – Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
His words were even stronger to the Thessalonians.
I THESSALONIANS 5:18 – Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Thanking God is as much for our benefit as it is for God’s. When you look forward in fear you begin to worry. Forgetfulness of what God has done for you breeds fearfulness, but a thankful attitude makes for a hopeful heart.
When you find yourself starting to worry, stop and take the time to count your blessings. For those of you who really struggle with worrying, take the time to write them down or type them into your computer. Then one by one thank God for each of your blessings. From time to time update your list of blessings.
I don’t mean to be negative, but do you want to hear something really sad? Those of you who worry the most will most likely not do this. You won’t force yourself to count your blessings and if you do count them you won’t write them down where you can look at them from time to time.
You have worried about things for so long that it is now easy for you to disobey Jesus when he says … “Do not worry!”
Worry has become a way of life for you. It will take effort on your part to start focusing on the blessings God has given you and then to thank God for them.
The next thing we are to do to overcome worry is to …
3. Pray and seek God’s help
Paul said …
PHILIPPIANS 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Instead of talking about how prayer can help you live free of worry I am going to read you something written by Max Lucado. He says …
“It works like this. Let’s say something stressful comes your way. For example, the doctor decides you need an operation. She detects a lump and thinks it best that you have it removed. So there you are, walking out of her office. You’ve just been handed this cup of anxiety. What are you going to do with it? You can place it in one of two pots.
You can dump your bad news in the pot of worry, turn on the fire. Stew on it. Stir it. Mope for a while. Brood for a time. Won’t be long before you’ll have a delightful pot of pessimism. Some of you have been sipping from this pot for a long time.
How about a different idea? The pot of prayer. Before the door of the doctor’s office closes, give the problem to God. God I receive your lordship. Nothing comes to me that hasn’t passed through you.”
Do you see why we began this series of messages last week with a lesson on trusting God? You cannot live a life free of worry if you are not trusting in a God who is in complete control and who is good. When you pray and give your problem to God you need to know you are praying to the Mighty One, God, the Lord.
So your part in overcoming worry is to remember (count your blessings), give thanks (for your blessings), and pray (trusting God knows what he is doing).
That brings us to …
B. GOD’S PART IN DEFEATING WORRY
God’s part is providing you with peace and protection. The Bible says …
PHILIPPIANS 4:7 – And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
No worry, just peace. Why? Because you know that no matter what happens, God is in control and he cares about you.
You may not like what you have to face or endure, but you have a great peace in your heart and mind because God is willing to give you this peace when you totally trust him.
CONCLUSION
God, the Mighty One, the Lord, is a God you can trust and is a God who can help you to live a life free of worry.
When you are tempted to worry …
- Remember his goodness to you and count your blessings
- Thank Him – for each of your blessings
and
- Pray – giving yourself and your problem into his care.
Remember, giving thanks and praying is God’s “dome” for you. Live in it and you can live a life free from worry.