Matthew 6:25-34

Worry is the indication that we are in some way engaged in idolatry.  Worry is unbelief, as is evident from Jesus judgment in v30: O you of little faith!  Worry expresses doubt that …

·        God knows what is best for me, v25.

·        God considers me worth His time and effort, v26.

·        God knows how to care for me, v28-30.

·        God knows enough to run my life, 1 Peter 5:6-7.

·        God will be on time, 1 Peter 5:6-7.

Worry and unbelief are seen when …

·        The word is absent, Matt. 13:22.

·        Fellowship with Christ is absent, Luke 10:41.

·        Peace of mind is absent, Phil. 4:6-7.

The interesting thing about the people who heard Jesus’ words in this sermon is that their scriptures were filled with stories of faith.  Hebrews 11 in the New Testament is a catalogue of many (but not nearly all) of those stories from Old Testament days.  Yet here they were, consumed with worry about today, and about the basic needs.  Several times Jesus simply says, Do not worry!  

What are we to do if we are not to be stressed about this life?  First let us be clear.  In the Bible the opposite of worry is not to be carefree, uncaring, naive, apathetid, incompetent or inept.  Since worry is a form of unbelief, the opposite of worry is faith, believing in God, trusting Him.  Note this in vs.31-34.  Jesus accuses these people who claim to be the people of God of in fact acting like the pagans they detest.  Their priorities of life are no different than the ungodly.

In v32 the Greek word for “run after” is actually the word for “seek” with a prefix.  The ungodly seek hard or frantically after temporal things.  Instead Jesus calls men to seek after God’s kingdom and righteousness.  This is the kingdom where God rules (one of only five times Matthew uses this term rather than kingdom of heaven).  It is seeking after His righteousness, which is truly a righteousness which exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees.  

The result of this eternal focus of the heart is that the God whose kingdom and righteousness we seek will see to it that the needs of this life are met sufficiently and on time.  

Will you walk in faith?  Will you trust God in this?  He is saying, Set your heart on what is eternal and you will see that the temporal things will be cared for by Me.