(1) The things you can't change. There are some things you can't change. You can adjust your

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1 Return To Lowell F. Johnson Master Menu Return To Lowell F. Johnson Great Questions From The Bible Why Do You Worry? Matthew 6:25-34 Before Reading the Passage Worry is a serious problem: The ignorant worry because they don't know enough. The educated worry because they know too much. The poor worry because they don't have enough. The rich worry because they're afraid oflosing what they have. The old worry because they're facing death. The young worry because they're facing an uncertain future. You can always find something to worry about; yet, Jesus said that worry will defeat us. Read the Passage Three times in the ten verses Jesus commands, "Do not worry" (v. 25, 31, 34) How many times does Jesus have to tell us not to do something before we're not to do it? Three times in these verses Jesus commands us not to worry; the word "worry" is found six times in these verses... AND THEN, almost as if He knew we were going to worry anyway, He tells us how to deal with worry. Before I deal with what worry is, let me tell you what worry IS NOT: (1) Jesus didn't say - Don't Plan In fact, Jesus says a wise man will plan. Jesus said that a wise man who intends to build a tower should first sit down and figure the cost of building. (2) Jesus didn't say - Don't be Concerned - You see a child playing too close to a busy street; concern will cause you to go get the child away from the street. - Sometimes folks joke: "I don't worry, I'm just overly concerned." What's the difference between worry and concern? Worry has to do with the future, something over which you have no control; concern has to do with the present, something over which you do have control. There are two things that we should never worry about: (1) The things you can't change. There are some things you can't change. You can adjust your

2 attitude toward them, ask God to give you grace in dealing with them, but worrying will not change them, so don't worry about them. (2) The things you can change. If you can change something that needs to be changed, stop worrying about it and do something about it. Jesus says three things about worry: A. Worry is Foolish 6:26 Worry has never lifted a burden... or solved a problem... or made a house or car payment... or paid the bills... or helped with a relationship... or rubbed out a single wrinkle (it has added tons of wrinkles, but never removed a one). Jesus said, "Become a birdwatcher." There are millions and millions of birds in this world, and by and large they are healthy and happy. Did you know that there has never been a bird in the history of the world that has been treated for hypertension, high blood pressure, or stress! What farmer would feed his chickens but not feed his children? Would God dare feed the birds but not feed His beloved? Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen." B. Worry is Fruitless Someone said that worrying is like shoveling smoke. You're not any better off when you're done than you were when you started. Worry is something that we fear will be, but never is. We magnify in our minds what we think is going to be a problem to the point that we can't see what is reality. Mark Twain said: "I've been through some terrible things in my life; some of which actually happened." A third grade teacher was trying to teach her class on how to use fractions, and she looked at a little boy on the front row and said, "Billy, what is 3/4's of5/16's?" He said, "Miss Smith, I don't know what it is, but it's not enough to worry about." c. Worry is Faithless 6:28-30 Worry says that my problem is too big for God to handle. Three things I want us to do concerning worry: 1. Analyze the Causes of Worry

3 It's amazing that the things folks worried about 2,000 years ago are the very things that cause us to worry today. A. They worried about their Future 6:34 We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow or next month or next year and God is good and gracious not to tell us - We'd just worry about it. The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time. B. They worried about their Food 6: 3 1 We don't really worry about food; we worry about the best kind offood... if I'm going to get the food of my choice. We don't want to eat the same thing more than two days in a row. C. They worried about their Fashion 6:28 Again, we worry more about the kind or style of clothes we wear. It's not that we don't have jeans to wear, but do we have designer jeans. It's not that we may not have a shirt to wear, but do they have an alligator, or a man on a horse or a duckhead on them. D. They worried about their Fitness 6:27 Two of the biggest shows on TV now are Extreme Make Over and Biggest Loser. Worry about your health isn't going to add years to your life. If anything, it may take years from your life. E. They worried about Finances 6: 19 When I worry I'm saying that I'm going through something that's too big for God to handle or that God just doesn't care what I'm going through. II. Avoid the Curse of Worry Worry does bring its curses upon you! Let me tell you what worry will do for you: (1) Worry will take up your time. - The word "worry" means "to divide the mind." It pictures one whose mind is so divided that he is ill-at-ease; filled with tension and stress; lacks peace of mind. (2) Worry will limit your success Worry will not empty tomorrow if its sorrows, but it will empty today of its strengths. (3) Worry will make you self-centered Everything becomes about me - my wants, my needs, my desires. (4) Worry erases the promises of God 6:33

4 Ifwe seek first - God, there will be no room for worry. Think about it: There is no worry in heaven! Why are we not to worry? Jesus uses two different tenses of the verb for worry: In v. 25 it means, "Stop worrying;" in v. 31 it means, "don't start worrying." "If you are worrying, stop it; and if you are not worrying, don't start." Why are we not to worry? ( a) Because God had the ability to care for us. An on cliche says, "If you're worrying, you're not trusting; and if you're trusting, you're not worrying." (b) Because God cares for you and He is willing and able to care for you. Listen to Peter - 1 Peter 5;7 - "Cast (roll your burden over on Him) all your cares (worry) on the Lord, for He cares (He is mindful, interested, He thinks about you) you." (c) Because He can take care of your needs without any worry on your part. ill. Apply the Cure for Worry 6:33 We want to put the Lord on the back burner until we get in trouble and then go running to get Him. No! Jesus said to put Him first. I heard about a man who dreamed that he was driving down a country road and he saw Jesus walking down the road. He thought "It's not right for Jesus to be walking while I'm riding in this fine, air-conditioned car. He stopped and opened the back door and said, "Jesus, get in." But Jesus kept walking. The man said, "Of course, Jesus wants to ride in the front seat with me" and he opened the front door, but Jesus would not get in. Then Jesus walked around to the driver's side of the car, opened the front door and said, "I'll drive." Have you seen those tags that say, "Jesus is my co-pilot"? No, Jesus wants to drive! A survey was done about all the things people worry about. Near the bottom of the list - only ten percent - worried about going to hell or their eternal destiny. Let me tell you what I used to worry about more than anything else: What would happen to me if! were to die. I don't worry about that any more because I have had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and He has settled the issue. He buried my sins in the depths of the sea and put up a "no fishing" sign.

5 Sometimes I want to talk to the Lord about sins I confessed yesterday and God says, "What sins? I don't remember." The scripture says, "He remembers our sin no more!" I you've never been saved, receive Jesus into your heart. Then, you'll have one less thing to worry about. Return To Lowell F. Johnson Master Menu Return To Great Questions From The Bible