Worry in the Presence of the Father
Matthew 6:25-34
Introduction
– We said this section (vv 19-34) can be summarized
thus: God does not mind His people
having things; He forbids things having His people. The things of this world can control you in two different
ways. In vv 19-24 we were admonished
not to let our hearts find a home here in treasures that will not last. In vv 25-34 Jesus gives a strong word of
consolation to those who are tempted to be anxious about their earthly
needs. Christ’s word of admonition
shows us the wickedness of worrying in the presence of the Father. “The problem with many of us Christians
is that we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, but we do not believe Him.” –
Lloyd-Jones
A Command of Consolation – This command comes with a tone of care,
similar to Jesus’ conversation with Martha (Luke 10:38-42).
“Do not worry”
(v25) –
This is not the same thing as saying ‘do not think, do not plan, do not care
about’. Farmers must plow and sow in
order to reap. We are to work hard or
we are not to eat (Prov 6:6-11, 2 Thess 3:10).
We are to work hard, because work is a gift, but we are not to work hard
because we are worried. There is a
godly ‘care’ and an ungodly ‘care’ for things.
“Is not life
more than…” This first argument is
from the greater to the lesser and is the same as - “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us
all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” – Rom 8:32. The point is that your life is a gift from
God, and a more important gift than all that you need to sustain it. But we do not think of life as a gift
anymore. We think of life as an
accident of nature and a choice to be made by a woman. It is no wonder we worry so much.
Birds (v26) – This second argument
is from the lesser to the greater.
Psalm 19 – “The heavens declare the glory of God”, is fulfilled
even in finches and pigeons. Jesus
wants you to meditate on something staring you in the face. Have you ever seen a bird with an ulcer? And notice who feeds them – Not their
heavenly Father, but your heavenly Father.
Fruitless Worry
(v27) –
Your worry does not lengthen your life in the least. Therefore, when you worry, you are acting as though you have
control over something that you do not.
It was the cares of this life that choked the plants in Matt 13:22.
Flowers (28-30) – Again, we are
commanded to consider. We are to
think, not worry. Flowers are supposed
to be your teachers. He is probably
specifically talking about wildflowers that no person planted or tended. We do not realize what we are as children of
our heavenly Father – “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly
above all that we ask or think…” Eph 3:20.
If we do not see these things, we are without excuse (Rom 1:19-20).
O You of Little
Faith – Jesus
will call them this again in two short chapters (Matt 8:23-27).
A Command of Admonition –
These commands come with a stronger tone of rebuke.
Speaking Like
the Gentiles (vv31-32) –
Jesus says when you talk like this, you sound like a pagan, an unbeliever, a
Gentile. “Sons of the King of heaven
are not to conduct themselves like the Devil’s beggars” - Pink
Gentiles seek,
your Father knows –
Here is the great contrast. The
unbeliever seeks without consideration of God.
He has no faith and no hope. It
is all up to him. But the believer
knows He has a heavenly Father, not simply a Theistic Being. Having been adopted, we know we “…are
under His fatherly care and dispensations, admitted to all the liberties and
privileges of the sons of God, made heirs of all the promises…”
Implications – Worry is an act of
unbelief. It is a grievous sin. And like manure in the ground, worry in the
soul is strong fertilizer for so many other sins – of covetousness, bitterness,
falsehoods, stealing, to name a few.
Seek first
(v33) –
Consider this command in light of the order of the Lord’s Prayer. To seek first our own concerns is to be
self-centered. All concern for our
needs must come out of our central desire to see Christ’s kingdom.
Grace for Today (v34) – Jesus Christ is very realistic. To command you not to worry is not to say
there are not real trials and troubles today.
Appointed
Troubles - “For to you it has been granted on behalf of
Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Phil 1:29.
God uses these troubles to remind us of our need for Him, of our
weakness, and His power. And this
chastening produces good fruit – Heb 12:11.
Appointed for
Tomorrow – God
sovereignly portions out your life. He
knows your frame. Worry about tomorrow
is presumptuous, and it tends to keep us from working hard today.
Mercies New
Every Morning –
Consider Lam 3:19-26. God gives grace
like manna. If you seek to store up
enough for tomorrow, it will rot. But
He gives a bounty of grace for today, for He is our great heavenly Father.