Jump Start # 714

Matthew 6:25 “For this reason I say to you, ‘do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?’”

Our verse today comes from the great sermon on the mount—the greatest sermon given by the greatest preacher, Jesus Christ. This passage begins a section about worry or being anxious. The Lord is very direct about these things. Three times (25, 31, 34) Jesus says, “Do not worry.” He also says, “Why are you worried” (28) and can “worry” change things? (27).

Jesus reminds us that worry blinds us to our blessings. This is why He tells the disciples to “look at the birds,” (26) and “observe the lilies” (28). Look…observe…count your blessings!

Jesus tells them that worry is faithless. Worry is characteristic of the gentiles who do not know God (32). The bigger the faith the less the worry!

Worry is a problem. It’s a problem among believers. We struggle with this. The unknown and not being in control of things drives us batty. Worry invites fear and doubt into our hearts. We know that we shouldn’t worry, but we do. We worry about the upcoming election, gas prices, kids braces, our jobs, our houses, retirement, and our health. Worry can steal our sleep and ruin our appetites. We get edgy and nervous because we are worried.

There is a question in our verse today. “Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” Disciples know the answer to that question. It is an obvious YES. Life is more than food. There is a growing segment of our society who do not know that answer anymore. They are becoming more and more secular and materialistic to the point that the spiritual barely exists. Their thoughts, desires, words, attitudes and hopes surround the here and the now. They know nothing of the Bible. They live for today and only today. They have reduced themselves, without realizing it, to the life of an animal, who eats, sleeps and lives for today. As a result, worry and fear are major threats to their everyday existence. They spend so much time, money on the outside and completely ignore the inside. Hollywood has been the classic example of the shinny showroom with nothing in the storehouse. Expensive clothing, hours of makeup, the image, the style and yet the character is cheap, shallow and selfish. Vanity is the theme of the worldly mindset. Looking good on the outside while rotten to the core on the inside. Sorry attitudes, mean spirited, gossipy, hateful are the common things that are found in hearts that have ignored the spiritual.

Disciples ought to be different. We must be different. If Jesus has any impact in our lives, it will be demonstrated in how we view life. Poverty of the soul, neglect of the heart is unacceptable to the Lord. Our lives are not defined by what we eat, wear, or how many square feet are in our house. The brands on your clothing do not mean you are somebody, the school you attended doesn’t mean you’ve made it—all of that is worldly thinking.

Your life is more than these things. It is living for Jesus. It is defined by holiness and godliness. It is seeking the kingdom of God. You life is defined by inviting Jesus to be the Lord of your life and your heart. As a result, your character, your hope, your dreams are defined by Jesus. You are a changed person and a better person.

Do not be worried…God will take care of you. Do not be worried…the things that impress us in store windows and catalogs do not impress God. Don’t lose sleep over those things. Don’t be consumed with those things. Don’t get upset over those things.

A few times in the Gospels Jesus marveled. It wasn’t about what people were wearing or the size of their house, it was always about faith. God is impressed about faith. He isn’t impressed with the size of our church buildings. He isn’t impressed that we have the latest gadgets, the newest song books, the best landscaping, the coolest website, the amazing flashing signs out front…he is impressed with the faith of the people worshipping Him.

We can put so much attention of the package that we forget to put anything inside the package. Our attention needs to be more on the inside than the outside, upon the things that matter rather than the things that do not matter and the things that last rather than the things that do not last.

Why are you worried, Jesus asked. Good question. It would be hard to answer Him. Maybe it’s about time that we stopped all this worry business and got about God’s business.

Roger