Be Anxious for Nothing
Matthew 6:1-34
I thank God and Pastor Caldwell for giving me the opportunity to speak in print to the masses on the world wide web.
When I was asked to write a message for the website, I immediately went into prayer, seeking God as to what he would have me to say. So many scriptures came to my mind, but God had been telling me, “He takes care of the birds,” and I immediately turned to Matthew 6. So here we go!
With so much unrest in the world today, the scriptures give me comfort and I trust that they will bless and comfort you too. Our text is coming from Matthew 6. Here, Jesus is speaking to the people concerning religious ostentation (pretentious and vulgar display, especially of wealth and luxury, intended to impress or attract notice - google). He instructed them on prayer and about laying up treasures in heaven.
Why did Jesus take the time to teach them? Because they had a job to do and He did not want them caught up with things that are temporary. Now, I didn’t say he didn’t want them in their proper place. Besides, when we can pray and trust God for the answer, we don’t have anything to be anxious about.
Worrying about something is not going to stop it from happening, nor being anxious about a thing. But when we pray, we have a different view of the situation because we know that when we put it in God’s hands, He will handle it and give us peace. We just need to see things God’s way.
In verses 25-34 of Matthew chapter 6, Jesus concludes with these sobering words. (Read) He tells the people not to be anxious and consider the lilies. (Take some time to think about that).
He is emphasizing to the people what really matters here on earth. (Pray about everything, worry about nothing).
In verse 26, Jesus give us an example of the animals then he asks a question, Are you not much better than they? He wanted them (us) to focus on things eternal. Yes we are! We (man) were made in God’s image and likeness (Gen.1 :26), not animals, but He still takes care of them. (Just something to think about).
We cannot add one cubit to our stature. Jesus tells us to consider the lilies, how they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin. They just do what they do. The beauty of the lily has nothing to do with its efforts, but it is given completely by God, the Creator (Picture a field of lilies and their beauty).
Jesus even compared Solomon with the lily. (1 Kings 10) In all his glory, he wasn’t arrayed like one of the lilies. Selah, (Think about it).
In verse 31, Jesus drives the point home. He tells us not to be anxious, don’t worry. Yes, we are in a place we’ve never been in before, but God isn’t. He wasn’t taken by surprise. He’s still telling us to be anxious for nothing. I repeat it again, be anxious for nothing. God’s got us. He is our Provider and He takes care of his own.
We are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto us. This is a promise from God and all the promises of God in Christ Jesus are yes and amen (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Don’t be anxious about these things because we only have today. Sufficient unto the day is its own evils. Trust Him, He’ll never let us down. Just remember… God’s got us!