Sermon Matthew 6: 24-34 Don't Worry

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Pitts Creek and Beaver Dam Churches

Sermon Matthew 6: 24-34 Don't Worry

March 2, 2014

This is the final Sunday in the season of Epiphany. And we have been on the side of a mountain listening in, as Jesus taught his disciples and a crowd from the surrounding community. His teachings have been practical, helping us to obey the traditional law by doing simple things that prevent situations from getting worse. Jesus has clearly told us that we should publicly demonstrate our faith even if this gets us in trouble with the culture or government. We are to reconcile with those with whom we are angry before we get to violence. We are to avoid situations and actions that could lead to adultery. We are to reconcile with our spouses before we get to divorce. And we are to respond to evil with love. All these things we do because we are citizens of a new kingdom of heaven which is coming to earth. Today we will tackle a problem we all face. We worry too much. We'll get to this, but first let's pray.

God, as this new day dawns, may your Spirit guide my feet and reveal you to me in new ways as I walk through your world today. Amen.¹

Matthew 6:24-34 ²⁴ "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.

This is the traditional law. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to serve two bosses. One will tell you to do one thing and the other will tell you to do something else. There must be clear lines of responsibility and authority in any organization. And no worker should work for two people. But we do have divide loyalties. We have to think about our job, and our family and our church. Our time and resources have to be carefully allocated. We have to make sure that we give an appropriate amount of our time and money to the church. And we have to take care of our families. All of this can lead to conflict. Some children want to play soccer on Sunday mornings rather that come to church. What do we do? Sometimes a new car or vacation causes us to not have enough left over for giving. What do we do? Sometimes we are just so busy that there is no time for daily prayer and Bible study. What do we do? Let's listen to Jesus.

24You cannot serve both God and Money. ²⁵ "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

The problem we face is that when we value something more than God we begin to worry. And whatever it is that is more important to us than God, we worry about that thing the most. For example, if we value money more than God then we will worry about money. We worry that we won't have enough to put food on the table, pay the rent and the utility bills. We worry that we won't have enough for retirement. We worry that we won't leave enough to the kids. We do things to deal with our worries. We try to earn more or save more. But it really doesn't matter how much we make or how much money we have invested we still worry about it. We worry that the stock market will go down. We worry that government will cut social security. We worry about everything because money is more valuable to us than God.

Jesus gives us practical advise to help us stop worrying. Let's listen.

²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ²⁸ "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

So Jesus wants us to do three things. The first is to go to the YMCA at take a long look at the geese on the lake. These geese have no worries. God provides them with all the food their need. God has given them feathers which keep them warm on the coldest of days. They don't go to work in the morning and toil all day. All they do is sit on the lake. And if there is any kind of problem they just fly away. So go down to the Y or maybe just look out your window and see what it is like for birds for whom money is no concern. They haven't a care in the world.

The second thing Jesus wants us to do is to walk outside and take a look at the daffodils coming up from the ground. Do you think daffodils worry about utility bills? Are they concerned about credits cards. Their only concern is feeling the warmth of the sun telling telling them that it is time to grow and bloom. So take a long look at the daffodils growing in your garden and see what it is like to have no concerns and no worries.

So Jesus wants us to take a long looks at birds and flowers. And then he wants us to do what they do. Birds and flowers put the kingdom of heaven first. They have no concern for anything else because they know that God will give them everything they need. So too with us. If we put the kingdom of heaven first, if God is more important to us than money, then our worries will go away too. We look at the birds. We look at the flowers. And we put God first in our lives. And our concerns bother us no more.

So Jesus wants us to be free from worry. But, for what purpose? What can we do if we are free from worrying about money? Well, let's listen to Jesus and find out.

³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So according to Jesus if we stop worrying then we can start seeking. And that which we seek is the kingdom of heaven and the righteousness of God. What Jesus wants is for us to stop fretting about ourselves and focus on what he has been teaching us. Don't worry about money, but overwhelm evil with love. Don't worry about your job, but reconcile with those who make you angry. Don't worry about the future, but stay away from things that get you into trouble. Don't worry; do what Jesus commands you to do. And the investment you make in heaven will payoff handsomely.

Let's pray. Father in heaven we know that the birds and the flowers don't worry the way we do. Help us by calming our fears and allow us to fully seek your kingdom. This we pray in your son's name. Amen.

1Kimberly Long, Feasting On the Word Worship Companion (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2013), 88.