Matthew 6:25; 33

25 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life… 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

The Coronavirus has alerted otherwise passive affluent cultures like our that life is fragile. Prosperity, comfort and security are precarious.

However, the Bible plainly tells us NOT to worry, or be anxious or live in fear.

DO NOT WORRY: all inclusive.

Jesus knew what He was commanding. He knew the effects of life. DO NOT WORRY.

• Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV)  15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
• It is a command, an imperative; not suggestion, not an option, not good advice… a COMMAND
• To do otherwise is to disobey Jesus.

Worry

• Psalm 55:22 (NKJV)  22 Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
• 1 Peter 5:6–7 (NKJV)  6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,   7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

What do we worry about? The “cares” of this world.

Philippians 4:6 – Be anxious [worry] for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (NKJV)

• Nothing… the Bible defines that as “nothing”. All encompassing..

Paul gives us several reasons not to worry:

Philippians 4:5 – Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. (NKJV)

• The Lord is at hand, meaning that He is near,
• He is accessible and He is paying attention.

A key to ending worry is acknowledging Christ’s presence [He is NEAR] and be secure in it.

Philippians 4:6-7 – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (NKJV)

This peace then sets up a guard in our heart, and in our mind, protecting us from worry and anxiety.

All of this preparation of the mind and heart and attitudes leads us up to one of the cornerstone passages of the Bible:

Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NKJV)

When we read the verse in light of the entire book of Philippians we find its true meaning:

• No matter what the situation, hardship, sacrifice or circumstance, when we have the right thinking, right attitudes, right praying and right living we will find that we can do all things through Christ who gives us the strength to live both in joy and victorious power.

There is no need to worry because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

• There is no need to get caught up in the cares of this life because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
• There is no need to be insecure about the future because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
• There is no need to live even a moment without joy because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Because we believe that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us…

• and because we know who wins,
• and because we know where our future home is,
• and because we have put the past behind us and are pressing on toward the prize,
• and because we have counted all things but loss for the sake of Christ,
• and because we know that to live is Christ and to die is even better,
• and because we know that our willingness to be humble will result in future exultation…

…we come to understand why the Lord clearly and confidently tells us to never worry, never be anxious about anything, ever.

Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NKJV)

Matthew 6:25-33

25 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,  29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

The Coronavirus has alerted otherwise passive affluent cultures like our that life is fragile. Prosperity, comfort and security are precarious.

As our culture adapts to the new world of pandemic viruses, we see a massive rise in anxiety, worry, fear, depression and even suicide.

Anxiety is an inner feeling of apprehension, uneasiness, worry, and/or dread that is accompanied by a heightened physical arousal.

• The Bible uses the term anxiety or worry in two ways. Both are common.
• Anxiety that is realistic concern is neither condemned nor forbidden.
• Anxiety that is fret and worry is more distressing and, at its core, reflects a lack of confidence in God and a tendency to take burdens on to ourselves.

However, the Bible plainly tells us NOT to worry, or be anxious or live in fear.

• It is a command so to do these things then becomes a SIN because does not command us to NOT do something which He then does not give us the ability to achieve.

Let’s see if there are any loopholes in God’s command not to WORRY:

• Do not worry about what you will eat:  food, sustenance.
• Do no worry about what you will drink: water, the highest necessity for life next to breathing.
• Do not work about your body: health, imprisonment, clothing, freedom, sickness, dying.
• DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE.  That covers everything.

DO NOT WORRY: all inclusive.

Jesus knew what He was commanding. He knew the effects of life. DO NOT WORRY.

• Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV)  15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
• It is a command, an imperative; not suggestion, not an option, not good advice… a COMMAND
• To do otherwise is to disobey Jesus.