Matthew 6: The Sermon on the Mount: Seek the Kingdom (5)

Pray Psalm 104.1-5.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD my God, You are very great:
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,
Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.
He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters,
Who makes the clouds His chariot,
Who walks on the wings of the wind,
Who makes His angels spirits,
His ministers a flame of fire.
You who laid the foundations of the earth,
So that it should not be moved forever…

Sing Psalm 104.1-5.
(Creation: Exalt the Lord, His Praise Proclaim)
Bless God, my soul! How great are You, Lord,
with majesty and splendor adorned.
The heav’ns He stretches like a tent,
and lays His chambers in the firmament.
He rides the wings of winds on high
and makes His messengers flaming fly.T
he earth on its foundation stands,
established forever by His hands.

Read Matthew 6.16-32; meditate on verse 25-32.

Prepare.
1. This long passage has “bookends”. What are they?

2. How many different things did Jesus mention to cue us not to worry?

Meditate.
Worry robs you of joy. Destroys concentration. Makes you lose sleep. Distracts you when you should be paying attention. And makes you not a very pleasant person to be around.

Other than that, worry’s not such a big deal.

But Jesus thinks it is. This is one of the longest pericopes in this sermon. Jesus knows what’s in us. He knows what we’re like. And in these verses, He shows us how to deal with one of most common and most pressing problems every human must confront: worry.

Jesus says, “Don’t worry.” Easy for Him to say. But what is worry? Worry is a state of upset that fills our minds with worst case scenarios and our hearts with fear. Worry comes about because we realize that we aren’t sovereign. Stuff happens, bad stuff sometimes; and there’s nothing we can do to control it. We aren’t sovereign.

And that’s precisely Jesus’ point. We aren’t sovereign, but God is. God loves all His creation. And if He loves birds and lilies and grass, He surely loves those for whom Jesus came to die. And just as He provides everything all creation needs to exist and flourish, so He will provide for those He loves. Everywhere we look throughout the creation, we see evidence of God’s providing grace. So instead of worrying, we should let creation remind us of the words of Jesus, and rest in the sovereignty of God.

Worry foments anxiety and fear. The antidote to worry is to seek Jesus and His Kingdom and righteousness (v. 33). When seeking like this is the overarching and all-defining priority and motif of our lives, worry won’t stand a chance. Day by day, in all our activities, focused on Christ and His coming-on-earth Kingdom, we will know hope, confidence, and joy; nothing can make us afraid or cause us to worry when our focus is as it should be. Each day will have its unique challenges and struggles. But if we are seeking the Kingdom that is coming on earth as it is in heaven, nothing will keep us from realizing everything the Lord has in store for us.

A friend reminded me once that a penny is a very small thing, unless you hold it right up to your eye. Then it’s all you can see. This is what we do when we worry.

Put your worries in a proper perspective; bring Jesus right up next to your eye. See Him in His sovereign beauty, power, and love. Then keep focused on Him, come what may. You won’t worry for long.

Reflect.
1. What kinds of things typically cause people to worry? What are some ways we try to deal with worry?

2. Whenever we feel like we’re starting to worry about something, what should we do (cf. Phil. 4.6, 7)?

3. How can the things of creation help us keep our proper focus in the face of each day’s challenges?

Do you see how Jesus clarifies what has been obscure by comparing it to what is self-evident? Can you add one cubit, or even the slightest measure, to your bodily life span by worrying about it? Can you by being anxious about food add moments to your life? Hence it is clear that it is not our diligence but the providence of God, even where we seem to be active, that finally accompanies everything. John Chrysostom (344-407), The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 21.3

Lord, today, whenever I feel myself starting to worry, help me to…

Pray Psalm 104.24-35.
Put before the Lord everything that you might worry about today, and anything that might cause you to be anxious. Then praise Him that He has made all this, rules all this, and is working all things according to the counsel of His will, and for good.

Sing Psalm 104.24-35.
Psalm 104.24-35 (Creation: Exalt the Lord, His Praise Proclaim)
How many are Your works, O Lord,
which You have created by Your Word!
The earth and sea with creatures teem –
they look to You to care and feed.
You give to them, they gather all;
You hide Your face, they fail and fall.
You take their breath, they gasp and die;
You send Your Spirit, they revive.

Lord, let Your glory long endure;
rejoice! His works are ever sure!
He looks on earth, it quails and quakes,
as we our songs of praises make.
Lord, let our meditation rise
and bring great pleasure in Your eyes.
Consumed shall sinners ever be;
O, bless and praise the Lord with me!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).