| If a panic attack is a sudden, intense, relatively short | | | | there was a time when the Israelites did not toil or |
| burst of fear (usually not lasting more than an hour | | | | spin in the wilderness wanderings so that they might |
| while it feels like eternity), worry is the constant | | | | be taught that "man does not live by bread alone, |
| nagging drip of fear that just does not go away. And | | | | but by every word that comes from the mouth of |
| unfortunately even a Christian can worry. | | | | God" (Deuteronomy 8). But again, the underlying |
| Worry may be prodded and poked by the | | | | assumption here in Jesus' teaching is that the hearers |
| accumulation of stresses from commutes and work | | | | are working--reaping and storing in barns, laboring and |
| and grades and kids and relationships and money and | | | | spinning yarn, and so on (vv. 26, 28). |
| health and bad things that happen in our world. We | | | | Jesus also assumes the whole religious system of |
| may worry over a decision or decisions that may | | | | Moses is governing or ought to govern the Jewish |
| bring loss as well as gain. We may worry because we | | | | society to which He speaks. Part of that is normal |
| feel threatened, for example, by loss of our | | | | labor, such as reaping and making clothes for oneself, |
| reputation or we become worried that we may be | | | | having a hand in providing for one's family, the poor, |
| inadequate for our job or as a parent or spouse or | | | | the priesthood, and civil society. |
| friend. And sometimes it gets to a point where we | | | | The problem with pagan worry is that it leads them |
| are not sure exactly why we are worrying or we | | | | to trust and worship earthly treasures rather than |
| panic. | | | | God (Matthew 6:19-23). The "worries of this life and |
| There is nothing new about people worrying. Many | | | | the deceitfulness of riches choke out" the seed that |
| centuries ago, Jesus addressed the problem | | | | is the message of the kingdom (Matthew 13:19, 22 |
| (Matthew 6:25-34). In doing so, arguably He did not | | | | NIV). Worries and the deceitfulness of riches lead the |
| intend to encourage people to take little thought or | | | | Christian to being unfruitful and of no use in God's |
| care in fulfilling God's commandments. He assumes | | | | kingdom. |
| that humans work to reap harvests and store in | | | | I know that sounds harsh. Jesus is also not |
| barns, for example (6:26). Nor on the flip side was He | | | | addressing every possible worrisome situation in |
| was callous toward human suffering. If He was, why | | | | Matthew 6:25-34. Maybe you are thinking of your |
| would He bother to speak about alleviating our | | | | own situation. But remember that Jesus is giving |
| worry? | | | | principles that teach the Christian how he or she can |
| Jesus thus gives principles that can help the Christian | | | | avoid being afraid and worried. |
| to defuse and deflate worry. | | | | Trust God instead of worrying. If there were no |
| One, if God cares for His lesser creatures, then God | | | | difficult circumstances, no testing, nothing to make us |
| will care for us humans. If God feeds the birds, how | | | | worry, we might for example say to ourselves "My |
| much more will he provide for humans. If God clothes | | | | power and the strength of my hands have produced |
| the lilies, how much more will He clothe us humans. | | | | this wealth for me,"whereas it is God "who gives you |
| Humans are more valuable than birds and lilies. Lilies | | | | the ability to produce wealth" (Deuteronomy 8:17, 18). |
| are here today and gone tomorrow, yet God cares | | | | Now try substituting the word "wealth" with |
| for them. How much more will He care for humans. | | | | "whatever makes me feel calm and comfortable." |
| Two, stop focusing on your "what if" future and | | | | Things that make us worry are an opportunity to |
| start focusing on what God has already done for | | | | learn to trust God. |
| lesser creatures. The past works of God show what | | | | Five, the Christian needs to keep priorities and |
| God will do in the future. He already clothed the lilies, | | | | perspectives in order. Situations that contribute to |
| therefore He will clothe you. Don't worry about your | | | | our worry are sometimes like the Israelite wanderings |
| tomorrows (cf. v. 34). | | | | in the wilderness, when the Lord humbled His people |
| Three, worrying does not give you control over your | | | | and tested them "so that in the end it might go well |
| life. Worry just does not accomplish what you want. | | | | with them" (Deuteronomy 8:16). The Israelites |
| It is ineffective. Which of us by worrying can add to | | | | wandered for 40 years in the wilderness. Satan |
| the pathway of our lives? Nobody. So why bother | | | | tempted Jesus for 40 days while He fasted. God |
| worrying? | | | | tests His people that it might go well with them in |
| Four, God knows your need and cares for you. A | | | | the end. After we learn from our wanderings, we will |
| Christian's worry implies he or she does not believe | | | | have our priorities straight. |
| God knows our needs and cares for us. The | | | | As the Israelites were to live in larger measure by |
| Christian's belief and behavior is thus the same as | | | | every word God spoke (rather than living by bread |
| that of pagans (v. 32). | | | | alone), so the disciple of Jesus is to seek God's |
| And how do pagans believe and behave? As if there | | | | kingdom and His righteousness as of first priority. We |
| were no benevolent Deity supervising all of history | | | | worry when we see our pressing needs and |
| and human lives in particular. As if survival were | | | | worrisome situations as more important than what |
| entirely the result of our actions. So they desire and | | | | God says is most important. The Lord's prayer |
| search after what they need or think they need. Or | | | | includes "give us this day our daily bread," but it |
| whatever they think will stop them from worrying. | | | | begins with "Our Father who art is heaven, may your |
| Is Jesus then saying that the Christian is forbidden to | | | | name (and character) be considered holy, may your |
| work? Just trust and God will provide? Certainly the | | | | kingdom come and your will be done." If we seek |
| Creator and Sustainer of the Universe has such | | | | first God's kingdom and His righteousness, God will |
| power. Certainly He is good and benevolent. Certainly | | | | give all things needful in consequence (Matthew 6:33). |