Freedom From Worry Is Seeking His Kingdom First
This past Sunday Nick preached over Matthew 6:25-34, where Jesus is following up on His commands to lay up treasure in heaven, by speaking to our struggle with worry. He has been pointing out areas of pride and selfishness in the previous sections, but here He’s getting more basic and personal, calling us to not be anxious even over basic needs.
Like was mentioned last week, Jesus is sympathetic to how easy it is to seek ultimate security in our money or possessions, but He’s calling us out of that to a deeper understanding of what those things are and what their spiritual implications can be. The reality is your treasure reveals your priorities (v19-24), but a stockpiled treasure, whether monetary or otherwise (which reveals an area of idolatry), also brings with it worry and anxiety about maintaining that treasure since that has become an identity and source of security that we built with our finite hands and abilities. This dilemma lends itself to v25-34 where Jesus is telling us not to worry about such things but to trust in God as the antidote to the fallen malady of materialism, idolatry, and anxiety.
But as Jesus continues through v25-34 it’s more than just not being selfish or materialistic, but He’s calling us to let it go and not store up treasures v19-21, to stop trusting in ourselves and to depend on God for our daily bread v11, and therefore do not worry v25.
Our world is full of worry and anxiety, and that is what Jesus is calling us out of. Anxiety can be defined as “a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.” Jesus specifically speaks against that using the analogy of God’s concern for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field. He feeds them and they grow and flourish, but as humans, created in God’s image, Jesus says “are you not of more value than they?” So slow down, admire God’s good creation, count your blessings, assess your priorities, and realize the truth that God is a good Father, and He is in control.
There were three questions from Sunday to help us think through the worry and anxiety we can fall into:
1) Who / What has my heart? Thinking back to last week’s section where our treasure is will dictate the cares of our life. That is why we are called to lay up treasures in heaven, and why God’s ultimate concern is with our heart. This sets us free from the anxiety that plagues our world.
2) What is my standard? Matthew 6:33 Jesus shows us the standard for our concern: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Paul echoed this standard in the testimony of his ministry in Philippians 4:12-13 “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
3) What will I prioritize? Matthew 6 in general can be seen as Jesus calling out our idolatry of materialism, pride, and essentially self centeredness. So take an honest look at where your treasure is (v21), and do the work to realign yourself to the humble attitude of “God, your will be done, and your kingdom come (v10, 33).”
And overall, the Bottom Line for this week was this: Don’t worry, seek the Kingdom. God is a better provider than you. And remember, God’s provision often comes through His people, So as we seek His Kingdom, let us also love His Church. This week may we hear that as the loving encouragement that it is, and serve and encourage one another as we “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.”
