"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). Matthew relays to us the Word of Jesus as He gives the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew chapter 5 through 7 is called the "Sermon on the Mount" because Jesus gave it on a hillside near Capernaum. In Matthew 5, Jesus gives the Beatitudes. Jesus teaches about the salt and the light, about the Law, about anger, about lust, about divorce, about vows, about retaliation, and about loving your enemies. In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches about giving to the needy, about prayer, about fasting, about money, and about worry. In Matthew 7, Jesus teaches about criticizing others, about asking, seeking and knocking, about the way to heaven, about fruit in peoples's lives, and lastly about those who build houses on rock and sand.
In Matthew 6, Jesus repeats the word "worry" six times in ten verses (v. 25-34 NIV). Whenever in Scripture something is repeated over and over again, there is something there that the Word does not want the reader to miss. This word "worry," in many other translations is describe as anxious.
According to Wikipedia, Worry refers to the thoughts, images, emotions, and actions of a negative nature in a repetitive, uncontrollable manner. As an emotion, "worry" is experienced from anxiety or concern about a real or imagined issue, often personal issues such as health or finances, or external broader issues such as environmental pollution, social structure or technological change.
Matthew emphasizes this word, so that whoever reads it will understand that to worry or to be anxious means that person has a lack of faith. Many people spend their time worrying about tomorrow. The problem is tomorrow is never promised you, and the tomorrows never runs out. As long as you live, there will always be a tomorrow, and we should learn to live happily in the present day, free of worrying. God only gives us the help we need for the day that is upon us. He does not give tomorrow's help, today. When we get to tomorrow, God's grace will be sufficient.
When something happens in the Christian's life that is radical or perceived to be, the human side of course, try to get us to respond in the natural, thereby worrying as to how you are going to solve it. But the child of God is spiritual, and has a God who loves and cares for His own. Therefore, the reaction is (or should be) different, and immediately, it, the problem, is release to our Lord and Savior, because of our faith, not a lack of faith.
Worry holds you hostage. Worry hijacks your brain and your emotions. Worry can impact your mental and physical health. Worrying can deplete you, thereby leaving you feeling restless and emotionally tangled. Worrying can cause insomnia, headaches and stomach problems, panic attacks, aches and pain due to muscle tension. Worrying may cause you to turn to unhealthy behaviors, like using drugs, overeating, or a possibility of alcohol abuse. So stop worrying and start living the abundant life. Start practicing conflict resolution internally, for Scripture reminds us, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41).
When you are confronted with the trials of life and you have exhausted all energy, give it to Jesus. In Matthew 6:25, he cracks the hard shell of worrying, that is, we are not to worry or be anxious about life and the cares of life. He states, "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?"
Matthew makes it plain, that the fowls of the air, they worry not like humans, yet God supply their daily needs. They sow not nor do they reap. They don't gather into a barn for the rainy days, but they eat. If the Lord does this for them, why would we doubt what He would do for us? "Are we not the crown jewel of His creation?"
Although we are the higher intelligent order of His creation, we are powerless to add one cubit onto our statue. When we worry, we are doubting the ability of God to solve our problems, therefore; we go into the worry mode. Augustine, the renowned theologian of the third century said, "Our hearts are restless until they find rest in God." How can I consciously and continually find rest in God? What causes one to feel restless? What can I do to consciously prepare myself to abide in Christ during these seasons of worry and anxiousness? When Jesus asked the question, "And why do you worry about clothes?" His reply was, "See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these" (Matthew 6:28-29). Wherefore, we must consider, "If that is how God clothes the grass and the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you" (Matthew 6:30). In moving forward, Jesus gave the diagnosis in these words, "O you of little faith." These words were directed to His disciples. He did not say to them they had no faith. They were deficient in faith. If they were to carry on the ministry after Jesus' death and resurrection, something had to change. And yes, faith increase by hearing the Word.
In this narrative, Jesus did not say that we should not plan for tomorrow. The wise man will always plan. To plan is to have a strategy for the future, yet that plan may change. Nor is Jesus saying don't be concern about tomorrow. There is a difference between concern and worrying. Concern is when you do something to help a situation, so you do what you can. Worry is when you can't do something, but you don't want to leave it up to God. In other words, worry is concern gone awry. Worry is an indictment against God and a slap in the face of His love. Worry is a demonstration of faithlessness. When we worry, we are behaving just like unbelievers. Mark Twain once said, "I am an old man and I have known a great trouble, but most of them never happened." Many times that is the result of worry. Many times we are on a path that has an exit, but the distortion of the mind puts us into an unpleasant situation.
"Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear." Scripture reminds us that, "God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). But Matthew adds, "For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things."
How are we Christians going to put ourselves into a position of not worrying about the stresses of life? What can keep us from worrying, but make us more hopeful? Matthew 6:33 gives us the Scripture that I believe undergirds everything he has said about being anxious or worry. Well listen to these words, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Seek the kingdom of God first! Not after all else failed, but first, then all things pertaining to life will fall into place according to God's divine will. This is a statement that calls for the individual to seek God now, not later, through prayer. We are to acknowledge His presence in our lives from hence forth. Know it is by His power and His grace that we are to overcome obstacles of this world. This verse, makes it plain that we must be in the believer's mode in order to access the blessings and the promises given by God. How important is the relationship with God's people and with God? It is everything! This relationship starts when we leave the Adam's family of sin, and accepts Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
We are also advised to seek the righteousness of God. Not our own righteousness, which we declare of ourselves, but that which is through faith in Christ. When we come to Jesus, we must declare that we are sinners and through the grace of God, we are not only saved, but we are positionally righteous. It is through Him that we are restored into fellowship. The restoration of the fellowship leads us to believe that Christ will take our problems and take care of us. By understanding this text, we will always be in remembrance that no problem will be too hard for Jesus.
Not only are we told to seek the kingdom and His righteous, but we are told, "All these things shall be added unto you." God said it, I believe it and that's it. There is a right way to attain, and there is a wrong way. By seeking the pleasures of God, no good thing will be withheld from us. So let go of those years of hurts and pains. Don't worry, but be hopeful. Your situation will change when God feels that it is time.
Please let me keep reminding you to, "Don't worry be hopeful." For yesterday is gone. Yesterday teaches us to seek better and we can do better. We don't live for yesterday, we live for today.
Don't worry be hopeful. For today will be what you desire of it. Start your day with prayer and God will give you the desires of your heart.
Don't worry be hopeful. For Jesus died for us and we may not have a worry free life, but a mature life, leaning on Him for our every need.
Don't worry be hopeful. For without hope you are already lost and defeated. Christians should always be hopeful, because we believe in the Word of God and all His promises.
So let go and let God, don't worry be hopeful!
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