Matthew 6:25-27

“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? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

Whenever you see a “therefore” in Scripture, you need to back up a few verses so you can get the full context of that statement. In this case, we have been looking at verses 19-24 which challenge us to make right choices such as storing up treasure in Heaven rather than on earth; being single-minded in purpose as a Christian in the world; and realizing you can’t serve two masters. THEREFORE = IF you do these things, THEN you have no reason to worry about God providing for your material needs, and therein lies the rub for most of us:

“Meeting my needs isn’t very fulfilling. I’m more interested in my wants!”

I’m older, but that childlike attitude is still in me. I want what I want. I’m like that obnoxious girl in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. “I want it, Daddy! I want it NOW!” How does God put up with all of of us whiny, materialistic children? Infinite love and grace, that’s how. Praise the Lord.

Stress is the underlying cause of most chronic health problems in the United States. Stress, anxiety, and worry destroy us from the outside in. We look, act, and feel stressed out and in time…our health reflects that reality. We have a pre-occupation with the future, speculating on what may or may not happen then fearing the worst. Someone has written that worry is like a small trickle of fear that meanders through the mind until it cuts a deep trench into which all other thoughts are drained. Worry, in the final analysis, IS SIN, because it flat out denies the goodness, love, and power of God.

We all need to worry less and know God more. Did you eat dinner last night? Breakfast this morning? Do you have a roof over your head? Clothes on your body? God has met your needs because He loves you and cares for you. What if you lose your job? Your house burns down? You go broke? I bet if you survey the friends that you have they would be willing to “supply all your needs” until you get back on your feet. BINGO! Now God has provided for your future needs, too. Are you with me?

Worry is worthless…so quit investing in it.