No Anxiety: The three therefores.

Matthew 6:25 "...Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?..."

Luke 12:22-23 "...And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing..."

What is the therefore there for?

- it joins the previous text to the current text.

- anxiety is related to improper treasures and incorrect masters.

- when our heart is on heavenly things, anxiety is not necessary.

What should we not be anxious about?

- our earthly life.

- food, drink, clothing.

Matthew 6:26-30 "...Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?..."

Luke 12:24-28 "...Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!..."

Why should we not be anxious?

- God has built into His Creation the means by which all things are cared for.

- people of faith know this to be true.

What don't birds do? What do birds do?

- they don't sow, reap, or store up in barns.

- they diligently work at finding what they need each day.

- Jesus approves of bird watching.

What don't lilies do? What do lilies do?

- they don't toil, spin, or worry about what to wear.

- they do daily what they were created to do.

- Jesus expects us to see and appreciate flowers.

Matthew 6:31-33 "...Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all..."

Luke 12:29-30 "...And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them...."

What is the therefore there for?

- it joins the previous text to the current text.

- we don't need to be anxious because we're confident that the creator is also the supplier of what is needed when we do what we were created to do.

Why don't we need to anxiously strive like the world that doesn't know God?

- God knows what we need.

Matthew 6:33 "...But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you..."

Luke 12:31 "...Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you..."

What should our number one priority be?

- seeking the kingdom of God.

What is the result?

- our needs are met by God.

Matthew 6:34 "...Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble..."

What is the therefore there for?

- it joins the previous text to the current text.

- anxiety about tomorrow isn't necessary when God is adding all that we need to our lives today.

Summary:

- store up heavenly treasures by serving God, not Money.

- therefore we won't be anxious about our life.

- the Creator supplies His creation with what is needed.

- therefore we won't be anxious about what we eat, drink, or wear.

- if we seek first the kingdom of God, all the necessary things are provided.

- therefore we won't be anxious about what tomorrow will bring.

Philippians 4:6 "...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God..."

Do people need something for which to live? Something to give meaning to their existence? Something to seek? What are the options?

- God's intentions.

- the devil's alternatives (selfish secular ambitions)

Is Jesus saying people don't need to work for a living?

Genesis 2:15 "...The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it..."

Is Jesus saying we shouldn't think or plan for the future?

- Jesus is saying there is no need for anxious thought.

Is Jesus saying believers won't need to face trouble?

- being free of anxiety can't be equated to being free of trouble.

- "...sufficient for the day is its own trouble..."

Why is worry a waste of time, thought, and energy?