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Sermon Notes of Rev Dr Ivor J.W.Oakley (22-10-2000
Guisborough Evangelical Church)
The Lord has been talking about material possessions.
They are important and valuable, but we are not to be enslaved by them, or else
total commitment and lordship of God over life will soon disappear. But when men
are not tempted to overvalue these things, sometimes they are tempted to worry
about them, thinking and dwelling constantly on them, becoming obsessed by money
and possessions – i.e. things which belong to time and this world alone.
It is possible to be as unfaithful to God through worry as through covetousness. So the Lord deals with two very prominent features of modern life: last week we considered greed and desire for more, and now worry, over-anxiety and burdening care. How few people in this world can say they are not troubled by desire for material possessions and worry about material possessions.
How common and up to date all this is. The vast majority
focus whole of life and thinking and ambition on food, drink, clothing,
possessions and the status these things bring, to the complete neglect of God,
his claims and will and future and eternity. People spend whole time thinking,
planning, discussing, reading and working for these things. Consider how many TV
programmes are devised to cater for these very interests and obsessions. Look at
advertisements in newspapers, public transport or all junk mail. All to do with
the welfare of the body and how to feed, clothe, warm, refresh, relax and
entertain it. Whole thing so common and obvious that it does not need
illustration.
For millions, concern and
anxiety over this life become an absolute obsession; in fact they are “worried
to death”. Nothing could be more useless, foolish and dangerous. Worry is a
force and power which soon grips and controls man. It cripples his usefulness
and affects his judgement. It lessens his power of decision, and progressively
renders him incapable of dealing with life. Also cause of bodily illness and
modern disease. Mind and body completely affected. As one cynic said: “The
only thing worry produces is ulcers, and yet more worry”.
Worry betrays a real spiritual need in someone’s life. Here is the mark of people who entirely leave God out of account. May believe in him, but for all practical purposes, he might as well not be there. In fact, they are practical atheists. And if any faith in God at all, it is very weak, like a flickering candle. It is the mark of a world which has lost touch with God, and with things which are eternal and belong to our peace. Life is ruled by false gods and idols. Not meant just to live to live. Worry debases men to level of animals, for they miss the purpose for which they were placed on earth. No wonder men find life empty, and are therefore frustrated.
Therefore I tell you, do not
worry (Matthew 6:25). Do not be full of anxious care. This Greek word merimnaw
is also used in the story of Mary and Martha - You are worried and upset
about many things (Luke 10:41). Paul used this word to the Philippians Do
not be anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6). The basic root of this word
is something which divides, separates and distracts. Describes mind divided up
into sections, not functioning as a whole. Looking in two directions at the same
time. Cannot give whole attention to one thing.
Danger of being distracted from main objective in life, i.e. God. Our anxiety is about earthly things, so much so that the matter of pre-eminence, God himself, is neglected. Therefore living a double life. Jesus is not saying that we should not look ahead, preparing for the future, being prudent, making plans. It is not forethought that is a danger, but anxious thought, i.e. not wise provision but wearing, corroding self-tormenting anxiety. He singles out four things we are not to worry about – food, drink, clothing, and tomorrow. Thus he refers to the whole of life – health, strength, success, jobs, holidays, this problem and that danger we can foresee in future, what someone might do to us, what someone might say to us. In the whole of life, circumstances, bodily concerns and working life, Jesus says do not worry; do not be full of anxious care.
Now several arguments to support his case and to show
how foolish and illogical worry and over-anxiety are.
(a) Argument from life itself. Is
not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes (Matthew
6:25). Where does life come from? It is God’s gift to you. Man did not create
it. From God, and him alone. None of us decided to come into the world. We are
here now because God willed and decided it. The argument is that if God has
given you a greater gift, he is not likely to neglect any smaller gift. If God
has given you the gift of life, he is not likely to fail to look after that
life. If God has given you your body, he is not likely to fail to look after
your bodily needs. Therefore your life and body are sure to get food and
clothing.
Of course we have to work, dig,
reap, sow, make a living, buy and sell. But we need not worry that suddenly God
will be unable to keep life and body going. C.f. similar argument from greater
to less – if God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all –
how will he not also graciously give us all things (Romans 8:32).
God never leaves unfinished any
work he has begun. What he starts, he finally finishes. He has an eternal plan
for his children. He chose them, redeemed them, gave them new life, and has a
programme for their lives and service, to bring them to glory. He will not
abandon his plan half way through. So do not be anxious if in circumstances
things seem to be going wrong. Worry and anxiety are needless – indeed they
reflect on God’s character and ability.
(b) Argument from nature. Now an
argument from lesser to greater. 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 (Matthew
6:26). God sees to their need. God is the creator and sustainer of everything in
the world. If God creates the birds and sustains them, how much more will God
who is not only our creator but our heavenly Father provide for us. We are his
children through redemption in Christ.
Then the flowers of the field
– scarlet poppies, anemones, and irises – bloomed for one day on Palestinian
hillsides. Next day when they died they were thrown into fire to heat oven for
housewife’s baking bread. Flowers have one day of life, but God gives them a
beauty which surpasses gorgeous robes of kings like Solomon.
If God gives such beauty to
short-lived flower, how much more will he care for one of his own children?
Generosity which is so lavish as to beautify a mere flower, will not neglect his
own child. We are not here for a day, or a lifetime – we are immortal,
destined for eternity. So things of nature, the birds and the flowers, teach us
the folly of worry.
Martin Luther said “You see, he is making the birds our schoolmasters and teachers. It is a great disgrace that the helpless sparrow should become a theologian and preacher to the wisest of men. When you listen to a nightingale, you are listening to an excellent preacher”. Do we know the following lines (albeit doggerel)?
“Said the robin to the sparrow, I should really like to know
Why
these anxious human beings rush about and worry so.
Said
the sparrow to the robin, Friend I think that it must be
That
they have no heavenly Father, such as cares for you and me”.
(c) Argument from futility of
worry. And who of you by worrying can add a cubit to his stature (or as
may also be translated) add a single hour to his life (Matthew 6:27). phcus
is the Greek word for a cubit or a measure of time;
hlikia is the Greek word for structure or age. All the worrying in the
world cannot increase your height or lengthen your days. Stature and age are
within the hands of God. Our times are in God’s hands. He has already
determined our physical size and the time of the end of our life. Utter waste of
time worrying and being anxious.
(d) Argument from real character
or worry. Worry is the mark of heathens and the Godless, people who do not
believe in God or know God. Atheists, for practical purposes. Worry is natural
to the Godless because they have no heavenly Father. But we claim to be God’s
children, to know him, to have been redeemed by him, and on our way to glory.
How inconsistent for us to behave like atheists, pagans and unbelievers. We say
one thing, but live as though the opposite is true.
Worry does not lengthen life –
in fact it can shorten it. God tells us not to worry, and uses life itself,
nature, and the futility and character of worry to back up his argument. He
tells us not to live as unbelievers and atheists, not to worry about food, drink
and clothing. Live as God’s children. Live what you profess. Act logically and
consistently with your creed and beliefs. Do not live and speak and behave like
hypocrites.
At the same time remember we are God’s instruments for providing for his other children. There are believers in famine areas. God has provided handsomely, but men hoard, waste and do not share. We are meant to be agents through whom God feeds and clothes his children. Do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6:10).
God’s children are meant to be free from worry. Not
free from trouble of course, but God knows about our troubles and permits them
and meets us in them. And he provides for us in them. Our freedom from worry is
not because we do not know trouble, but our confidence that God is our Father.
Even permitted suffering is within the orbit of his care. We know that in all
things God works for the good of all those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
Neither are we free from work, responsibility or
trouble, but only from worry. It is totally incompatible with the Christian
faith. He knows our needs and will meet them (though not our greed or desires).
Practical steps to handling worry. This is something we will enlarge on next week. All these things are very every day matters, and the way we deal with them goes back to the same thing again and again i.e. our relationship with the Lord, and its quality. Everything depends on where exactly the Lord is in the life. Is he on the outside edge, some other place, or directly and firmly in the middle? Seek first, keep on seeking, set hearts and minds first and above all else on God, his kingdom i.e. his rule and his righteousness. Bring him right into the centre of the life. Give him total control. Submit to and embrace his will and make it your will. Put him on the throne. And all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33). Queen Elizabeth I wanted a merchant to go abroad on affairs of state. He pleaded his business would suffer. Her reply “Sir, if you mind my business, I’ll mind yours”.
