Don’t Worry About Tomorrow

Date: 7/17/22

Context: Matthew 6:25-34

Sermon Title: Don’t Worry About Tomorrow

(Matt 6:25) "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?

(Matt 6:26) 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?

(Matt 6:27) Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

(Matt 6:28) "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

(Matt 6:29) Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

(Matt 6:30) If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

(Matt 6:31) So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'

(Matt 6:32) For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

(Matt 6:33) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

(Matt 6:34) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Don’t Worry

Today's Bible text, Matthew 6:25-34, is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. It is saying that God will give us what we need when we do our best for the kingdom of God without fearing, being afraid, or worrying. Jesus said to his disciples. “Therefore, I tell you. Do not worry about what you will eat or drink to keep yourself alive, and do not worry about what you will wear to cover your body” (verse 25). Jesus tells us not to worry about food and clothes, because life is more important than food, and body is more important than clothes.

Q. What is your most concerning?

A Person of Little Faith

           The birds in the air do not gather in barns because they worry about food. (verse 26). But God feeds the birds in the air (verse 26). God also feeds humans since they are more precious than birds (verse 26). They worry about food because they do not trust the God who provides them. Worrying does not extend lifespan (verse 27), because God is in control of life. Worry and anxiety do not change the situation (verse 27). Wild grass does not weave (verse 28). ‘Weaving’ means weaving fabric. God puts beautiful clothes on the lilies of the field (verse 29). Humans are more precious than grass of the field. Thus, worrying about clothes means they do not trust the God who gives them clothes. (verse 30) Worrying about food and clothes means that they have little faith (verse 30). Worrying about food and clothes is an insult to God.

“Therefore, do not worry about what you will eat, what you will drink, or what you will wear” (verse 31). Faith is giving up worrying about food and clothing. Worrying about food and clothing is what unbelieving Gentiles do (verse 32). God knows that we need food and clothing (verse 32). Worrying is the opposite concept of the essential meaning of faith.

Jesus didn't tell his disciples not to work, he told them not to worry. The focus of Jesus’ parable is to show that the disciples are far more valuable than birds or wildflowers as children of God, not to suggest that they don’t need to work. What Jesus forbids his disciples is a worry, not a work. A Christian is not a anxious person, but a person who faithfully does what he has to do now. Worrying is because you have little faith.

Q. When do you pray?

Seek the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness

Compared to Gentiles, the right attitude as a Christian is to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (verse 33). Seeking the kingdom of God is to seek God's will. Then God will give us all these things” (verse 33).

“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow” (verse 34). A Christian is one who does not worry about today’s food, clothes, and the future. This is because God rules not only the present but also the future.

Tomorrow will take care of tomorrow's worries (verse 34). The Christian life is not meant to be any worry. There is also suffering. But you don't have to worry about tomorrow. It is foolish to worry about what will happen in advance. It is important to focus on today, and what you have to do for the kingdom of God, doing your best instead of the time to worry about the future.

Q. How do you think about tomorrow?