So Matthew chapter 6 verse 25 in the middle of the sermon on the mount
the most famous sermon he ever preached he says this 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
so he brings up what they were anxious about and that day there was no refrigeration
they didn't have the ability to store and so being anxious over are we gonna have
enough food to make it through the end of the season was a real thing
to us he would say whatever you're anxious about it would still apply don't be anxious
about whether you'll be single for forever he's inviting us to a life where you are not marked by
dwelling on fearful and anxious thoughts and then he asked a question that I think is so profound
isn't life more than food
and the body more than clothing the first idea that I want to highlight from the text is to track down
your anxiety Jesus just asked is all that life is about food and all that you know like a body
in your life is all about food and clothing is that the epitome of all life is equal to
why do you think Jesus would ask that question we think about it
well he's God so we can assume he's not actually asking because he doesn't know the answer
in asking that question his audience would have been forced to go
yes life is more than food in other words if we knew we had enough food to make it for the rest
of our life would that be the epitome of life no life is there's so much more than that I mean food
is important though yeah but is life equal food no of course not to us he would say is life not more
than having a good paying job is life not more than being married
whatever you would be worried about he would say isn't life more than that
and in doing so he forces his audience just like you would with us to put into a bigger perspective
the object of the worst because I don't know of course life is more than just food
and he does what counselors still do today and asking questions to help them more
clearly see what they're anxious about if life is about way more than just having enough food
why would you give so much of your life to being anxious about it
anxiety comes in the form often of asking a specific question
what if it feeds off of what if what if I don't ever get a promotion what
if my mom's cancer treatment doesn't work what if I am single for forever what if
and it leaves you there and asks that question but we never answer the question we just hang
in that oh my gosh that would be oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh I want to encourage you
answer the question what if I'm single for forever what if then what what if
if I am single or what if the relationship doesn't work out in other words I'm suggesting an equation
to begin to apply and the third part of the equation I'm going to give in a second but what if
what if the relationship you're in doesn't work out answer it whatever you're anxious about
answer it what if it doesn't work out then I would either marry someone else or maybe not get married
what if you don't get married then I would be single for forever what if the cancer
treatment doesn't work then my mom may pass away and that really sucks and that's true
but anxiety feeds off of ignorance and not being willing to face those fears and look them in the
eye and see them for what they are because when do we do that we're able to deflate the
power by applying what Jesus is about to say next but the equation is what if then I would
it could be something really small what if your car breaks down and you can't afford
to get it fixed then I would have to figure out another mode of transportation
it's silly or maybe even simple as that seems so few people actually track down and chase
down their anxiety and so they hang in this fog of fear rather than isolating and identifying
this is exactly what I'm afraid of and facing it which is the first step in order to change it
and Jesus brilliantly points out man you think life life you know in your heart you understand
life is so much more than that trying to deflate the power of their worries and
then Jesus gives us the most important part of that equation what if you're going to answer it
then I would and he goes to the most important thing to focus on
but God will what if then I would but God will he's where he goes Jesus says this look at the
birds of the air so they're outside birds fly over Jesus said check out those birds neither they
neither sow nor reap basically plant and harvest crops to gather into barns and yet God feeds them
are you not more valuable than a bird and why are you anxious about clothing consider
the lilies of the field so he points to some flowers how they grow they neither toil nor spin
did I tell you even Solomon in all of his glory was not dressed like one of these
but if God so closed the grass of the field which is today alive and tomorrow thrown in the oven
will he not much more clothe you oh you of little faith therefore it's punchline
do not be anxious saying what should we eat or what should we drink or what should we wear
for the gentiles people who do not know God seek after all of these things and your heavenly father
knows that you need them Jesus said remember God has promised to provide the
second idea we see from the text tracked on your anxiety remember God's promises
this is huge as it relates to that equation what if and answer that question then I would
but God will what if I use my own life I could find myself meditating on what if my
wife gets cancer and she dies and I'm left to raise three kids all by myself what if
then I would be so heartbroken what if my wife died
then I would walk through probably the most painful season I'll ever walk through
then I would have to figure out raising children and child care and all of that alone
but God has promised he will never leave me nor forsake me
he will get me through it and he is near to the brokenhearted what if you lose your job
then you may have to make some changes in how you spend it maybe just even for
a season while you look and find another job but God has promised he will provide for you
he is enough and he is a sustainer not to provide it for all of your wants but promise
I will provide for all of your needs and Jesus brilliantly brings them back says
you're acting like people who don't have a heavenly father you have a heavenly father
who provides for birds and lilies and does all of this and you don't think he'll provide for you
and he brilliantly points out remember what God has promised so what if what if you're single
for the rest of your life then I would be sad
and I would feel lonely but God has promised I'm never alone he will never leave me nor forsake me
he is nearer to me than the breath I breathe and he will sustain me no matter what we walk through
if that old girlfriend or boyfriend what if they start dating someone else
then I would be really sad but God has another story that he's writing and if they're not a
part of that future in a spouse way with me or they're not going to be a part of my life God has
promised he will work all things together for good and as you begin to rehearse this you will begin
to experience peace because there's no magic words that you can say that can prevent a boyfriend from
dating somebody else a mom from getting cancer but we can cling to God will God has promised
and when we do peace begins to be experienced because peace is beginning to be embraced