Worry Doesn’t Solve Anything

In review of Matthew 6:25 it says, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (NIV)

Because of the ill effects of worry, Jesus tells me not to worry about those needs that God promises to supply. Worry can damage my health, disrupt my productivity, negatively affect the way I treat others, and reduce my ability to trust in God. There is a difference between worry and genuine concern. Worry immobilizes me, but concern will move me to action.

Worry is essentially a control issue. It’s trying to control the uncontrollable. I can’t control the economy, so I worry about it. I can’t control my children and grandchildren, so I worry about them. I can’t control the future, so I worry about it. But worry never solves anything! It’s stewing without doing anything.

Jesus gives me four reasons I don’t need to worry in his Sermon on the Mount.

1. Worry is unreasonable.

Matthew 6:25 says, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (NIV).

Jesus is saying, if it’s not going to last, don’t worry about it. To worry about something I can change is foolish. To worry about something I can’t change is useless. Either way, it’s unreasonable to worry.

2. Worrying is unnatural.

Jesus gives us an illustration from nature in Matthew 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?” (NIV).

There’s only one thing in all of God’s creation that worries: human beings. We’re the only things God has created that don’t trust him, and God says this is unnatural.

3. Worry is unhelpful.

It doesn’t change anything. Matthew 6:27 says, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (NIV). When I worry about a problem, it doesn’t bring me one inch closer to the solution. It’s like sitting in a rocking chair, a lot of activity, energy, and motion, but no progress. Worry doesn’t change anything except me. It makes me miserable!

4. Worry is unnecessary.

Matthew 6:30 says, “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—you of little faith?” (NIV). If I trust in God, I don’t need to worry. Why? Because he has promised to take care of all my needs: “God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NIV).

This includes my bills, relational conflicts, dreams, goals, ambitions, and health issues that I don’t know what to do with. God will meet all my needs in Christ.

So don’t worry about it!

In summary, I should not worry about my life. Life is more than material things I think I need. I shouldn't worry about the things that God promises to supply. Worry can only damage my health, disrupt my productivity, negatively affect the way I treat others and reduce my ability to trust in God. Worry will immobilize me, but concern will move me to action. Worry is essentially a control issue, with me trying to control the uncontrollable. Worry will never solve anything. It's much like stewing without doing. Jesus tells me that worry is unreasonable as it's not going to last, so don't worry about it.  It's unnatural and we are the only living things that God created that don't trust him. Worry is unhelpful, it won't change anything. Lastly is unnecessary. If I trust in God, I don't need to worry. He has promised to take care of all of my needs. So today don't worry about it. God will meet all of my needs in Christ.

As I reviewed this today, my first thoughts are that “I don’t worry”.  However, I have allowed situations to affect my health, disrupt my productivity, and negatively affect the way I treat others. This is illustrating that perhaps I’m not really trusting in God to provide. Father this morning I pray that with the help of your Holy Spirit that I will not let things stew up inside me, which is on par with worrying. Give me the insight to hear from you when I start to do this, and to turn to and trust in you. I also pray for wisdom and guidance for my day, my tasks, my leadership and my interactions with others. I ask these things through your Son Jesus name, Amen.