Death was walking toward a city one morning and a man asked, "What are you going to do?" "I'm going to take 100 people." Death replied. "That's horrible!" the man said. "That's the way it is." Death said. "That's what I do." The man hurried to warn everyone he could about Death's plan. As evening fell, he met Death again. "You told me you were going to take 100 people," the man said. "Why did 1,000 die?" "I kept my word," Death responded. "I only took 100 people. Worry took the others."
Dr. Charles Mayo, the founder of the Mayo Clinic, wrote this about worry: "Worry affects the circulation, the heart, the digestive system, and the entire nervous system. I've never known a person to die of overwork, but many who died from worry." Our English word "worry" is derived from the old German word "wurgen", meaning "to choke." The term has come to be used to denote "mental strangulation" to describe the harmful effects of worry.
Someone has said that, "Worry doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength." Worry robs us of things that are important in life. We lose our joy, our energy, our peace, and at times, even our health.
Tonight as we continue our look at how to deal with our feelings, we want to consider worry and how to deal with it.
I. Introduction.
A. There are three categories that most worry can be placed into.
1. Death - ours or the death of others
2. Guilt - over what we have done or what we should have done.
3. Problems - this could include any number of things that cause us to worry.
B. Biblical perspective
1. "Worry" is not found in the Scriptures
2. But the concept is found quite often.
3. In our passage this evening we find the phrase "taking thought" used to convey the concept of worry.
C. Practical definition
1. Mental distress or agitation resulting from concern usually for something impending or anticipated. (Webster)
2. It means our thinking is divided resulting in an inability to function properly.
3. If my thoughts are on what will happen tomorrow or the next day, I cannot concentrate on what I need to be doing today.
II. What's Wrong With Worry? Mt. 6:25-34
A. Worry keeps us from enjoying what we have. (25)
1. Worry focuses our attention on what we do not have.
2. As a result we miss out on the enjoyment of things we have been provided with.
3. It causes us to assume a responsibility that isn't ours.
B. Worry makes us forget that God cares for us greatly. (26)
1. Worry makes us forget that God is not the birds' Heavenly Father - He is ours.
2. If God will care for the fowls of the air He certainly will meet our needs.
C. Worry is completely useless (27)
1. It cannot help us
2. In fact it can hurt us.
3. It will not change things.
D. Worry causes us to forget the promises of God. (30-32)
(Psa 37:25) "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."
1. God's love for man motivates Him to care for those who walk with Him.
2. Ro. 8:38-39 reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
3. Worry makes us forget about that promise.
E. Tomorrow can take care of itself
1. If we focus on what is most important, God will take care of meeting our needs. (33-34)
2. We are to seek God and His righteousness live right before Him; that is our first priority.
3. NOTE: v 34 - "sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof"
a. Let each day's trouble be enough for that day.
b. Don't borrow trouble.
III. Overcoming Worry By Faith
A. Claim the presence of God in your life.
1. Faith in God for salvation.
2. Faith in God for our day to day walk with Him.
B. Stay in the Word of God and learn of His faithfulness.
1. Note: the example of David.
2. As he faced the giant Goliath, he remembered God's faithfulness to him.
3. God never changes, so we can always count on Him no matter what.
(1 Sam 17:37) "David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee."
4. Note: Psalm 3
a. Absalom was leading a revolt against David.
b. In v1-2 David speaks of situation and how that others comments that God can't help him.
c. In v3-8 David speaks of God's faithfulness to deliver him.
C. Maintain communication with God.
(Phil 4:6-7) "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. {7} And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
1. Note that in these verses we see two very important safeguards against worry.
2. The first is our communication to God, our prayers to Him. "…let your requests be made known unto God…"
3. The second is God's communication to us or the answer to our prayers. "…the peace of God … shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Once again, the choice is ours. We can choose to worry and fret over things that are out of our control or we can exercise faith in God. Are you trusting in Him tonight? Or are we allowing the enemy to rob us of our joy and peace?
Are we fearful of things that we have no control over?
(Mark 11:22) "And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God."
(2 Tim 1:7) "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
As children bring there broken toys With tears for us to mend, I brought my broken dreams to God Because He was my friend But then, instead of leaving Him In peace to work alone, I hung around and tried to help With ways that were my own At last I snatched them back and cried, "How can you be so slow?" "My child," He said, "What could I do? You never did let go." -- Unknown Author