Matthew 6:25-34 Living a Life Free of Material Worry

Introduction: How would you like to live without worrying about material things? That is what Jesus instructs His disciples to do. “Take no thought” (verses 25, 31, 34) means “take not overly anxious thought.” Jesus commanded us not to worry about food, water, clothes.

I. To worry is to be unaware, verse 25.

A. It is to be unaware of what life is really all about.

1. To be sure, these things are necessary.

2. And there are certain pleasures in filling these needs.

B. But a living human being is more than a body; there is spirit which dwells within.

C. There are greater needs than those of the body.

D. And there are greater joys in filling the spiritual needs than in filling the physical.

II. To worry is unnecessary, verse 26.

A. The birds do not worry and they have food.

B. They do not even work, and yet they have food.

C. God, their creator, provides their need.

D. “Are ye not much better than they?”

III. To worry is unproductive, verse 27.

A. Which of you can add one cubit by worry?

B. Which of you can provide bread by worry?

C. Which of you can provide clothing by worry?

D. Worry is the most taxing and yet the most useless thing you can do.

IV. To worry is unbelieving, verses 28-30.

A. God supplies even the grass of the field.

1. To the Jews, Solomon was the greatest example of material glory.

2. Even Solomon was not clothed like the lily.

B. The grass is of much less value than God’s children.

(The Hebrews burned the grass in the oven to bake bread).

C. Jesus called His worrying disciples “Oh ye of little faith!” verse 30.

1. To trust God to supply is not to worry.

2. To worry is to fail to trust God to supply.

V. To worry is unbecoming, verse 32.

A. God is our Heavenly Father.

B. It is unbecoming to a child of God not to trust his Heavenly Father.

VI. Jesus conclusion, verses 31-34.

A. Therefore do not worry a about material supply, verse 31.

1. It is like unbelievers to worry, verse 32.

2. It is the responsibility of the servant to do the will of the Master; it is the Master’s

responsibility to see to the need of His servant, verse 33.

B. Do not worry about tomorrow, verse 34. (Most people who worry, worry about tomorrow).

1. Each day will have its problems.

2. To worry about tomorrow today and then have to face those problems again tomorrow is

only to have double trouble.

3. Trust God to help you today and trust Him to help you tomorrow.

Conclusion:

1. Worry is a sin; do not do it.

2. To excuse worry by saying “I cannot help it” is a cop-out. You can learn.

3. The easiest way not to worry about material things is to be busy serving the Master.

4. You may ask, “Are we not to worry about where we are going to spend eternity?” No, we are to trust

Jesus and be saved so that we will not need to worry about it.

Preached at Pleasant Hill 10-3-82 A.M.

Preached at Texas Baptist Institute 12-1-93