Focal Passage: Matthew 6:25-33
Famed humorist Erma Bombeck once wrote, “Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.”
That kind of makes you want to hum a little Bobbie McFerrin ditty, doesn’t it? “Don’t worry. Be happy.”
I understand that we tend to borrow trouble that rarely reaches the intensity we feared. While I don’t think I’m a compulsive worrier, I suppose, like many other folks, I have latent tendencies of “deep concern.”
That may be why I paused to listen to a snippet from a podcast that popped up during one my web surfing sessions this past week. I only listened for a few minutes as this pastor I did not recognize or know shared his take on Matthew 6:25.
“Therefore, I tell you, don’t 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.”
Jesus offers that encouragement, speaking to a crowd on a Galilean hillside in the midst of his Sermon on the Mount. He elaborates on this idea by telling the crowd about the birds and the lilies and reminding everyone that, “Who of you by worrying can add a single day to his life.”
As I heard the reading of that scripture, I thought, “Easier said than done.”
However, this pastor didn’t take his message where I thought he was going. He chose instead to focus on that initial phrase, “Don’t worry about your life.” He offered helpful insight I had never considered. In case you find yourself worrying about things in your life, maybe a fresh take on it will help.
As it’s used in this passage, the Greek word for worry (merimnao) goes beyond being anxious or concerned. My Greek lexicon suggests its more about not letting your mind or heart be divided between two conflicting things. According to the pastor, it describes a distracting anxiety that fractures your heart and mine, pulling you in different directions internally.
So, think about that. Jesus is telling us to not let our hearts be divided. To not live preoccupied with control over choices and outcomes. He’s certainly not condemning wise and careful preparation, but he is reminding us not to be so consumed with worry that it competes with our trust in God for control over circumstances we encounter.
I’m to rest in my trust in God so that my mind is not pulled in different directions.
When Jesus spoke of life in this passage, the Greek word used here is psyche—a word even Freud would love. Psyche goes beyond survival living and into the very nature of our whole being, our identity in Christ.
Jesus is speaking about the essence of who we are in him. When we allow worry or anxiety to consume our souls, it alters our desires, our identity as a child of God. Our heart goes to war with the life God has called us to live.
This pastor in his podcast said that life, as described in verse 25 is “what you live for, not what you live on.”
Now, put those two concepts together. Jesus is essentially saying, “Don’t let anxiety fracture your soul by replacing your trust in God’s provision and care. Don’t let your worry alter the very nature of who God intended you to be.”
I could not shake this thought long after I turned off the podcast, so I dug a little deeper on my own.
“Therefore” is a powerful word in scripture. It’s God’s way of saying, “I hope you paid attention to what I just said because now I’m going to tell you what you really need to know. Listen up!”
When you look back through the snippets of truth Jesus shares prior to his “therefore,” in verse 25, he talks about having divided motives, divided treasure and divided minds.
In Matthew 6:1-18, Jesus talks about those who give to the poor or pray or fast just “to be seen by others.” The motive behind their acts of piety suggest they are living for human praise and approval rather than God’s approval. Divided motives.
Instead, Jesus suggests giving so “your left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing so your giving may be in secret.” Pray in the privacy of your own room with “the door closed.” Fast in ways that are “not obvious to men that you are fasting.”
In Matthew 6:19-24, Jesus urges us to fight the tendency to amass wealth to protect us from the uncertainties of life…putting more value on earthly achievement or earthly riches that will eventually fade. Divided treasures.
Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21). Count as treasure a life spent in service to God and others.
Right before his “therefore” Jesus puts it succinctly when he reminds us that we cannot serve two masters because we end up loving one and hating the other. “You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)
The word translated as money isn’t referring specifically to cash or currency. Our good ol’ King James called it mammon, a word whose Aramaic root talks about things upon which we rely for happiness and security. It is a word that talks of wealth, possessions, economic security…really, anything that you trust in materially.
When Jesus reminds us to avoid having divided treasure, he’s talking about avoiding using wealth as a source of security, identity and trust.
Jesus said that divided motives and divided treasure are exactly what leads to divided minds. When Jesus tells us, “Do not worry about your life…,” he is pointing back to all those things that divide our focus and time. Things that stand in the way of our undivided devotion to God. Worry is the natural result of the divided allegiances described in the prior passages.
British theologian John Stott, author of The Cross of Christ, gets to the heart of how worry influences our spiritual relationship to God. “Anxiety,” he said, “is not just emotional—it’s theological. Before Jesus says, ‘Do not worry,’ he says, ‘You cannot serve two masters.’ Worry is what it feels like to try.”
That’s what it boils down to, isn’t it? Finding our hearts and minds divided over what or whom we can or cannot trust?
When the late Rev. Tim Keller, former pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, preached on this same passage, he used the term double-mindedness to describe this idea of a divided mind. Double-mindedness, he said, is a kind of functional unbelief that “trusts in God in theory but doesn’t rest in him in practice.”
So, what’s the solution? How do I keep worry or anxiety from dividing my devotion to God?
Keller would say, “Keep reading the words of Jesus.”
So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” Or “What shall we drink?” Or “What shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly father knows that you need them.” (Matthew 6:31-32)
Here’s the kicker.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all those things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:31)
It occurs to me that anxiety grows when something other than Christ becomes central to my life.
Remember when Jesus was in the house of Lazarus? Martha is scurrying around trying to make sure everyone has what they need and preparing the meal for this gathering of folks in her home. Mary, meanwhile, is sitting at Jesus’ feet, taking in every word from his mouth.
In a moment of irritation, Martha asked Jesus to make Mary get up and help. Do you remember what Jesus said? (Luke 10:41-42)
“Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better.” Martha worked with a divided heart, while Mary focused on “the one thing” that is necessary.
It’s worth saying again. Anxiety grows when something other than Christ becomes central.
I don’t pretend to know what you’re going through this week. Nor, do I pretend that I have my act together every day. This lesson was a great reminder for me to quit taking on responsibility that God never gave me in the first place. Responsibilities that God wants me to lay at his feet.
You see, only one thing is needed.
Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
Thinking Points
Where are the competing allegiances in your life? How does that divided focus affect your trust in God?
Are there specific motives or treasures in your life that you tend to rely on for your identity of security? How might Jesus be inviting you to loosen your grip on them?
In what ways does worrying reshape who you are in Christ? How would it feel different if you followed Jesus’ encouragement to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness?
How might choosing the “one thing” that is necessary, reorient your week—your schedule, your attention, your emotional and spiritual energy—toward Christ?