What Are You Worried About? - Sermon Blog
We live in an anxious world.
Not just a world where you feel anxious, but a world where you can open your phone, scroll for two minutes, and be invited into other people’s anxiety. We’ve become the most connected anxious generation in history.
And when life feels overwhelming, someone will often quote Matthew 6: “Do not be anxious about your life.” It’s well-meaning advice, but if you’re already drowning in worry, that phrase can feel like a life preserver tied to a brick.
Because here’s the thing: Jesus wasn’t giving us a motivational slogan, He was extending an invitation.
Jesus Doesn’t Say “Don’t Ever Feel Anxious”
Matthew 6:25-34 is one of the most misunderstood passages about worry. We often hear it as a command to never feel anxious, but that’s not what Jesus is saying.
Worry and anxiety are part of being human. Worry is the response to a real problem; anxiety is when that worry becomes a way of life. Jesus isn’t denying that worry happens, He’s telling us not to let it rule our hearts, decisions, and identity.
He’s saying, “Don’t live divided.”
In the original Greek, the word for “anxious” means to be pulled apart or divided. And that’s exactly what anxiety does—it tears you between trust and control.
The Context We Miss
Before Jesus says, “Do not be anxious,” He says in verse 24, “You cannot serve both God and money.”
Why? Because anxiety is often tied to whatever sits on the throne of your heart. In the crowd Jesus was preaching to, food and clothing weren’t luxuries, they were daily concerns. They were paid day-to-day, living hand-to-mouth, so these needs could easily become their master.
Today, our “masters” look different:
Finances (Will I have enough? Can I keep what I have?)
Health (What if something’s wrong? What if it gets worse?)
Reputation (What will people think of me? How do I protect my image?)
When those things become our security, peace is always fragile because they can change in an instant.
Mammon vs. Manna
Jesus warns about serving mammon, which means false security through accumulating things. Mammon says, “If I have enough, I’ll be safe.”
But God’s way is manna, daily provision through dependence on Him. Manna says, “God, what You give today is enough. You are enough.”
When we live with a manna mindset, our peace isn’t tied to what we can hold in our hands—it’s tied to the One who holds us.
Where Your Treasure Is, Your Anxiety Will Follow
Anxiety has a source. If you trace the string far enough, you’ll usually find it tied to whatever you treasure most.
If money is your treasure, financial uncertainty will shake you.
If health is your treasure, one doctor’s report will crush you.
If your image is your treasure, one critical comment will undo you.
That’s why Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God… and all these things will be added to you.” When He’s our treasure, our peace isn’t stolen every time life changes.
Today’s Trouble Is Enough for Today
Jesus ends the passage with, “Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Preparation is wise. Preoccupation is destructive. If you’re so focused on tomorrow’s what-ifs, you’ll miss the gift of today.
God’s invitation isn’t to ignore your problems, it’s to handle today’s problems with Him and trust Him with tomorrow’s.
How to Live This Out
Identify what’s on your heart’s throne. Ask yourself, “What am I thinking about most? What do I feel I can’t live without?”
Bring your worry into God’s presence. Don’t just tell Him the problem—let Him speak to it.
Practice daily dependence. Start your day with, “Lord, I give You today. Give me my daily bread.”
Shift your focus. Replace anxious thoughts with truth from Scripture and prayer.
Peace Is Found in a Person, Not a Plan
The peace Jesus offers isn’t about having the perfect plan, the right amount of savings, or a clean bill of health. It’s about knowing you’re not walking through life alone.
When He’s with you, it’s not that the storm disappears, it’s that you can stand in the middle of it and say, “It may not look good, but He is good.”
If anxiety has been pulling you apart, hear this: Jesus isn’t scolding you. He’s inviting you to trust Him, today.
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