Contentment in Christ Part 4: Anxiety
Matthew: The Sermon on the Mount • Sermon • Submitted
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· 2 viewsThe point of the passage is not concerning emotional states, nor it is saying to never be anxious, but rather that our anxieties and cares should be directed towards the Kingdom of God and towards the needs of others. Our cares should be in their rightful place.
Notes
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Introduction: The Nature of Anxiety and Christ’s Command Concerning It
Introduction: The Nature of Anxiety and Christ’s Command Concerning It
Today we look at a text which addresses one of the most popular reasons that our faith in God suffers: anxiety, worry, and care about the future. The way a Christian deals with these thoughts and the emotions that spring from them is necessary to understand, but also something that cannot be achieved by a worldly person. It requires the faith in God that manifests itself in the Beatitudes. Only a true child of God can overcome worry in this particular way. While the world has ways of overcoming worry to an extent, this way is the only way for a Christian. It cannot be learned through therapy, psychology, or philosophy; only true faith can do what we need to overcome anxiety in a Christ-like manner.
Our text begins with the word “therefore” indicating that what Jesus is about to tell us is connected to the previous statements Jesus made and continuing his teaching there. Let us review the main points of verses 19-24 very quickly.
Three sayings: store your wealth (and heart) in heaven, not on earthly treasures; keep the eyes of your heart on the enlightening realities of heaven, not clouded by the darkness of earthly gain; you cannot stand in the middle, serving both God and wealth.
All these sayings have one common theme: focus on what is heavenly in nature and what good there is to gain in heaven, not on worldly gain which is both temporary and misleading.
With that fresh in our minds, Jesus goes to speak about anxiety. The word here is not an inherently negative word. However, whenever the word in used in the NT as a noun it always carries a negative connotation, whereas when it is used as a verb in can have either a negative or positive connotation. It is a simple word with little neuance except in the contexts in which it is used. We could translate it simply as “care” or as a verb “to care”. Very broad word, which is why Jesus goes on to define what he means by it.
With this definition in mind, the word anxious can possibly be a little misleading. Jesus is not talking about an emotional response or state, but rather a mental one. He’s not talking about the gut feeling of anxiety, but rather anxious thoughts that lead to anxious actions. However, this does not take away from the fact that what he is commanding us is a tall order. He further defines what we are not to care about as food, drink, and clothing. This is interesting because we have already looked at 1 Timothy 6:8 a few times in previous messages which tells us to be content with food and clothing. We may have falsely concluded that it is okay to be discontent if we don’t have these things, but this would miss both Paul’s point and Jesus’ teaching.
While the previous teachings may more apply to those who have enough to feed themselves and desire more, the theme of contentment applies equally to those who may be struggling to feed themselves and their families. Whereas before Jesus instructs those who seek riches to turn their attention to heavenly riches, here Jesus instructs those who seek financial support for daily life to also look to heavenly support for daily needs. We already saw this in the simple prayer, “give us this day our daily bread” but here, Jesus expounds on what the heart behind such a prayer should be.
Jesus’ teaching here is simple. We ought not to concern ourselves with daily needs, but only on our role as servants and children of the Kingdom of Heaven. If we do so, just as a good commander and a good master makes sure those under him are provided for, God will provide for what we need.
Kinds of Anxiety
Kinds of Anxiety
While it is common to think that Jesus is telling us not to be anxious or worry at all, that is not what he says. Rather, he specifies what we are not to worry about: your life. Jesus goes into detail on this, and we can notice that the section here on anxiety is much longer than his sayings on wealth, probably because most of his audience were not the wealthy but the poor and the sick. After all, the disciples he’s talking to were lowly fishermen whose livelihood depended on the catch of the day, and many who were listening to him were Syrians and Galileans who had come to Jesus for healing. So Jesus takes time to instruct those struggling to make a living by telling them not to care for their own lives.
Now it should be noted that Jesus is not saying we should not work or be wise with our money. Look at Eccl 3:22
So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?
Paul is clear in 1 Thess 4:11
and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,
and in 2 Thess 3:10
For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
Also Col 3:23
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
and Eph 4:28
Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
The Bible is clear that our lives are to be full of work with our hands for monetary compensation. Also, since Paul says we should be content with food and clothing, it stands to reason that earning a living wage for ourselves when we can is a good thing. But take a minute to look at the last passage from Ephesians. The reason the thief ought to work is not so he may have security, comfort, and ease knowing where his food is coming from, but so that “he may have something to share with anyone in need.” This gets at the heart of the difference between righteous care and unrighteous anxiety. One is exemplary of a merciful heart described in the Beatitudes, the other evidences a worldly heart set on earthly security.
Lawful Care: For the Kingdom and for Your Neighbour
Lawful Care: For the Kingdom and for Your Neighbour
First, let us look at lawful, righteous anxiety, or care. While Jesus tells us not to worry about our life, that does not mean we should be stoicly without concern or care for anything. Paul had anxiety as seen in 2 Cor 11:28
And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
Paul instructs the Corinthians to have care for one another in 1 Cor 12:25
that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
Paul also praises Epaphroditus for his “concern” in Phil 2:20
For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.
Even God shows care and concern 1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Literally, cast all your cares on him because he cares for you. In the language Jesus is using, God is anxious on your behalf. So how are we to identify righteous anxiety, or lawful care?
Lawful care is based on a trust in God to provide for us. We cannot say we truly believe God loves us if we do not believe that he is willing to provide for us. Jesus points us to lesser things in creation, namely the birds which God feeds and the grass of the field. The birds are fed on a day-to-day basis, and they are not anxious about it and they are fed by God. So also the grass of the field needs little care to produce amazing flowers of all colours. A meadow full of wildflowers is not planted by anyone, and yet God dresses them with more beauty than even the richest of kings. Jesus uses a lesser to greater argument here, a type of logic common in the NT. If God is so careful with his lesser created beings, is he not much more careful to provide for you if you are walking in his will? After all, you are his image bearer and child, what kind of Father would he be to let you go hungry while he feeds birds? What good parent would let their child starve while making sure the dog is fed? So the question is this: do you actually believe God loves you? Do you actually think he is a good Father?
Righteous anxiety and care is focused on the needs of others. When you are free from caring for yourself by trusting in the care of our heavenly Father, only then will you be able to have righteous care. No one who busy with their own worries can assist others with their needs. Mothers, you know that when you feel cold often the first thing you do is make sure your child has warm clothing on. You naturally are more concerned about you child’s welfare than yours. So if we are to have righteous care, we must put the welfare of others above our own perceived needs because we trust that our loving Father will provide for us. In Acts 11, when a prophet predicted the global famine during the reign of Claudius, the church in Antioch immediately raised funds, not for themselves but for the churches in Judea. Because they trusted God to provide for their needs, their concern was on the churches which had given them the Gospel in the first place.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Righteous care focuses exclusively on the Kingdom of God. This could not be clearer than Jesus makes it in verse 33. This is the alternative to seeking our own security through worry and anxiety: to be anxious about the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness of God.
Remember, the Blessed Ones hunger and thirst for righteousness. They are filled both by the atoning work of Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, but this is not done passively. They seek righteousness, they long for it, they do everything in their power to live and Jesus has taught in the sermon thus far.
And they seek the Kingdom of God. They long to see the good news of the Gospel spread to all the ends of the earth. They pray, “hallowed by thy name, thy Kingdom Come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” before they pray “give us this day our daily bread.” This is their goal, a heavenly Kingdom. They think upon the New Heavens and New Earth and the cares of their heart eventually follow their thoughts into this goal.
It says “seek first”. Again, this doesn’t tell you not to look for a job, not to show up at work, and not even to put some money away for the future. This is not legalistic teaching, but a heart teaching. Where are your thoughts when it comes to money? When you think about the future, are you anxious for the coming of the Kingdom or are you filled with anxiety about your life? Let’s talk about that for a moment.
Unlawful Anxiety: Worries About Life
Unlawful Anxiety: Worries About Life
One Biblical dictionary says this about our passage:
“Here Jesus’ words are directed against the error of denying God’s care and love on the assumption that people can secure their own futures by acquiring what they need for their temporary livelihood.”
Again, ultimately the proof is in the pudding. A trusting child doesn’t worry about whether their parents are going to feed or clothe them, and likewise a faithful Christian does not worry about whether God will provide for their needs or not.
Additionally, the motivation for getting more money than one currently makes becomes a pit if we are doing so out of worry, just as it is if we are doing so out of greed. It makes our efforts useless in an eternal perspective and we end up devoting our time, energy, and lives to short and ultimately insignificant worries and concerns.
Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
When we worry about our lives, we:
Cannot properly care for others. If our needs take priority, the needs of others will be forgotten until we are satisfied.
We are in danger of being unlawful and sinning.
We are in danger of having what we consider “needs” expanded beyond biblical perimeters. Once you no longer have to worry about food, clothing, and shelter, you will worry about gas prices, retirement savings, personal spending, vacations, restaurants, the latest iPhone, and the list will get longer and longer of needs you have to satisfy before you will seek the Kingdom of God. Is this not what happens to all of us when we worry?
The Root of Anxiety: Seeking the Wrong Things
The Root of Anxiety: Seeking the Wrong Things
So we see that, just like the problem with laying up treasures is not the laying up itself but where you are seeking to lay up treasures, the problem with anxiety is not your concern for things but that you are concerned about the wrong things. Anxiety is a concern for things in this world that we need to physically survive: food, clothing, shelter, and other things. The kind of care we are called to is first love for our creator and concern for his Kingdom, and love for our neighbour and concern for their well-being. To put it bluntly, it is impossible to obey the two great commandments if we are anxious.
Our anxieties need to be redirected, not quenched. Again, we are not embracing a stoic demeanor by damming up the waters of concern and care, but redirecting them in a way that is contrary to our flesh but necessary for our Spiritual life. To follow God means to care about what he directs us to care about, just as it means to serve as he directs us to serve. It means to care about what Christ cared about as a human example to us. So do not chastise yourself saying, “why am I so anxious.” Rather, ask yourself, “why do I care so much about this when my heavenly Father, who knows my needs and provides even for the birds and grass, directs me to care about greater things?”
Truths to Lay Anxiety to Rest
Truths to Lay Anxiety to Rest
Unfortunately, anxiety grips many of us like a vice and refuses to let go. How can we walk in the Spirit on this matter, disregarding the cares of our flesh for the cares of the Kingdom? Thankfully, our text and the rest of Scripture give us both reasons and practical helps when it comes to anxiety. Let us consider what we may do, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, to resist worldly anxieties.
Meditate on the Love and Care of God.
Consider the ways he has provided for you and others in the past, and let it be fuel for your faith in the future (vs. 34).
Spend time in the Word, meditating on the great promises and character of God.
Pray the Lord’s Prayer in Faith, asking only for your daily needs and leaving the future in God’s hands. Praying for the future can easily be done out of a lack of faith and in violation of verse 34. Remember the words of Paul,
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Lead your heart and emotions and act in faith. What is it you fear tomorrow? Do not indulge those fears. Do your duty, go to work, earn what you need to earn for your daily bread according to what God has provided, but anything you are doing to secure tomorrow out of worry for what may happen just do not act on it. Spend that time and those resources and mental energy on greater things. Lay up some treasures in heaven and let your heart be led to them.
What If I Am Not Anxious?
What If I Am Not Anxious?
Perhaps some of you are in a state of relative ease in life and wonder how all this talk of contentment and anxiety should apply to you. You are not worried about the future, though not necessarily because you contentedly trust in God but because you have secured your future to a point where there exists no lack or need in the forseeable future. I hope to apply this text to you as well, but I will let the Puritan Jeremiah Burroughs give his answer for you to consider.
Every Christian should say: 'Have I wealth now? I should prepare for poverty. Have I health now? I should prepare for sickness. Have I liberty? Let me prepare myself for imprisonment. How do I know what God may call me to? Have I comfort and peace now in my conscience, does God shine upon me? While I have this let me prepare for God's withdrawing from me. Am I delivered from temptations? Let me prepare now for the time of temptations.' If you would do so, the change of your condition would not be so grievous to you.
-Burroughs, Jeremiah. The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment (p. 121). Unknown. Kindle Edition.
We live in uncertain days. War is raging on the other side of the world with no end in sight, tensions are rising with Russia and China, the economy is in a horrible state, but even if none of this were true, as Burroughs says, you have no way of knowing what trial or uncertainty God may call you to. Are you prepared in your heart to loose the security you have for yourself? Is your heart set on heavenly treasures, heavenly life, spiritual health, and poverty of spirit? God calls all his saints to various trials for their own good, so that they may show that their hope is not in this world but in Christ and all that Christ has won for you. If God has given you secure days, it is not so that you may build bigger barns, kick up your feet, and laugh at the future. These are the reasons God may have given you for such ease:
To be the means by which Christ looks after those in need. Consider Paul’s interpretation of the way manna was distributed to the Israelites and how it applies to the church in
your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”
To test your heart with wealth and security, in which case you should prepare when God gives you days to come of uncertainty. Worldly security is its own trial; a trial that only shows itself when it is gone. As Burroughs warns you, prepare yourself for the trials ahead by examining your heart and preparing it for the loss of all things. Paul was content in much as well as with little, as so you must make sure you are. Many have lost their profession when they lost their security, which leads to the next point.
You are not truly his. God lays wealth on the ungodly like a curse, that their lack of care for heavenly things may be displayed by their security in wealth. Consider the man who built bigger barns and was called a fool for trusting in them. That night his soul was demanded and his security was gone. If you have nothing to worry about here you may easily bring a curse upon yourself because, like Esau, you have no care for your birthright in Christ but only for your worldly inheritance and the blessings that come with it. If you have worldly security, I do not wish that taken away from you unless it would display the true nature of your heart. Search yourself diligently and make sure that this isn’t the case.
Conclusion
Conclusion
To conclude, a final thought on what you can do to fight against your own anxiety is in joyful thanksgiving. Paul’s words are worth repeating once again in Phil 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
and
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Notice two things:
Paul commands us to rejoice in the Lord and he rejoices himself, though not out of concern for his own welfare, but on the contrary he rejoices because of the great concern the Philippians showed him. This joy comes from a heavenly mindset where Paul is focused on eternal things. It is out of this joy that he says not to be anxious for anything.
His cure to anxiety is thanksgiving along with supplication. It is this mindset that also gives him the ability to be content in every situation.
Biblical Contentment is not dependent on circumstance like worldly contentment is. Mark Twain is quoted as saying “I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor, rich is better.” Contrast that with the words of Paul, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” It is only on this point that he may claim “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Biblical contentment is based on faith in a loving God, enduring the path of our suffering Saviour, being led by the Holy Spirit by whom we are sealed, setting our eyes on things to come, putting value in eternal treasures, loving others above ourselves, and being thankful for what we are given and what God is doing to establish his Kingdom. Only the contented life can bring you true freedom in Christ. Without contentment, you will stumble along in a miserable path being largely useless for the Kingdom, if you make it in at all. But with contentment, you will learn to face every trial, conquer every fear, be led by grace and increase in faith. You will live the happiest Christian life here and have eternal joys beyond measure in the next world. Brothers and sisters, let us strive for the contented life, for he who died to pay for our sins is faithful also to provide all you need to do what you are on this earth to accomplish. When that is done, what need is there even for daily bread? We will share together in the riches of eternal life and treasure. Push on and fight for a contented heart and you will be truly blessed.