Trinity 15 September 9, 2018
Matthew 6:24-34
Worried About Finding What You Need?
v.31-33 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Dear friends in Christ, what worries you? What it is that keeps you up at night, staring at the ceiling? What is it that causes you to frantically search your house and your life, seeking for that special something? What are you anxious about? What is it that causes you to nervously bounce your leg or twiddle your thumbs? Is it your finances? Worried about having enough money at the end of the month. Is it your health? Anxiously awaiting the test results from the doctor. Is it your family? Wondering if your kids/grandkids are gonna turn out all right—attend church—and continue to believe in Jesus. Or is it something else entirely?
Beloved, we all have things that we worry about. Jesus here in our text talks to us about the problem and the nature of worry itself. That plague of our modern society that causes so much heartache and grief as people become overly stressed about all the things in their lives and whether they will be OK and succeed in taking care of not only themselves, but also their families. And this text follows on the heels of Jesus’ preaching in the Sermon on the Mount regarding greed of earthly possessions and money that is worship of the false god mammon.
You see, you cannot serve both God (the true God—the Lord Jesus Christ) and mammon (money—possessions). Why not? Why can’t I have my cake and eat it too? Why can’t I work my whole life to earn as much money as I possibly can to buy the things I want and give to the people I love, while at the SAME time trusting and believing in Jesus? Why? Because they require two contrary forms of service.
Worrying is nothing else than worship given to the false god of mammon, an unbelieving anxiousness and focus on the things of this world. When it comes right down to it worry is a failure to trust in the loving provision of God to take care of us in all things. Faith, on the other hand, is worship of the true God. A confident trust that He is a loving Father who will care for all our needs in both body and soul. Faith knows how useless it is to worry about things because we have the rock-solid promise of God in Jesus Christ that He loves us and will work out all things for the good of those who believe in Him. Faith trusts that He who so generously feeds the birds of the air and clothes the grass of the field so richly, will certainly provide for our daily needs as we are worth far more to Him than birds or grass.
Indeed, beloved, faith clings to the promises of God in His Word to us concerning His Son Jesus. The very Son of God who gave up the vast riches of heaven to take on human flesh for your sake and mine. The very Word made flesh who lived in poverty, fully trusting in His Father to care for Him always, is the very same One who lived and died for you on the cross and who now comes to you in His Word and Sacrament to feed and clothe you in His own righteousness through the forgiveness of all of your sins.
Your loving Master and Lord—the Kyrie—Jesus Christ has already provided for your eternal needs. In Baptism you have been washed clean and robed in the pure holiness of Christ Himself. In the Holy Supper He comes to you again to feed you richly with His own body and blood in bread and wine—granting you full pardon and forgiveness—thereby bestowing salvation and life eternal.
He who has so generously provided for us in this way will also provide for our daily needs. Though Satan attempts to rob us of the comfort and assurance that Christ has earned with His suffering, death, and resurrection. Though the world tantalizes us with its many promises of comfort and pleasure here and now. Though our own sinful flesh worries about seeking after all these things. Yet, unmoved we stand. Confident in Christ our Saviour who bled and died for us on the cross to set us free from such worries and cares of this life.
We have heaven! We have the glorious riches of eternal life with God—everlasting communion with Him and all who believe in Jesus! The promise of life without end—a perfect life with no hunger, thirst, nakedness, danger, pain, suffering, hatred, or any other evil. For Christ has taken care of it all for us in His own flesh on the cross. What have we to worry about now? We who have received Jesus by faith already enjoy every good thing from the gracious hand of our loving Saviour.
Of course, this faith does not come naturally to us. It is—and must be—given only by the Holy Spirit. God Himself works faith in your hearts to trust in Him. Though your faith may be weak—though you are beset by doubts and worry—God promises to continue holding you in His arms of mercy and love. He promises to uphold you through the forgiveness of sins so that you may trust in Him unto life everlasting. Because faith is His work—and not yours—you may firmly believe that your faith is secure and solid. For your faith rests not on your own efforts of will, but on the cross of Jesus Christ who bled and died for you.
With such confidence we are liberated from worry and now, finally, by God’s grace, we are freed to do good with our material resources—especially to those who are of the household of faith. We receive this confidence not through our own wills or works—but rather by the Word of God, which speaks to us of Christ and His provision for us in His blood.
We have received His righteousness, though by nature we would never seek it on our own. The righteousness of God has come to us in Christ through Word and Sacrament—bespeaking us righteous with the very righteousness that rightly belongs to Jesus. It now covers us—clothes us. Having received this most perfect gift, we also look only and always to our loving Father to provide for our other needs this side of heaven—to give us our daily bread at the proper time. He so often does heap blessing upon blessing upon blessing upon our unworthy heads. Yet He delights in giving His children gifts of food, clothing and so much more.
This Word of Jesus not to worry does not apply just to teenagers who stand anxiously in front of mirrors for hours wondering what they are going to wear to school; it applies not just to struggling moms wondering how they are going to feed their children with no support from the dad; it applies not just to those who are sick and struggling with the cares of this life. Rather, it applies to all of us. For no matter what situation we are in—whether in want or in plenty—whether in sickness or in health—whether in life or in death—we have a loving God who has given His all to us and for us.
This Jesus who was crucified is the be all and end all of all things. Though we may indeed struggle mightily at this time with all sorts of issues—though Satan threatens to take away from us the blessings of the Father in our “goods, child, or spouse”—we tremble not, unmoved we stand—he cannot overpower us—one little word subdues him. Indeed, the Word of Christ Jesus—His absolution that makes you righteous—also promises all other blessings as well. If not in this life—then surely in the life of the world to come.
So, don’t worry. Christ is with you to give you His strength and mercy all the days of your life—until that time when He calls you to be by His side in everlasting glory where there will truly never be a need to worry ever again. For the evils of this world—those things that trouble us so deeply that are a result of sin in this broken world—will all be gone. Taken care of by the bloody wounds of Jesus sacrificed on the cross for you and me and all people—overcome by the power of His resurrection. The Father knows exactly what you need—and has given HIM to you—the Lord Jesus. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Matthew 6:24-34
Worried About Finding What You Need?
v.31-33 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Dear friends in Christ, what worries you? What it is that keeps you up at night, staring at the ceiling? What is it that causes you to frantically search your house and your life, seeking for that special something? What are you anxious about? What is it that causes you to nervously bounce your leg or twiddle your thumbs? Is it your finances? Worried about having enough money at the end of the month. Is it your health? Anxiously awaiting the test results from the doctor. Is it your family? Wondering if your kids/grandkids are gonna turn out all right—attend church—and continue to believe in Jesus. Or is it something else entirely?
Beloved, we all have things that we worry about. Jesus here in our text talks to us about the problem and the nature of worry itself. That plague of our modern society that causes so much heartache and grief as people become overly stressed about all the things in their lives and whether they will be OK and succeed in taking care of not only themselves, but also their families. And this text follows on the heels of Jesus’ preaching in the Sermon on the Mount regarding greed of earthly possessions and money that is worship of the false god mammon.
You see, you cannot serve both God (the true God—the Lord Jesus Christ) and mammon (money—possessions). Why not? Why can’t I have my cake and eat it too? Why can’t I work my whole life to earn as much money as I possibly can to buy the things I want and give to the people I love, while at the SAME time trusting and believing in Jesus? Why? Because they require two contrary forms of service.
Worrying is nothing else than worship given to the false god of mammon, an unbelieving anxiousness and focus on the things of this world. When it comes right down to it worry is a failure to trust in the loving provision of God to take care of us in all things. Faith, on the other hand, is worship of the true God. A confident trust that He is a loving Father who will care for all our needs in both body and soul. Faith knows how useless it is to worry about things because we have the rock-solid promise of God in Jesus Christ that He loves us and will work out all things for the good of those who believe in Him. Faith trusts that He who so generously feeds the birds of the air and clothes the grass of the field so richly, will certainly provide for our daily needs as we are worth far more to Him than birds or grass.
Indeed, beloved, faith clings to the promises of God in His Word to us concerning His Son Jesus. The very Son of God who gave up the vast riches of heaven to take on human flesh for your sake and mine. The very Word made flesh who lived in poverty, fully trusting in His Father to care for Him always, is the very same One who lived and died for you on the cross and who now comes to you in His Word and Sacrament to feed and clothe you in His own righteousness through the forgiveness of all of your sins.
Your loving Master and Lord—the Kyrie—Jesus Christ has already provided for your eternal needs. In Baptism you have been washed clean and robed in the pure holiness of Christ Himself. In the Holy Supper He comes to you again to feed you richly with His own body and blood in bread and wine—granting you full pardon and forgiveness—thereby bestowing salvation and life eternal.
He who has so generously provided for us in this way will also provide for our daily needs. Though Satan attempts to rob us of the comfort and assurance that Christ has earned with His suffering, death, and resurrection. Though the world tantalizes us with its many promises of comfort and pleasure here and now. Though our own sinful flesh worries about seeking after all these things. Yet, unmoved we stand. Confident in Christ our Saviour who bled and died for us on the cross to set us free from such worries and cares of this life.
We have heaven! We have the glorious riches of eternal life with God—everlasting communion with Him and all who believe in Jesus! The promise of life without end—a perfect life with no hunger, thirst, nakedness, danger, pain, suffering, hatred, or any other evil. For Christ has taken care of it all for us in His own flesh on the cross. What have we to worry about now? We who have received Jesus by faith already enjoy every good thing from the gracious hand of our loving Saviour.
Of course, this faith does not come naturally to us. It is—and must be—given only by the Holy Spirit. God Himself works faith in your hearts to trust in Him. Though your faith may be weak—though you are beset by doubts and worry—God promises to continue holding you in His arms of mercy and love. He promises to uphold you through the forgiveness of sins so that you may trust in Him unto life everlasting. Because faith is His work—and not yours—you may firmly believe that your faith is secure and solid. For your faith rests not on your own efforts of will, but on the cross of Jesus Christ who bled and died for you.
With such confidence we are liberated from worry and now, finally, by God’s grace, we are freed to do good with our material resources—especially to those who are of the household of faith. We receive this confidence not through our own wills or works—but rather by the Word of God, which speaks to us of Christ and His provision for us in His blood.
We have received His righteousness, though by nature we would never seek it on our own. The righteousness of God has come to us in Christ through Word and Sacrament—bespeaking us righteous with the very righteousness that rightly belongs to Jesus. It now covers us—clothes us. Having received this most perfect gift, we also look only and always to our loving Father to provide for our other needs this side of heaven—to give us our daily bread at the proper time. He so often does heap blessing upon blessing upon blessing upon our unworthy heads. Yet He delights in giving His children gifts of food, clothing and so much more.
This Word of Jesus not to worry does not apply just to teenagers who stand anxiously in front of mirrors for hours wondering what they are going to wear to school; it applies not just to struggling moms wondering how they are going to feed their children with no support from the dad; it applies not just to those who are sick and struggling with the cares of this life. Rather, it applies to all of us. For no matter what situation we are in—whether in want or in plenty—whether in sickness or in health—whether in life or in death—we have a loving God who has given His all to us and for us.
This Jesus who was crucified is the be all and end all of all things. Though we may indeed struggle mightily at this time with all sorts of issues—though Satan threatens to take away from us the blessings of the Father in our “goods, child, or spouse”—we tremble not, unmoved we stand—he cannot overpower us—one little word subdues him. Indeed, the Word of Christ Jesus—His absolution that makes you righteous—also promises all other blessings as well. If not in this life—then surely in the life of the world to come.
So, don’t worry. Christ is with you to give you His strength and mercy all the days of your life—until that time when He calls you to be by His side in everlasting glory where there will truly never be a need to worry ever again. For the evils of this world—those things that trouble us so deeply that are a result of sin in this broken world—will all be gone. Taken care of by the bloody wounds of Jesus sacrificed on the cross for you and me and all people—overcome by the power of His resurrection. The Father knows exactly what you need—and has given HIM to you—the Lord Jesus. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.