"FOUR REASONS NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THINGS!"

Written and preached by David P. Nolte

(The Four Major Points are from Dr. Carl Bridges)

MATTHEW 6:19-34

I want to credit Dr. Carl Bridges, Johnson Bible College, with the four major points of the sermon today. The words of Jesus in this text are designed to set at rest our worries and concerns for the things pertaining to our bodies. He would not have us fretful, but trustful. He would not have us fixed on earthly things, but heavenly. To illustrate His teaching, I want to tell you about a widowed mother was trying to raise her two children. She struggled to be a good parent and worked long and hard to make ends meet. It seemed that she was always having to come up with money for shoes or clothing or school supplies. But she had ceased to worry and fret about these things because she had learned some valuable lessons in the school of hard knocks. The lessons she learned are lessons we ought to learn and they consist of four reasons we ought not worry about things. Here's reason number one:

The mother had learned that lesson. She also decided that she could whine about her hardships or she could work through them. She decided she could be selfish and miserly with her few things, or she could be generous and liberal, sharing with others who had less than she. This represents another lesson Jesus taught and it is reason number two why not to worry about things:

Again, this mother and her two children had very little, but her attitude was positive. She had come to understand, and tried to convey to her children, that contentment and abundant life does not depend upon having many things. Jesus taught that and it is reason number three not to worry about things.

The mother knew that life could be good without a lot of possessions, but one stormy night she and her children were out of provisions except for a little bread. She didn't tell her children about the situation, but she began to pray. Little did she know how God would answer their prayer. Of one thing she was firmly and absolutely persuaded! God's promise is true! "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19. Here's reason number four why we ought not worry about things.

The mother prayed for daily bread and trusted God to provide it. She sent the children down to the beach to gather sand. In those days before carpeted floors, people in New England had a habit of scattering some sand on the floor. She again knelt and prayed. Shortly she heard the giggling children coming home. They were carrying a fine, large fish which had been trapped in a hollow on the beach, left there when the tide went out. They thanked God for His providence and ate a tasty and satisfying meal. "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." Psalms 37:3. We ought to have learned by now that worry is counter productive and has never solved a problem, paid a bill, or alleviated a distress. But those who have learned to trust Him, to lean on Him, to obey Him, have learned that it is peace and help. We cannot know what tomorrow holds, but we can know Who holds tomorrow; we don't know what will take place, but we know Who governs it. As the hymn suggests, "Be not dismayed what e'er betide, God will take care of you!" That's our hope for time, it is our assurance for eternity. Don't worry, don't fret, don't brood, don't cast off your confidence -- trust, believe, be assured, and obey. As we sing, give Him the worries that have long oppressed and distressed and receive His peace.

Fish story, Knight, New Illustrations, p. 537, adapted; 4 major points based on Dr. Carl Bridges, BIBLE 5401, Matthew, p. 17, Johnson Bible College, Knoxville, Tenn.

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