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The Gospel Truth
Actually, Jesus had already recorded it, two thousand years earlier, in Matthew 6:25-34. Don't Worry Imagine the worries of the first century family. Wages were too low and taxes were too high. There was sin in society, corruption in government and uncertainty in the economy. Families struggled to stay together, and one generation wondered what kind of world their children and grandchildren would inherit. Twenty-first century problems mirror subsequent centuries. What are we going to do? Jesus said, "Don't worry." "Don't worry" is a command. It is a word from God issued in the imperative tense. With virtually the same force in which God said, "Thou shalt not murder" and "Thou shalt not commit adultery," God said thou shalt not worry. The opposite of worry is faith, and the opposite of faith is sin. Therefore, worry is a sin God has commanded us not to commit. "Don't worry" is a choice. Verse 25 begins with "for this reason" or "therefore." What's that there for? To call to mind the previous saying, the one found in Matthew 6:19-24. When the gospel becomes the treasure of your heart, your eyes are trained to follow Christ, your will chooses to serve God not mammon, and your options to worry become nil. When you are laboring for Christ and heavenly things, money and material things just don't seem to matter that much. They're not worth worrying about. And the so-called "big" things? Well, if you have trusted Christ for heaven, will he not see to it that you have every thing on earth you need? Choose this day whom you will serve, and if you choose to serve the Lord, choose not to worry about anything else. "Don't worry" is a consideration. In other words, there are God-given reasons to obey him and choose not to worry. First of all, worry is bad for you. It can't add an inch to your frame or an hour to your life, but it can sure take some away. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, worry is bad for God, at least for his reputation. The "Gentiles" were marked by worry, because they didn't trust their gods. This made their gods look weak, even sinful, and for good reasons, since they were no gods at all. Is our God weak? Is our God sinful? Is our God unable to provide for our needs in keeping with his perfect plan for our lives? Then live like it. Don't worry. We are more valuable than birds and flowers and already have more than Solomon ever thought about possessing. Be Happy Some versions of the Sermon on the Mount begin with happiness. But the best translation of the first word in each beatitude is "blessed." You will never be truly happy unless you are first fully blessed. The blessedness Jesus offers, which leads to true happiness, revolves around Matthew 6:33 - "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you." In many ways this is the theme verse for the Sermon on the Mount, the gospel of Matthew, and the gospel in general. In it we find the source of salvation, eternal and internal security, freedom from worry and the key to true happiness. Let's break it down backwards for a moment: "These things" are material things. They are not unimportant, for we need food and clothing. But they are material, earthly, and temporary. We won't worry about them in heaven. So, if we are destined for heaven, we are determine not to worry about them while we are on earth. But that's the catch then, isn't it? Are we destined for heaven? We are if we are fed and clothed with "his righteousness." Truly this is the heart of the gospel. Jesus preached to turn the hearts of people away from the selfrighteousness of the Pharisees to the true righteousness of God, which would in turn move their hearts from temporary material riches to true eternal treasure. But to do this requires "his righteousness," and the only way to have "his righteousness" is to have him. Trust, without worry, in Jesus Christ as the undisputed lord and savior of your soul. "His righteousness" is his cost, the price of incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection. "His kingdom" is your cost. To enter in you have to have to be born again into a new, spiritual kingdom, lay down your life for his sake, so that you can happily take it up again. "His righteousness" cost him his life. "His kingdom" will cost you yours. Are you in? Are you ready to enter in? Want a worry free life? Want to be truly blessed and happy? Then, "Seek first." I didn't understand much about God and the gospel when I was a sophomore in college. But when he enabled me to hear it with good ears, I made a simple and profound commitment. I put Jesus first. I believe in Jesus and I believe Jesus. He told me to trust him for salvation, and I did. He tells me not to worry, so I won't.
And you know what I have every day? Trouble! Just like he said in verse 34. But here is what I know: "In every life we have some trouble, when you worry you make it double, don't worry, be happy."
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