Having a Kingdom Attitude 18b

As we continue to look at Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus is teaching His disciples that a life of worry is an enemy, a thief to the Christian life. Jesus teaches us that the more we worry, the more stress we will have in our physical and spiritual life; and the more we worry the more power we give the enemy to rob us of the joy that comes from walking in close fellowship with Christ. Let me list two more precious treasures that a life of worry will steal from the child of God (besides our perspective, worth, and faith). Worry will steal your testimony (6:31-33), it will make you look like a hypocrite and an idolater to the world. A Christian is to be one who depends on God for all their needs. We sing about it, we talk about it, we teach it....and yet most of us do not live what we are preaching. A worried attitude says to the world, "I don't believe God is truly over all, and I don't believe I can trust God completely." Bishop Fulton J. Sheen stated, "Worry is a form of atheism, for it betrays a lack of faith and trust in God." Jesus tells us not to worry over food, fashion, and life, because that attitude is the attitude of pagans who worship false gods.

Lastly, worry will steal your today (6:34). You may say, what do you mean "stealing my today." Jesus teaches us that each day has enough trouble, so worrying about tomorrow is not profitable for the work that needs to be done today. God will take care of our tomorrows. Work today for God's kingdom. Stop wasting time fretting over things that have not happened. We cannot work in tomorrow, we are only promised today. As the psalmist writes, "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." With this passage, we can sum Jesus' teaching with this statement: "Worry is a sin that steals our perspective on material needs, it devalues us as God's precious creatures, it compromises our faith, it harms our testimony, and it takes away the joy afforded to us each day to pursuit God's kingdom and His righteousness. When you have God's perspective of life, you will have a less stressed life. Until next time, keep walking close with Christ.