I'm Not Worried About This Message (Part 1)

Part 1

 Introduction

If I were to ask you directly, we’d all have to admit that worry is something we all struggle with from time to time. Some have even made it a pastime in their lives. Living in America, one of the greatest nations in the world, we spend so much money on the things we worry about: security, illnesses, longevity, diet, comfort of living. People worry, and worry is a sin. It’s not a trivial sin that we can just dismiss from our thoughts, nor is it a sin that does not bear any consequences on our lives. Worry is a great sin that is completely contrary to our faith in Christ.

Some people may believe it IS a trivial sin, but it is not. Many of the common mental illnesses and even physical illnesses that are prevalent in our society today are a direct result of the sin of worry. Drunkenness, drug addictions, promiscuity, anxiety, paranoia, and depression are but a few of the damaging results of a mind consumed with worry. Many people make foolish life decision under the shadow of worry and face painful consequences as a result.

Before we dive into this study, we need to understand the difference between what worry is and what concern is. Semantically, we can easily substitute the word “worry” for “concern,” but yet still be committing the sin of worry. So let’s establish a foundational definition of what these two words mean so that our study maintains integrity.

“Worry” – a disquieted uneasiness of mind, an anxious apprehension concerning an impending or anticipated situation; fretting about a foreboding misfortune or failure; to strangle; to choke

“Concern” – have an interest in, give attention to, be engaged by a situation, as a matter of consideration or responsibility

In our basic English vocabulary, there is little to no difference between these two words as they are used in culture. The Bible says otherwise. My purpose for this study is to deal with the mental attitude and sin of worry. We are not trying to deal with those natural concerns that one would have and face in life when things are not going right, such as when someone is ill, or absent, or in danger.

Worry – The Overview

So, to preface our study, we need a Biblical definition of the word “worry.” Worry, as this Bible study will exposit to you, is “a divided mind” [Greek word merimnao]. You will see that word in several of the passages we study together as I point them out. A more working definition from a Christian perspective might be as follows:

1. To worry is to assume a responsibility that is not necessarily ours to assume; failing to recognize that God is bigger than any problem we might have, and loves us enough to seek our highest good in the midst of every situation.

2. Worry is a form of humanistic self-orientation that thinks, "It's up to me to take care of this situation," and is thus a form of practical atheism, acting as if there is no God to deal with the situation, or that God doesn't know or care about the situation.

So with these definitions assessed, let’s turn to the words of Christ in Matthew 6:25-34 for His clear, direct, and authoritative answer on this deadly, you read it correctly, deadly sin as stated before.

It is natural for us as earthly people to be naturally concerned about earthly things. And all too often we take that to an extreme where those concerns become worries that consume our minds and thoughts. We as fallible human beings can worry about ANYTHING. Even the basic necessities of life (food, water, clothing, shelter) can consume our mind and drive us insane with caustic thoughts that receive no answer.

However, in Christ we are new creatures that need to focus on heavenly things, things that we can do something about, rather than to be in a foreboding state of mind, spastically trying to figure out how our earthly needs will be met. This is why Christ uses the objects we see in Matthew 6:25-34. Christ doesn’t want us to worry about anything – even the basic necessities of life. This is the heart of what Christ is saying. Three times in this passage He tells us not to worry (merimnao, v. 25, 31, 34). Let me share with you four reasons why worry from Matthew 6 is wrong - next time!