Do Not Worry!

Do Not Worry.
This command is probably one of the least acknowledged by the community that claims to follow Jesus as Christ. If he is Christ, he is God. If he is God, he knows everything. So he should know what he is talking about when it comes to how we should live. And yet people either don’t trust him or don’t believe him or frankly outright disobey him when he says, “Do not worry…” I think this is a sign that many people simply aren’t living in step with the Spirit or in communion with the Father whether people realize it or not.

Matthew 6:25-34. Everyone knows the passage and I don’t think I know anyone who fully lives into the promise of this verse:
“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear…for the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”
So, children of the good Father who gives good gifts, do not worry. Ever. About anything, for “who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
This isn’t a suggestion to a better life, although if it’s a command, it already means it will make your life better. It’s not a suggestion. If you are a child of the Heavenly Father, you will not worry for you know he is taking care of you.
Only orphans worry about these things because they need to fend for themselves. They need to fight for what they need because no one else is watching out for them.

In Christ, we are no longer orphans. Why then do we live as though we are?
This means:
Do not worry about jobs/income.
Do not worry about paying the bills.
Do not worry about insurance.
Do not worry about making a living.
Do not worry about where God is planting/leading you.
Do not worry about LIFE!
LIVE IN FREEDOM!

The command to not worry about food or bills or life does not give us the freedom to misuse and abuse how we live and assume God will still come through. It gives freedom to live…for Christ and his glory free of worry! Sometimes I think people take this “do not worry” as a license to be foolish with the resources God has given or to be lazy and unwilling to work. Maybe to pay the bills, God has given enough to live off of but there is a need to make some cuts, like cutting the cable bill or cutting the internet connection or moving into a smaller home. Maybe it means no more eating out or random shopping trips for accessories or more clothes. Quite frankly, we don’t even have to think about worrying about clothes because most middle class Americans have a wardrobe for 10-15 people. At least. I don’t know if God will give us the budget to continue living this “American Dream” or continue to be hip or continue to be with culture or up-to-date with technology. And honestly, when we are consumed with the Father, these things simply don’t even matter anymore; they are just a waste of time.

Here is the key to living into the passage of Jesus’ do not worry command which he states right after in verse 33: “BUT seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Do not worry, BUT rather, pursue the Father. In living with the Father and under the blessings of the Father, there are conditions. We do not worry as the pagans do, as orphans do, FOR we do not live as orphans do! Our life is to be consumed with the Father—seeking his kingdom and his righteousness above all other things.
Imagine—or watch—little children and their fascination with their dad. Andrew told me of how he would get his fake lawn mower and mow right behind his father. I loved listening to my dad on the guitar at night and had my own fake guitar to play and sing on. I loved making cookies with my dad and would imitate him on so many things. When the Father is around, a child is not usually too far behind even on tasks that don’t seem to be much “fun” like mowing the lawn. There are so many little daddy shadows…and there are many orphans who do their own thing.
As being children, we need to look more like a shadow than doing our own thing. Seeking his kingdom, pursuing his righteousness, mimicking his character, delving into who he is should be the goal and the purpose of our lives. When this begins to happen, what is there to worry about? We have a big, strong daddy with us!

We are to look different, be different. We are children of the Most High king. We need to come to grips with this reality and start living into it otherwise we will directly be disobeying the word of our Lord. Furthermore, as Jesus ends his teachings at the end of Matthew chapter 7, he tells the parable of the wise man and the foolish man. The foolish man is the one who hears the words Jesus says and does not put them into practice. The wise man, on the other hand, puts them into practice in his life. The “do not worry” section of Jesus’ teachings is only one of several that lead up to the parable of the wise and foolish man, but it is important to see that if we do not begin to live like children—pursuing and becoming obsessed with the Father and in turn not worrying about our lives—then we are the foolish man.

Lord, give us your identity as sons and daughters of you, our loving, good Father. May we become so wrapped up in you that nothing else makes us waver with worry, for we are pursuing you, your kingdom and righteousness and glory. Show us the things and activities in our lives that are not for you or your glory. Help us to make cuts in our lives that distract us from you. Draw us closer. May that be the desire of our hearts gracious God. Consume us. How we praise you for being our Father. Glory be to your holy name!