(April 22, 2024) Richard Winter encourages…

If you hang around with Australians for just a few moments you will hear them say to just about anything you say, ‘No worries, mate!’

Attitude
‘Mate’ is the ‘Ozzie’ slang term for ‘friend’ and this expression is widely used representing a feeling of friendliness, mateship, good humour, kindness, and optimism – like the American ‘No problem.’

It’s a great attitude to have! But… did you know that Aussies weren’t the first to say this when things looked difficult – that Jesus was the first to say, ‘No worries, mate!’

That’s right! He encouraged His ‘mates’ – His disciples – not to worry in Matthew 6:24-30NKJV… ‘Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?’

Jesus went on to emphasise to His mates that ‘It will be okay’ in verses 31-34 – ‘Therefore do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.’

If we distill these encouragements down they’re essentially three challenges –
(i) Stop worrying about everything for God knows everything already!
(ii) Instead be seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness!
(iii) Know that ‘No worries, mate’ is ours!

Application
Now this calls us to be actively honest with ourselves, open to self-examination –

• Where is our heart?
• What is our eye looking at?
• Whom do we serve?
• Is money our god?
• Are we laying up treasures in heaven?

Although Jesus was very caring in not wanting His friends to worry, He wanted them to realise something that we too must understand today – our ‘basic needs’ are linked with our ‘treasures from heaven.’

Reality: If you think the answer to all of life’s problems is answered by money, you’re missing the point. Jesus was saying that we should rely on the Father! After all, there are many things that money can’t buy  –

• Time.
• Health.
• Genuine relationships.
• Character.
• Emotional well-being.
• Knowledge.
• True love.
• Passion.

Note Jesus’ three ‘therefores’ –
(1) Therefore … do not worry (v25).
(2) Therefore do not worry (v31).
(3) Therefore do not worry (V34).

‘Do Not Worry’ is a command that many misunderstand as they think it doesn’t mean to be concerned or wise. Jesus wants us to be wise in life… but not wrongly concerned. His repeated usage of ‘therefore’ and ‘not worrying’ implies a conclusion and an application to be applied. Have you applied this conclusion?

Anxiety
Still worrying? Do you understand what worry really is?

It’s a verb meaning to be anxious, to fret. Remember what we were taught way back in schooldays: A verb is a doing word – an action or activity. Therefore there is a choice – you can choose to let worry consume you or chose to not worry.

In the KJV those ‘therefore’ verses above strongly read ‘Take no thought.’ This is merimnaō mē  – Jesus directs His mates to not even think about being worldly anxious, but to be kingdom concerned!

As John Wesley said, ‘… if you serve God, you need be careful for nothing. Therefore take not thought – that is, be not anxiously careful. Beware of worldly cares; for these are as inconsistent with the true service of God.’

Jesus simply identifies ‘worldly cares’ – worry concerns – that most of us have in five broad bands:
1) Life in general
2) Food and drink
3) Clothing
4) Our investments
5) Tomorrow!

Now there is nothing wrong with genuine caring or being careful… but there’s a very fine line between care and worry or anxiety. For example parents love and care about their children… but when the line is crossed, it becomes anxiety and worry. As breadwinners, we care for our families and putting food on the table… but when the line is crossed, we become overly anxious.

But in regards to such caring without worrying, Jesus points out that it all has to do with our perspective and understanding of life and honouring God.

Matthew 6:25Mge is straight to the point: ‘If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body.’ 

Life is more than the material things that we may consider important. Today, there is a consumeristic preoccupation with fashion style and food and it can have a great cost. Yet we actually have more than most people in the world and many do not know how much is enough!

Wanting more can lead to over extending our resources on what we need to live meaningful and happy lives. Money sustains life… but it is possible to get into debt. And we all know that debt will make you worry, causing anxiety!

Assessment
Let me give five kingdom perspectives –
1. Right Stewardship (Matthew 6:33) 
Are you controlled by money?

It’s not about ownership of money, not having a gimme, gimme more attitude, but about stewardship of one’s resources. The love of money can control you; Stewardship is taking care of what has been entrusted to you.

The Bible has many parables and illustrations about stewards and servants. And there will be a time where we must give an account of how we have used or stewarded our resources –  talents, time, treasures and specifically money.

2. Right Relationship (Matthew 6:26-32)
What is your relationship with God?

As earthly parents, we know how to look after our children – they don’t worry if they have clothes and food. Similarly, our heavenly Father loves us and knows our needs. He is not a killjoy but a good fatherly God! As good parents, we also know when and how to give to our children.

But these days, there is an extreme of over-indulgent parenting. God provides our needs, not wants! Beware of the prosperity gospel and its false teachings – God doesn’t make everyone rich! Our love relationship with God is based on a free salvation, not a bank account.

3. Right Worth (Matthew 6:26-30)
Who are you to God?

You’re of value to God, having been made in His image and according to His likeness by faith in Christ. Born again Christians are saved and adopted into His family (Romans 8:16-17, 8:29,32).

And Jesus says get some perspective of where your live! Look around you! God provides for nature and earth’s creatures … are you not of more value than and lilies of the field and the birds of the air? When you understand that God is always in control you know He will provide for His family.

Do you believe this? Will you trust Him for all your needs? God does not want us to suffer the harmful effects of worrying which doesn’t add to, but instead, shortens life. It accelerates ageing, giving us hypertension and stress; and increases the risk of stroke and heart attacks.

We have all heard the phrase, ‘I’m worried sick.’ If that’s you, channel your energies to kingdom priorities.

4. Right Priorities (Matthew 6:31-33)
How do you react?
Jesus’ main points are these:

• Earthly treasures vs Heavenly treasures (Where is your heart?)
• Bad eye vs Good eye (What is your eye looking at?)
• Money vs God (Who are you worshipping?)
• Worldly cares and concerns vs Concerns of God’s kingdom (What are you concerned with?)
• What needs you think of first vs Kingdom needs? (What rules and reigns over you?)

Notice that Jesus did not say, ‘Seek first the churchdom of God and its religiousness…’ or ‘Attend service, join a cell group, participate in church activities.’ Whatever you seek Jesus said to seek first the priority of the king and His kingdom.

5. Right Focus (Matthew 6:34)
Are you future ready, eternity ready?

Citizens of many nations are compelled to be somewhat future-ready by contributing to Social Security. No one should get to retirement and have no funds so there is nothing wrong with planning with foresight and wisdom. But our reliance is not to be on our wealth, insurance policies, passive incomes or nest eggs. There is a difference between financial dependence and financial freedom.

(i) Financial dependence
Dependence only on our finances is believing that we are in control, and can lead to covetousness… and to worrying anxiety when things go wrong.
(ii) Financial freedom
This is an understanding of stewardship, having peace, faith, and contentment, which comes from dependence on our Lord not ourselves.
(iii) Reality
Life is a journey so ‘Stop and smell the roses’ and do not miss the ‘flowers’ along the way… those God-moments, awakenings to truth, and Holy Spirit nudges. Otherwise we are too overly-focussed on worrying about tomorrow, and missing out on the kingdom of God and His righteousness… and are not living out our kingdom assignments today.

Alignment
Jesus said that we are to seek out, look for, strive to find, uncover and discover what God’s kingdom is all about, what righteousness really means (cf Matthew 5:17-20).

A certain desire and desperation for the things of the kingdom is needed. Then we are to live out kingdom values, knowing the king, embracing His kingdom and willingly receiving and accepting kingdom assignments.

We are to be rightly aligned with Jesus and His kingdom. Our responsibility is the first part of Matthew 6:25, not the second part (that’s God’s responsibility) – provision for the mission (daily bread Matthew 6:11). If these are rightly settled, then you will be rightly aligned by that the above five ‘Right’ perspectives –

• Stewardship 
• Relationship
• Worth
• Priorities
• Focus.

Anything!
Here’s confirmation from the apostle Paul who followed Jesus: ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus’(Philippians 4:6-7NKJV).

The KJV here begins ‘Be careful for nothing…’ This is merimnaō explained above – in short no worries, not even a whit! Message reads, ‘Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. 

So then – follow Paul and, in being like Jesus, speak like an Aussie – No Worries, Mate!

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Dr Richard Winter pastors The Connection Church, Huntington Beach, California. Link: OnlinerConnect@gmail.com  
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