Do Not Worry About Your Life
by Beverly Marshall-Goodell
Matthew 6:25-33
November 22, 2015
The celebrated British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once said,
"When I look back on all these worries,
I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed
that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened."
The American poet and diplomat James Russell Lowell expressed a similar sentiment
when he said, "Let us be of good cheer, remembering that the misfortunes hardest to bear
are those which will never happen."
These two quotes illustrate a large part of the problem with worry.
It consumes huge amounts of time and energy that are totally unprofitable.
We often realize too late that we will never receive tangible benefits
in return for effort spent worrying.
Anxiety cannot correct a past mistake, prevent a future calamity
or supply us with anything that we don't already have.
In our Scripture today Jesus warns us about the futility of worry.
I invite you to hear these words from Matthew 6:25-33
Scripture-Matthew 6:25-33
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your
body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at
the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father
feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a
single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the
field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was
dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today
and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So
do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we
wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need
them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you
as well.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we are eternally grateful that you love us unconditionally and
that you know our needs before we ask.
Help us let go of our fear that love and everything else we need are in short supply.
Teach us to trust in you. Amen.
Message
I read this week that during the first half of the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge,
23 men fell to their deaths in the waters below.
The project was considered so dangerous that construction was stopped,
and a huge net was suspended under the bridge at a cost of $100,000,
so if anyone else did fall they would not be hurt.
Surprisingly, during the second half of the construction only 8 men fell from the bridge,
and of course, none of them died.
Even more amazing is the fact that the workers were 25% more efficient
during the second half of the construction project.
Having the net under them didn’t make the worker more careless.
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Do Not Worry About Your Life
by Beverly Marshall-Goodell
Matthew 6:25-33
November 22, 2015
Instead, it made them more confident and more efficient.
Construction experts speculated that initially the fear of falling from the bridge
led workers to be work more slowly out of caution.
Once the net was in place, the fear of falling from the bridge was greatly reduced,
because the workers knew they would be caught by the net.
As a result, the workers experienced a new freedom from fear.
When they worried less, they were able to work more effectively.
What an important lesson this provides for all of us who love and serve Jesus.
When we live in constant fear that we will not have enough of the necessities of life,
we hold back on the way we work for God’s kingdom.
It is only when we put our whole trust in Jesus and let go of our worries about the future
that we are able to be fully present to the work we are called to do today.
Jesus Christ came into this world to offer us a rich life, free of worry.
He came to offer a full life free from bondage to the things of this world.
He came to give you and me a life filled with meaning and hope, if we follow his teachings.
So why do we persist in our worry and fear?
Why are we unable to fully trust the God who created us in his own image,
who loves us unconditionally, and who sent his only Son to save us?
The only answer that makes sense to me is that we do not trust God in Christ
because we do not truly know him.
Once a person develops a personal relationship with Jesus,
that person is able to put their whole trust in him on the basis of his sacrificial love for all.
To know Jesus is to trust God.
I read a story this week that beautifully illustrates this message.
A pastor was in the middle of a long airline flight when the “Fasten Seat Belts” sign came on.
A few moments later a calm voice came over the public address system and said.
“We are expecting a little turbulence up ahead,
so we will not be serving beverages at this time.
Please remain seated with your seat belt fastened.”
The pastor looked around the aircraft and could see that
some of the passengers were becoming apprehensive.
A bit later in the flight, a second announcement was made.
"We are so sorry to inform you that we are unable to serve the meal at this time.
There is still turbulence ahead of us."
A few minutes later they were in the midst of a terrible thunderstorm.
The sky was bright with lightning
and ominous cracks of thunder could be heard over the roar of the engines.
The aircraft bounced violently, first being lifted up on great currents of air
and then dropping quickly as if it were about to crash.
The pastor confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him.
This time as he looked around the cabin, it appeared that nearly everyone was alarmed.
Some people were praying, while others closed their eyes and gripped the arm rests.
It was obvious that many passengers wondered if they would make it through the storm.
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Do Not Worry About Your Life
by Beverly Marshall-Goodell
Matthew 6:25-33
November 22, 2015
In the midst of all the chaos of the storm and the fear of the passengers,
the pastor was struck by the calmness of one little girl.
Apparently the storm instilled no fear in her.
Instead, she sat calmly and quietly reading a book.
Even though the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm,
even when it lurched this way and that, even as it rose and fell with frightening severity,
when the adults around her were scared half to death,
that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid.
The pastor could hardly believe his eyes.
Well, they did make it safely through that terrible thunderstorm,
When they finally reached their destination and the passengers were hurrying to disembark,
the pastor waited a bit so that he could speak with the little girl.
Having commented about the storm and behavior of the plane,
the pastor asked the child why she had not been afraid.
The sweet child replied, "That’s easy. My Dad is the pilot, and he is taking me home."
There are many kinds of storms that buffet us in this earthly life.
We might face the threats of illness or accidents or terrorism.
We might endure grief or a financial crisis.
We might come face to face with any number of challenges
that darken our lives and throw us off course and out of control.
Few people will get through their lives without knowing such times.
We freely admit it would be easier to remain calm and unafraid
when our life circumstances appear stable and secure.
There are many reasons for us to live our lives constrained by undue caution.
Worry and fear can hold anyone back from being fully committed to following Jesus.
Today I want to encourage everyone to remember,
Our Father God is the pilot, Jesus is in control and his Holy Spirit is leading us home.
Making a financial commitment to support God’s work through the church is an act of faith.
None of us know in detail what the future will bring for us.
The only thing for which we can be sure is that God will continue to love and care for us,
through any challenges we are required to face.
God our Father invites us to put our trust in him.
Christ our Savior invites us not to worry about our clothes or what we will eat.
The Holy Spirit, our Sustainer, invites us to seek first to build up God’s kingdom here on earth.
Prayer
Faithful and ever loving God, help us trust in your provision.
Lead us from fear and worry into contentment and hope.
Guide us as we grow on our desire and our capacity to love and serve in your holy name.
Amen.
Benediction
God our Creator cares for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field,
and he will also care for us.
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Do Not Worry About Your Life
by Beverly Marshall-Goodell
Matthew 6:25-33
November 22, 2015
May we go forth this day trusting in our Lord and Savior
and committing ourselves to loving service in his precious name. Amen.
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