January 18, 2016
ANXIOUSLY SEEKING PEACE
Matthew 6:19–34
Katie Baumgratz
Central Truth
Life can cause anxiety at any moment. But there is a solution. By reading about a God who loves us, seeking to understand what His truth means, and believing that these truths will set us free, we find peace and discover that He alone is everything we need.
Key Verse | Matthew 6:33
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
Matthew 6:19–34
Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust 1 6:19 Or worm; also verse 20 destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 2 6:24 Greek mammon, a Semitic word for money or possessions
Do Not Be Anxious
25 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious 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? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 3 6:27 Or a single cubit to his stature; a cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Dive Deeper | Matthew 6:19–34
When I heard we were writing about the Gospels, I knew exactly which passage I wanted to write about because, frankly, I am in a state of pure anxiety right now. It’s the first week of Residency, and I am feeling way-in-over-my-head. The reality is that anxiety is an emotion. I don’t decide to get anxious. It comes about when I entertain thoughts that can cause anxiety: "What if I don’t measure up?" "What if I’m rejected?" or "What’s going to happen after this year?" These thoughts can become dangerous if I seek relief from this anxiety in anything other than Jesus Christ and His Word.
In Matthew 6:25-30, Jesus compares us to birds and lilies and reminds us that God cares for them. He sees us as even more valuable than birds and plants, and He knows our every need (Matthew 6:32, Philippians 4:19). He then tells us how this happens: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33, NLT).
If I’m seeking God’s kingdom above all else, I don’t have to measure up since He already sees me as holy and blameless because of Jesus (Ephesians 1:4). If I’m living righteously (seeking God’s righteousness), I don’t have to fear rejection because I am so deeply loved (Romans 8:37-39). If I’m seeking God’s righteousness, I don’t have to fear the future because I know He has a plan (Psalm 139:16).
I can read these truths all day, but only after I fully believe them, and put my faith and trust in them, will I begin experiencing true freedom from my anxiety. God might not give me exactly what I want (to never mess up, to have everyone like me, to land the perfect job in ministry). And that can quickly lead to anxiety. But I can be confident that seeking Him will give me everything I need, because He alone is everything I need.
Friends, my prayer is that you would allow these truths to penetrate your heart and set you free from your anxiety.
Discussion Questions
1. What in your life is causing you anxiety? (Evaluate your thoughts.)
2. What are you seeking, aside from God’s righteousness, to cope with your anxiety? (Evaluate your actions.)
3. What truth do you need to read and believe to overcome your anxiety? (Evaluate your Bible.)
4. Who can you share these revelations with? (Evaluate your community.)