Should You Be Worried?

Matthew 6:31-33, Acts 16:31

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Have you been to the grocery store in the past week? If so you’ve probably seen the panic. You’ve probably seen the empty shelves in the toilet paper aisle or in the hand sanitizer or hand soap aisle. It seems like all the products are gone. Even some of the canned goods shelves seem to be completely empty.

We see the panic in our world. People gathering up so much stuff to prepare for the worst possible scenario that could happen when it comes to this coronavirus.

Should we be panicked? Should we be worried? Well God in his word gives us encouragement in Matthew Chapter 6. He says this

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the unbelievers chase after all these things. Certainly your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:31-33)

God tells us that it’s the unbelievers that panic. That are going around shouting ‘What will we wear?’ ‘What will we eat?’ ‘What will we drink?’ He encourages us as believers to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. He wants us to remember really what is most important of all, our greatest need. Our greatest need isn’t food and clothing and drink, our greatest need is really concerning our eternal salvation. Do we know our Savior Jesus Christ? Do we know of his forgiveness and love? Are we positive that we are going to go to heaven when we die?

They’re certainly critical questions. God would turn us again to his Word to remind us of what he says there. As the apostle Paul told the jailer in Philippi.

They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)

He points us to Jesus as our Savior. The one that has suffered and died on a cross to pay for all of our sins. And you know that in him we have our greatest need fulfilled. Sin and death is taken care of. In Christ we have eternal life in him, but he also encourages us not to panic when it comes to the physical things. What we eat, and what we drink, and our clothing as well.

He would have us trust in him that he’s going to take care of us. In fact right before the lesson for today, Jesus pointed to the birds and to the flowers and he says look at those birds. They are not planting seeds and they’re not harvesting and yet they’re well-fed. The flowers aren’t laboring or spinning to create magnificent clothing and yet look at how beautiful they are. If God cares for the birds and the flowers certainly he’s going to take care of the crown of his creation. He’s gonna take care of us.

So rather than worrying and panicking, God would have us trust him. So what does this mean? Does this mean that we should just sit on our hands and say ‘OK God, where’s the food? I expect that it’s going to be in my refrigerator by four o’clock today. It better be there because I trust in you.’

No, God provides for us through natural means just as the birds and the flowers he takes care of through natural means, so also us. God provides us seasonable weather: rain and sunlight. He also provides us talent and ability, provides us with an amazing intellect in order to work hard and provide for our families. And certain people that cannot provide for themselves because they’re too sick or they’re too old or they’re too young, God also provides means for them too. Caretakers or parents, sometimes government, sometimes its fellow Christians that see their need and want to help.

So God encourages us ultimately not to worry, but to trust him. To realize what is our greatest need and that is fulfilled in Jesus Christ our Savior. As Christians we can move forward with confidence even in such a time as this knowing that our God continues to love us as he has shown us that love in Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.