“Worrying is a sin.” I’ll never forget the first time I heard that years ago in a sermon. The statement struck me between the eyes and stayed there boring into my brain for days. I had grown up using cutesy phrases like, “She’s such a worry wort,” or casually saying, “I’m just worried about…” Then I found myself listening to a pastor tell me that worrying is a sin? Ouch! Then, I am a sinner to the greatest degree. You may think it sounds a tad harsh, to label worry as “sin.” We tend to want to categorize it under something that may be “sin-ish,” rather than calling it outright sin; so, let’s break this down a bit.

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Sin has a few definitions. It can be missing the mark of God’s perfection, or something that separates us from God like disobedience or rebellion. You may think, “I’m not rebelling against God by worrying.” Let’s back up a bit to verse 25 in Matthew 6: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink…” Did you catch that command? Do not worry. This is Jesus speaking here, and he is saying, do not do this. If the God of the Universe says not to do something, and you do it, repeatedly, consistently and maybe even mockingly, wouldn’t you say that is an act of rebellion? I know it is tempting to use the rest of the verse as your excuse for justifying your worrying; I know because I’ve done it. You may take examples of things we may worry about and think your worries are not the same. “I don’t ‘worry’ about what I’ll eat or drink.” I can say with almost certainty, if we break down the things we worry about, not only are they tied to being able to provide for your family in food and clothing and shelter, but these worries expose a deeper root: we don’t really trust God. That stings, doesn’t it?  

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When Jesus asks this question in Matthew 6:27, he appeals to our critical thinking, to really break down our habit to worry by asking, What good does it do? The unspoken and obvious conclusion is that worry leads nowhere, at best, and to increased worry leading to full blown anxiety and all that can come with that, at its worst. Jesus, in his gentleness and compassion, appeals to our way of thinking so that he can gently change how we think of worry. He knows our tendency to try to take care of all our own needs, and He also knows we are incapable of doing just that. He uses the example of how God cares for birds and flowers and asks if we realize how much more valuable we are to Him by stating the obvious: that God will take care of us. He then concludes the section in verse 32 saying, “The pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” In other words, you know God is the Provider of all you need; are you really going to be like someone with no acknowledgment of their provider by tying yourself in knots over things you cannot control? Sounds silly, right?

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In true Jesus fashion, He doesn’t just tell you to break a habit and leave it there. He fills in the gap where worry once existed. Verse 33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” At a glance, these two things seem unrelated. Stop worrying, do your Kingdom work instead. However, I think they are related. First, if you’re focused on furthering God’s Kingdom, you will not have time to worry, as worry is an idle activity. I think, however, that busyness is not Jesus’ counter to worry. Jesus is instead calling us to trust and obedience. He’ll take care of you. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding….” John 4:15 says, “If you love me, keep my commands.”

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Surrender of our supposed control is harder than it sounds. If we really think about it, we had no control in the first place anyway. Obey Jesus’ command not to worry and instead to seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. There is something we know about God’s Kingdom that makes all this doable: If you have Jesus as the Lord of your life, His Kingdom is now, in your life. It has begun. The Lord is with you. We can trust God to care for all our needs and obey Jesus, that we need not worry because He is with us.

Lord, we are so thankful that you are with us. We thank you that we are not in control. Help us to examine our hearts and our trust in You. Help us to see where our worry has gotten us and the freedom we can have in you by seeking your Kingdom first. Let us have the desire to obey your command not to worry. We know you can take our cares and worries and make them a reason to worship you. We love you. Amen.