One of the features of the religion of Jesus Christ is that it is designed to bring happiness, both here in this life as well as in the hereafter. Such words as “happy”, “blessed”, and “rejoice”, which often appear in the Scriptures, show that our religion should be a daily experience of joy and gladness. David said, “Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah,” Psalm 33, and verse 12. And again he said, “Happy is that people whose God is the Lord,” Psalm 144, and verse 15. And no less than eight times in the Sermon on the Mount does Jesus use the word “blessed”, which is the equivalent of “happy”. And even from his prison cell in Rome, Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”, Philippians 4, and verse 4. And just a few verses after that, in verse 10, he says, “I rejoice greatly in the Lord…”.
Yet for many, if not most of us, these days are filled with anxieties and perplexities. We live in troubled times and there are many things to worry about. Just read the newspaper or watch the news on television.
But I believe that the Lord knew that we would be confronted with anxious feelings and heavy burdens in this life. And so…God gave us a cure for worry. We want to look at the cure for worry that God gives us, tonight in this lesson. But before we get to the real cure, let’s first look at maybe some false cures.
Many feel, and would have us believe, that the cure for worry and the prescription for happiness can be found in the possession of wealth. The theory seems to be that “if I could only amass more and more wealth, it will confer upon me a certain happiness.” We need to be reminded that “he that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver, or he that loveth abundance with increase. This is also vanity,” Ecclesiastes 5, and verse 10.
And how timely the warning of Jesus was when He said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in abundance of his possessions,” Luke 12, and verse 15.
And once again, let’s look at the wisdom of Solomon when he says, “…give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown You and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God,” Proverbs 30, verses 8[b] and 9. Solomon did not want riches for fear that he might be lifted up in his pride and forget God; that he might become too independent, too self-sufficient. On the other hand, he didn’t want poverty either for fear that it might make him steal. Rather, in between these two extremes, he only wished for the necessary material blessings to sustain life.
Well, some people may also believe and suggest that the certain road to happiness is the path of honor. On this point, Solomon said, “I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil,” Ecclesiastes 6, verses 1 and 2.
This world’s honor, like the pleasure of sin, is for but a season, and often the honor of the world runs counter to the honor of God. In fact, oftentimes, in order to achieve the honor and recognition of men, we would have to do things that were contrary to the Will of God.
Some people feel that happiness comes through pleasure. Many people, like the ancient Epicureans, feel that pleasure is the only good and worthwhile objective in this life. [See Acts 17:18.] Some seek pleasure in the unrestrained indulgence of sensual appetites. There are pleasures in the gratification of the flesh, but not lasting pleasure. For, once again, the pleasures of sin are only for a season, Hebrews 11:25. There’s a poem written by Robert Burns, and a verse of that poem, I think, expresses this idea rather well. You may recognize this:
So God’s cure for worry is not found in the possession of wealth. God’s cure for worry is not found in the honor of men. And God’s cure for worry is not found in the pursuit of pleasure.
As we talk in this lesson tonight about God’s cure for worry, I want to consider three points: first, the evil can be avoided; second, how to avoid the evil; and third, the pleasure to be enjoyed.
And for our text tonight, let’s turn to Philippians, the 4th chapter, and look at verses 6 and 7…Philippians 4:6-7. Paul writes: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
The first point: The evil can be avoided. “Do not be anxious about anything,…” Paul says. And the old King James Version of the Bible translates that section “Be careful for nothing…” What does Paul mean there? Does he want to teach us by this expression that we as Christians should be totally careless about ourselves, about our families, about our fellow men? Should we take the “Alfred E. Newman” approach to life? You remember that character from back in the ‘60’s? Mad Magazine? You know, the goofy-looking grin with the expression, “What? Me worry?” I’m not sure if Alfred is with us anymore, but… Anyway. That’s not what Paul is suggesting here. Not at all—because there is an attention and carefulness which the Holy Spirit enjoins upon us as Christians in contradiction to the excessive worldly anxiety which Paul is forbidding here in this text.
We know, for example, that we to care for our physical body, for it is the temple of the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 6, verses 19 and 20. My body belongs to God by right of creation. And my spirit belongs to Christ by right of redemption Hence, with both my body and my spirit I need to glorify God. Anything, therefore, which would be destructive to the health of my body, I should eliminate it and keep my body in good health for the glory of God.
We know also that we are to care for our business, our employment, our secular affairs. We cannot afford to approach these things with a half-hearted interest because we are commanded to “Be careful to do what is right in the sight of everybody,” Romans 12, verse 17.
We are to care for our reputation because “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold,”Proverbs 22, verse 1.
We are to care for our families because “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever,” 1 Timothy 5, verse 8. But this means not just caring for our family’s temporal needs, but also caring for our family’s spiritual needs because we are instructed to bring up our children “in the training and instruction of the Lord,” Ephesians 6, verse 4.
We are even to provide for and care for our neighbors because we should “Look to the interests of others,” Philippians 2, and verse 4.
And finally, and above all else, we should be giving great care and concern for our own soul because it is worth more than all of the world, Jesus tells us in Matthew 16, and verse 26. And Paul tells us that we need to be continuing “to work out” our “salvation with fear and trembling,” Philippians 2, and verse 12.
The point here is that we cannot be careless people. I believe what Paul is telling us in this text concerning “do not be anxious about anything,…” is that we, as Christians, need to exercise proper care for our physical bodies, our work, our families, our reputations, our neighbors, our own souls, but when that care becomes excessive and it turns to worry and anxiety, then it becomes wrong.
Well, that sort of begs the question: How may we know when our care becomes excessive, and therefore, wrong? The answer is: When it causes us to lose our proper perspective and to undervalue the spiritual part of our lives.
This is well illustrated, I think, in the attitude of Martha when the Savior visited her house on one occasion. Her care and concern for the comfort of Jesus was quite commendable, I think, but she was so overanxious about it that it caused the Lord to gently and lovingly admonish her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things,…” Mary, on the other hand, was more concerned about hearing the Words of Jesus, and therefore, Jesus continued by saying, “Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her,” Luke 10, and verse 41.
Our care becomes excessive when it makes us distrustful of God’s providence. Do we really believe with confident assurance that, as Paul writes in Romans 8:28, “…in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, and who have been called according to His purpose?” Strange it is sometimes that we’re willing to depend upon God for the greater gifts of His grace, and yet we distrust Him for the lesser gifts of His providence.
In the “Sermon on the Mount” Jesus offered several reasons why we should not worry over the necessities of life or the concerns of the future. Look at Matthew, the 6th chapter, verses 25 through 34, and we’ll examine what Jesus has to say there in this regard.
[Matthew 6:25-34, New International Version of the Bible. Jesus is speaking: (25) “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 important than food, and the body more important than clothes? (26) 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? (27) Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
(28) “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. (29) Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. (30) 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, O you of little faith? (31) So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?’ or `What shall we drink?’ or `What shall we wear?’ (32) For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. (33) But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (34) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”]
Beginning with verse 25, Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,…” This is a consideration for the “greater gifts,” if you will. God has given me life! Will He not, then, give me food and clothing, which are the “lesser gifts,” to sustain life, which is the “greater gift?” We need to recognize more, and rely more upon the good providence of our loving Father. God is a kind Father Who will give us the things that we need.
Verse 26: Jesus says, “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?” Here, God has even a consideration for the fowls, the animals of the field. And these smaller animals are fed by the Lord. Surely, then, God will take care of His children who are of so much more importance! What would you think of a father who fed his livestock, yet let his children starve? What sensible father would do such an irresponsible thing? We jump over to verse 11 of chapter 7 here in the book of Matthew, and Jesus says, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!”
Verse 27: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Jesus says worrying is useless. It has been said that “worry is the interest that we pay on a debt that we do not owe.” Suppose I went into the bank, and I said to the banker that I want to pay the interest on a note—a loan? And they search the records of the bank only to find out that I had not borrowed any money! And the banker says, “You don’t owe us anything. You haven’t borrowed any money from us.” But I say, “Yes, but I may borrow money from your bank someday!” Well, the banker may find some humor in my stupidity, but this, perhaps, demonstrates the picture of what we may appear to be as we spend our time in anxiety and worry.
Verses 28 through 30: Jesus says, “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies 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, O you of little faith?” Here, God has a consideration even for the flowers. How beautiful is the lily! How beautiful are the flowers of the field! But compared to man, they are relatively unimportant. Today the lily is here, but tomorrow it will wither and die. So if God covers the flowers with so much glory, will He not care for His children who are so much more precious in His sight?
Continuing on in verses 31 and 32, Jesus continues to speak: “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.” Having anxieties about the future is imitating the pagan or the heathen. If we concern ourselves with the necessities of life as if there is no such thing as the providence of God, if we show great concern about earthly enjoyments as if we expect none in eternity, if we never petition God for His help as if we do not need it, this is but to imitate the pagan, or the heathens. But anyone who does not recognize God, or God’s rich providence and grace, trusts in the “arm of flesh.” We have a God Who challenges us to do His Will, and He has promised that He will open the windows of heaven unto us. [Malachi 3:10, King James Version of the Bible: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10, New International Version of the Bible: “‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,’” says the LORD Almighty, “‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.’”]
Also, in verse 32, God knows our needs. We know the needs of our children, and no one needs to tell us about them. It is our duty as parents to provide those needs. Children do not worry about tomorrow and tomorrow’s needs because they have a Mom and a Dad to provide those things. More so, we as God’s children have a heavenly Father Who is daily concerned about our needs, and He promises to provide those things that we need for our lives.
Finally, verse 34: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Worry only makes us miserable. God alone can see the future. Therefore, we encroach on His right when we attempt to foresee what might happen to us. Why borrow trouble from tomorrow? We have our share of cares for today. We should live by the day and time, so Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” [Matthew 6:11; Luke 11:3].
You may think I’ve turned poet tonight, but I have another poem to offer you which I think is poignant at this particular time. I’m not sure who the author is. You may have heard it before, but I think it illustrates what we’re talking about here in regard to worrying. It goes like this:
The evil to be avoided is worry, anxiety and concern. How do we avoid this evil? Well, Paul had no sooner cautioned us about this peril until he describes a remedy. Let’s hear him as he says, “…but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” That’s the latter part of verse six in our text.
“In everything.” That is in reference to your wants. “In everything” is in reference to your afflictions. “In everything” is in reference to your spiritual needs. Solomon aptly says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and HE will make your paths straight,” Proverbs chapter 3, verses 5 and 6. Nothing is too insignificant to engage the notice of God.
Let’s note the three specific directions in the text to help us avoid worry:
Paul says, first, that we can avoid worry “by prayer.” Prayer is communication with God. It is the breath of a devout soul to God. It is the desire of a soul rising, moving upward to God for help. Prayer is the light of the human spirit to the Father’s bosom. It is the voice of the human soul lifted up in humility, in contrition and in faith.
Paul says, second, that we can avoid worry “by petition.” Petition is entreaty or supplication. This is something more than simply asking or simply praying. In prayer we ask for a blessing that we want. But in petition we entreat, we plead earnestly, we implore with importunity. We not only ask, but we also seek and we knock.
And then, third, Paul says also that we can avoid worry “by thanksgiving.” Christians are commanded to “give thanks in all circumstances,” Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5, and verse 18. How little thanksgiving there often seems to be contained in our prayers. Yet, we can always find something to be thankful for. Of the ten lepers whom Jesus cleansed, only one returned to give thanks, and he was a stranger.
[The ten leper’s story is told in Luke 17:12-19. Luke 12:17-19, New International Version of the Bible: “As He (Jesus) was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met Him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’
“When He saw them, He said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed.
“One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him—and he was a Samaritan.
“Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner (stranger)?’ Then He said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’”]
Perhaps we need to take heed, so that the leper’s “one to ten ratio” is not the ratio of our gratitude today.
Here, then, we have the cure for worry—the “antidote” for anxiety, if you will allow me to say it that way. It is PRAYER, PETITION and THANKSGIVING interwoven into a three-strand cord to draw us upward to GOD. Let’s allow prayer, petition and thanksgiving to become our habitual exercise. When the devotional spirit prevails, the anxious spirit will subside because the two are incompatible, and they cannot coexist together.
Finally, let us see the happiness, which is to be enjoyed. With worry removed from our anxious hearts, in place of worry, Paul says, we receive “…the peace of God which transcends all understanding…,” Ephesians, chapter 6, verse 7. “Peace” is order out of chaos. It is calm after a violent storm. It is ease after pain. It is rest after toil. It is sunshine after darkness. It is harmony after conflict. Such is the peace which transcends, or, again, as the old King James Version of the Bible translates it, “passeth” ALL understanding—that is, it surpasses ALL that men can conceive or imagine. Only GOD can comprehend it in His illimitable pulse.
Paul assures us that this peace “…will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” David said, “The Lord watches over you; the Lord is your shade at your right hand,” Psalm 121, verse 5. And Solomon says, “The Name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are saved,” Proverbs 18, verse 10. Isaiah said, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You,” Isaiah 26, and verse 3. And in the New Testament, Jude writes, “To Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy—,” Jude, verse 24.
And this wonderful promise, which we just read about in the book of Jude, is prefaced by the requirement, in Jude, verse 21, to “Keep yourselves in God’s love…” God will only keep those people who keep themselves IN His love. John says, in 1 John 5, and verse 3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.”
We keep ourselves in God’s love by keeping with His commandments AND we are kept in God’s love by His gracious mercy and His great power. This enables us to say, along with Paul, “…If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8, and verse 31.
And let’s notice, too, that this peace which transcends all understanding is through Christ, NOT through our own ability, not through our own power or through our own merit, but this peace which transcends all understanding is THROUGH Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, let’s remember that worry is a thief which, if permitted to flourish, will rob us of our Christian vitality and happiness in this life AND may be responsible for robbing us of the joys of heaven in the hereafter. And we can avoid the evil of worry through constant prayer, petition and thanksgiving and be partakers of the happiness and joy which God intends for us.
Are you a possessor of this happiness? If not, then you have not entered into the true spirit of Christianity. Perhaps the problem is that you have too much attachment to things in the world, and you are not trusting in God’s providence to care for your needs. This very hour, let’s decide to put God and His kingdom FIRST in our lives.