FINDING FREEDOM FROM ANXIETY

Post Sermon Blog

What Jesus Says About Worry and Seeking God First

Worry has a way of creeping into every corner of life. Whether it is fear about finances, health, relationships, or the future, anxiety can become all-consuming. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus gives us a clear and practical path out of that cycle. It is not complicated, but it does require a daily decision.

What Does the Bible Say About Anxiety?

The passage opens with a direct command from Jesus: "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?" (Matthew 6:25, ESV)

This is not a suggestion. It is an imperative command, and it is written in the present tense, meaning it is meant to be a continuous, ongoing posture. Every day brings new things to worry about, and every day we are called to choose not to.

Two Commands That Frame Everything

There are two bookend commands in this passage that shape everything in between.

Do not be anxious (verse 25, repeated in verse 31)

1. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (verse 33)

Both commands are present tense imperatives. That means they are not one-time decisions. They are daily, moment-by-moment choices. You will always find something new to worry about. And in every new situation, you will need to choose again to seek God first.

Why Should We Obey these Commands? Two Reasons from Jesus . . .

1. Because Obeying Reveals Your True Value

Jesus points to the birds of the air as His first example. They do not plant crops or store food in barns, yet God feeds them. "Are you not of more value than they?" (Matthew 6:26, ESV)

The answer is yes. Human beings are created in the image of God. We hold a higher place in creation than any bird or animal. If God provides abundantly for birds, He will certainly provide for us. You have great value in God’s eyes.

His second example is flowers. "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." (Matthew 6:28-29, ESV)

God did not just clothe the flowers. He clothed them beautifully. The point is this: if we try to clothe ourselves through our own effort and self-reliance, the result will never match what God can do. But when we seek His kingdom first, He works something beautiful into our lives, something that reflects His glory rather than our own limited resources.

2. Because God Already Knows What You Need

"Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all." (Matthew 6:32, ESV)

 Jesus warns that when we are consumed with worry over food, clothing, and provision, we are living no differently than those who do not follow Christ. He calls them "Gentiles" in this passage, meaning those without faith. Constant anxiety about material things is a mark of a life not yet surrendered to God's care.

When we take full credit for everything we have accumulated, we also take full responsibility for maintaining it. And that burden never ends. There will always be someone with more. There will always be a new threat to what we have built. That cycle produces constant anxiety.

But when we recognize that God is the provider and we are simply stewards, the pressure lifts. We can move forward in what He has called us to do without the weight of self-preservation driving every decision.

What Does "Seek First the Kingdom of God" Actually Mean?

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

This command has three parts. First, seek the kingdom, meaning submit to God's rule and authority over your life. Second, seek His righteousness, meaning live in a way that reflects His character in every situation. Third, seek how my life and the resources I have can be used in the mission of God to expand His Kingdom.

A helpful framework for applying this is what can be called the ARM principle:

Authority

Righteousness

Mission.

How to Apply the ARM Principle to Everyday Life

MONEY:

- Authority: Recognize that God owns everything, not just what you give to the church, but all of it. You are a steward.

- Righteousness: Work hard, provide for your family, and use what remains to help others and support ministry.

- Mission: Use your resources, including your home, your investments, and your giving, to advance the gospel.

TIME:

- Authority: God established a rhythm of work and rest from the very beginning. Honor it.

- Righteousness: Work with integrity and rest with trust, reflecting God's design in how you spend your days.

- Mission: Use your time in ways that allow you to serve others and point them toward Christ.

RELATIONSHIPS:

- Authority: Humble yourself before the people God has placed in your life, whether family, friends, or fellow church members.

- Righteousness: Reflect God's character as a spouse, parent, child, neighbor, and church member.

- Mission: Recognize that your relationships are one of the primary ways God can use you to draw others to faith in Christ.

HEALTH:

- Authority: Your body is the temple of God. Take care of it, but ultimately trust Him with the outcome.

- Righteousness: When illness comes, respond in a way that reflects trust in God rather than anger or despair.

- Mission: God can use even serious illness to reach people who might never be reached any other way.

A Real-Life Example of Seeking God First . . .

It is one thing to seek God's kingdom first when life is going well. It is another thing entirely to do it when you are walking through something that has no easy answer.

Mike Barham is an elder at our church and 18 months ago he was diagnosed with ALS. There is no cure or effective treatment available for that disease.  Rather than pulling back from serving, Mike said, "Pastor, I want to serve for as long as I can." And he has. He has led small groups, served on the finance team, greeted people at the door, and shared devotions at elder meetings, all while walking through one of the most difficult trials a person can face.

Mike and his wife Sarah have placed their illness under God's authority. They are praying for healing, but they are not angry with God. They have sought to reflect His righteousness through every step of the journey. And from the very beginning, Mike expressed a hope that God would use His illness to speak to someone. God has done exactly that.

Their story is a living example of what it looks like to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, even when the circumstances are painful and uncertain.

You Do Not Have to Worry Tomorrow

Jesus closes this passage with a word of freedom: "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:34, ESV)

This is not just a repeat of the earlier command. It is a promise wrapped in a permission. When you seek first the kingdom of God, you do not have to carry tomorrow's weight today. Every day has its own challenges, but God meets you in each one.

Be like the bird. Be like the flower. Let God paint the circumstances of your life into something beautiful that reflects His glory.

Life Application

This week, identify one specific area of your life where worry has taken hold, whether it is money, time, a relationship, or your health. Apply the ARM principle to that area. Write down what it looks like to bring it under God's authority, to handle it with righteousness, and to ask how God might use it for His mission. Then make a daily, intentional choice to seek His kingdom first in that area rather than trying to manage it on your own.

Ask yourself these questions as you reflect:

1. What area of my life am I trying to control instead of placing under God's authority?
2. Am I living differently from those without faith when it comes to worry, or do my anxieties look the same as everyone else's?
3. How might God want to use my current struggle or season of uncertainty for His mission and glory?
4. What would it look like for me to genuinely seek God's kingdom first in my finances, my time, my relationships, and my health this week?