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Reasons Why so Many are so Preoccupied

Text: Matthew 6 : 19 - 34

Why are so many caught up with pursuing treasures on earth. A number of reasons may be suggested. Here are some possible reasons:-

1. Walking in Darkness

There are many who walk in darkness, not having seen the light. Naturally, they would devote their entire lives amassing great treasures on earth.

2. Serving Mammon

These end up serving Mammon, whether they are conscious of this fact or not. Life is essentially bound up with serving the master or tyrant called Money. Time, energy, health, family… all are sacrificed in the service of Mammon.

3. Worry

Jesus offered a very powerful thought in this text. Not everyone would have the opportunity to obtain great wealth. Nevertheless many are still caught up with the pursuits of this world’s goods. Let us ponder this deep and candid insight that Jesus offered His disciples.

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry 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

Worry may or may not be stated openly, nevertheless it is something that many people are plagued by! How do we resolve the problem of worrying?

DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM OF WORRYING

Let us take time to ponder how Jesus proposed we can deal with the problem of worrying effectively.

1. “Therefore….” (dia touto – Greek)

This word “therefore” is known as an inferential particle in English grammar. There are a number of ways in which the Greek language can express an inference. While the forms may differ, the meaning is essentially the same. Whenever an inferential particle “therefore” is used, we need to look for “reasons” for it to be used. Here are some reasons (note how they are related to The Lord’s Prayer).

a) If God is indeed acknowledged as Father, why should we worry?

b) If we can reach God in prayer why should we worry?

c) If we have prayed, “Give us this day our daily bread” why should we worry indeed?

These are some of the reasons behind Jesus’ use of the inferential particle “therefore”. Faith in God should see the ultimate elimination of worry in our life.

2. “Do not worry…”

Are we worrying? We have a part to play! We have to stop ourselves from worrying. God can provide us many good reasons why we should not worry, but we have to do our part. We must determine that we would cease to worry – effective now!

3. Don’t focus on the physical trappings

Once a person begins to worry, he soon finds himself caught in a spiral. He will worry about his food, his drink and the clothes on his back! The best answer is to stop focusing on the physical aspects of life.

4. The larger picture of Life

The person who worries must learn how to look at Life from a larger perspective. There is a larger picture. Life is more than food, drink and clothing! We can end up being very myopic if we are not careful.

Jesus had already taught His disciples how to think and pray. The Lord’s Prayer offered to the disciples a very much larger picture of life than they had comprehended initially. Let us highlight some of the things that we should be concerned about:-

a) God’s Name (“Hallowed be Your Name…” Matthew 6:9)

b) God’s Kingdom (“Your kingdom come…” Matthew 6:10)

c) God’s will (“Your will be done…” Matthew 6:10)

d) God’s glory (Yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory…” Matthew 6:13)

EXERCISING GREATER FAITH IN GOD

The big problem why so many tend to worry so much was because of the lack of the exercise of faith in God. The challenge is to exercise faith and trust in the Lord.

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither
sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of
more value than they?”
Matthew 6:26

Too many things are taken for granted. God’s provision for His creatures is one of the things most taken for granted! God provides for the billions of His creatures! If God looked after the birds of the air, why would He neglect His children? Worry is the enemy of faith. Let us battle worry by developing and exercising greater faith in God.