The Unproductive Nature of Worry
Matthew 6:27-34
Thomas S. Kepler, a biblical scholar , wrote about a woman who realized fears were ruining her life. She began to keep track of what was worrying her and she found:
40% of the things she worried about were about things that would never happen.
30% were about things that had already happened, water under the bridge.
12% of the things she worried about were about others' opinions.
10% were needless health worries, which made her health worse as she worried.
8% of the things she worried about were "legitimate.”
If you consider the above as probable statistics, it would seem that only 8% of the things that you worry about are worth the worry.
According to an article by the California Polytechnic State University, worry can be broken down into two categories: unproductive and productive. Unproductive is the kind for which there is no answer.
Productive is the kind that drives you to take steps to solution. Jesus, however, tells us that ALL worry is unproductive! (Matt. 6:27)
Worry is always unnecessary (Matt. 6:28-29). This is because God provides for the faithful (Matt. 6:8; Jeremiah 17:7-8).
Worry is always unreasonable (Matt. 6:30). This is because our powerful God is willing and able to give us what we need (Philippians 4:6-7). Worry is also unreasonable because of His care for us (1 Peter 5:7). He wants us to cast our cares on Him!
Worry is always unfaithful (Matt. 6:30). This is because it denies the fact that all things work together for good to those who love God (Romans 8:28) George Muller, a director of orphan homes in England in the 1800’s, said, “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety .”
Worry is always unwise (Matt. 6:31-34). This is because our time is short, and our lives are like a vapor (James 4:14). Why waste our lives in worry that is unnecessary, unreasonable, and unfaithful?
Conclusion. If a problem has a solution, there is no worry! If there is no solution, there is no need to worry!
Rosario Murat of Valencia, Spain, saved her earnings for twelve years until she finally had enough to buy her life’s desire—a sailboat. Now she had the boat installed in her backyard. “I’m terrified of the water,” explained Senora Murat. All that time, money and effort tied up in worry!
Why worry when a Christian has the “exceeding riches of His grace” (Ephesians 2:4-7)?
Adapted from – Sermon Tree – September, 2013 – Vol. 1, No. 5 – Page 5