Therefore

Do not worry

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:19-34

Somewhere along the way, you probably heard a preacher say, “When you see ‘therefore,’ find out what it is there for.” That’s catchy and a good rule when seeking to understand a biblical text. In our text today, there are a couple of “therefores.” Verse 25 begins with one. “Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life…” What follows is a lengthy homily by Jesus on reasons why we need not worry.

The “therefore” is connecting what follows to what Jesus had just been saying. What He said had to do with our relationship with money and possessions. Jesus warns us against hoarding earthly treasures and He tells us we can’t serve God and money. Then there is the “therefore” that leads into the talk about worry.

This leads me to believe that the connection between the two is worry is the catalyst for selfish hoarding and serving money. People store earthly treasures because they are worried they won’t have enough. People serve money because they are worried they won’t have enough.

And what is the reason for this kind of worry? Isn’t it unbelief? Isn’t it a deep-seated suspicion that God won’t be able to come through for them in a pinch?

Our anxieties about our life – what we will wear and what we will eat – reveal unbelief and a lack of trust in God that call for confession and repentance.