Do Not Worry about Your Life—Kuala Lumpur Baptist Church

4 Jan 2014 by Adeline Lum CM-

 

With the recent disasters and GST coming this year, times are getting tougher. Rev John Kok shared a timely message on 4^th of January at Kuala Lumpur Baptist Church (KLBC), based on Matthew 6:25-34.

During challenging times, we need to go back to the basics, which is reading the Word of God! And the Bible can be used for the past, present, and future, because this book has an unchanging and reliable message. 

In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus repeated the word ‘do not worry’ three times because we tend to be forgetful and we need to be constantly reminded. 

 

“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 than food, and the body more than clothes? (Matt 6:25)

 

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ (Matt 6:31)

 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34)

 

 

We worry all the time. We worry about our job, our spouse, our children, and recently, the safety of air flights for our families and for ourselves. This is because our priorities are wrong. We place other things in life above God.

But the Bible tells us not to worry about our daily needs—what we will eat and drink, and what to wear. 

 

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 than food, and the body more than clothes? 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? (Matt 6:25-26)

 

To put it simply, do not let anything in this life consume you more than God. This is because worrying brings us nowhere and changes nothing.

 

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (Matt 6:27)

 

 

Also, if God feeds the birds that do not store in barns and clothes the lilies that do not toil or spin, will He not feed us and clothe us also?

 

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers 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—you of little faith? (Matt 6:28-30)

 

Can we stop worrying? God would not put on us more than we can bear. We know the Scripture so well but we have to start living them out. God knows what we need and He promised in His Word to provide. The key to stop worrying is to seek first the Kingdom of God, and God will do his part in providing for our needs.

 

 

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. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matt 6:31-33)

 

The word ‘seek’ means to go after, to strive after, to pursue, to long for, to endure, and to get. Now, what do we seek for? Do we seek for high-quality things, better lifestyles, bigger houses, better cars, or a newer version of cell phone? Our Christian life should not be preoccupied with all these things.

Jesus said seek Him first, not after we get all the material wealth, and certainly not seek Him last. But often times, we are more concerned with what others say than what God says about us and what He wants us to be. 

It’s only when we spend time reading the Word of God that we have the right perspective in life. Do you set aside time reading and praying? You may think you have no time for God. But if you can spare ten minutes reading your Facebook, playing your cellphone games, and taking selfies, you can also find time to read His Word.

 

 

We need to put God first in all the choices we have. Making no decisions would only mean leaving God out! God has already promised in His Word that He will provide our needs if we seek first His Kingdom. (Matt 6:31-33) Do not worry. Worry will only steal your joy, contentment, and health away. Worry exhibits our lack of trust in God.

Hence, the message for the New Year is to stop worrying and to start putting God first above everything in your life.

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

    and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

    and he will make your paths straight.

(Prov 3:5-6)

 

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