Don’t Worry Be Happy Series

DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY

A STUDY ON THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: PART XXIII (WORRY)

BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 6:25-27

6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? 6:26 Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? 6:27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?

1. WORRYING IS A WASTE OF TIME BECAUSE OF OUR FUTURE

Stress:

“This interesting tale portrays so well the fact that half of all the people in America’s hospital beds are constant worriers.

43% of all adults suffer health effects due to worry and stress.

75% - 90% of all visits to primary care physicians are stress-related complaints or disorders.

Worry has been linked to all the leading causes of death including heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis and suicide.

An estimated 1 million workers are absent on an average workday because of stress related complaints. Stress is said to be responsible for more than half of the 550 million workdays lost annually because of absenteeism.

43% of all employee turnover is related to job stress.

Mental distress can even lead to death. Add to the list the mental fatigue of nights without sleep and days without peace, and we get a glimpse of the havoc worry plays in destroying the quality and quantity of life.”

STRESS IS KILLING US, IT’S KILLING OUR NATION, IT’S KILLING OUR FUTURE…AND IT’S NOT OK!

BIBLE VERSE: Luke 8:14

8:14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

Choking Example: We should find a clever way to demonstrate choking, not making it too light and funny, but showing how deadly it can be (I plan to allow a kid to fake choke me, then fall down and act weird or something like that). Just for interest, I might show a security move or two that I learned years ago.

But the point is clear, worrying, like choking, is killing us, and killing our future.

French Invasion:

During the 1800s, the French General George Muller Massena who took orders from Napoleon, arrived at a quaint and militarily important Austrian town. His 18,000 soldiers were gearing up for their invasion, as the stunned Austrian citizens were lifeless and terrified. Knowing they were about to beaten, killed, sold into slavery, or worse, they laid down plans for the counter attack.

What did they do? Since it was Easter Sunday and their upcoming deaths were imminent regardless of their defensive positionings, they went to church. Figuring their only defense was direct intervention from their Maker, they rang the church bells, put on their Sunday’s best, and worshipped the Lord.

When services ended, the Austrian prayer warriors opened the church doors to find the entire French battalion had vacated. It turns out that the French General Massena incorrectly confused the ringing of the church bells for Easter service with what he thought was the announcement of the arrival of the entire Austrian army. The city was saved, and Christ was glorified.

2. WORRYING IS A WASTE OF TIME BECAUSE OF OUR FAITH

Faith Example: Though I have done this before, in fact done this multiple times, I will do it again. Grab a chair and a student helper, and have the student sit down in the chair. Seriously, have them stand in front of the group and slowly watch them to sit down. After their done, ask the student what they were thinking about when they sat down. Ask them, “where you thinking if the chair would hold you?” No? Why not? Do you know who made the chair? Do you know it was probably purchased by the lowest bidder?

FOLKS, WE HAVE FAITH, JUST NOT ALWAYS IN CHRIST!

Take a look at the scripture again:

BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 6:25-27

6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? 6:26 Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? 6:27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?

In these verses, there are 2 critical needs expressed that God says we should no longer worry about: