Journal: Conservative Theological Journal
Volume: CTJ 05:14 (Mar 2001)
Article: Overcoming The Anxiety Of Provision In Following Christ: A Practical Exposition Of Matthew 6:25-34
Author: James Harmeling

---

CTJ 5:14 (March 2001) p. 75

Overcoming The Anxiety Of Provision In
Following Christ:
A Practical Exposition Of Matthew 6:25-34

James Harmeling

Pastor, Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, Camarillo, CA

The story is told of a man who walked merrily down the street with his head raised high and whistling a happy tune. A friend of his who knew him to be a worrisome fellow stopped him and inquired as to his sudden change in disposition. The man replied that he had just struck a deal with a person who agreed to take on all his cares and concerns. He need not worry anymore because this hired helper would worry for him.

“How much are you paying him?,” his friend inquired.

“Oh, I give him a thousand dollars a week,” the man replied.

“One thousand dollars a week!” The friend was amazed. “Where are you going to come up with that kind of money?” The man replied smugly, “That’s his worry.”

It would be nice if we could so easily cast off our concerns and problems onto others to fret and be anxious about. Yet, such a situation does not exist. Everyone has his own concerns in life and he will always have these in mind as long as he lives. The concerns may be about health, finances, career, school, relationships, and physical security. No one is free from having issues that confront one in life. Jesus knew this and made a direct statement regarding such issues in this sermon.

Verse 25 begins with the phrase “for this reason” (dia touto) which ties this section to the last one. A singularity of devotion in following Christ requires a loose tie to the material things of this life. With that in mind, Jesus now continues His message to His disciples and others who would consider following after Him. Materialism affects people in two ways. First, it divides their hearts

CTJ 5:14 (March 2001) p. 76

in following the Lord. Second, it consumes their thoughts and brings on an emotional and mental duress. Three times in this passage Jesus exhorts His followers not to be anxious.

Jurgen Goetzmann defines the Greek word used for “anxious” (merimna) as a care for people and things. He writes,

…the NT understands care chiefly as the natural reaction of man to poverty, hunger and other troubles which befall him in his daily life. Oppressed by the burdens laid upon him, man imagines himself delivered to a fate before which he stands powerless. By his care man tries to protect himself as best he can from what confronts him.1

Caring can be a positive thing. Each believer sh...

visitor : : uid: ()