Readings: 1 Kings 17:8-16 | Galatians 5:25-6:10 | Matthew 6:24-34
Text: Galatians 5:25–6:10
After hearing our Lord’s Word from Matthew 6:24-34, it probably hits all of us as very relevant. Who of us has not been worried at one time or another about the outcome of things? If you’ve been able to get by without any worry or anxiety, you are blessed by God—but I hope not proud. Many of us feel guilty and anxious about feeling anxious. We certainly live in an age where anxiety is rampant. There’s enough information and the illusion of control that we can be simply obsessed with every small detail of our lives. Food and clothing are only the start. These days, we’re worried over political outcomes, the future of the planet, and even if our children will know how to cook food without the aid of an online recipe.
What should we do? Try harder not to worry? Repeat these words of Jesus to yourself? It can’t hurt, but there’s more.
We need to acknowledge two additional things: Our flesh will constantly set itself on those things we can do, solve, and be in charge of. That’s why we have such a hard time when we run up against things that we cannot change (worry about our life, clothing, length of days, the future). It’s our flesh which does not fear, love, and trust in God above all things. “God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption.” Our flesh leads us straight into worry, anxiety, and an illusion of being masters of life.
As often as we see our flesh trying to lead the charge, we should listen to our Lord’s call to repent. We ought to confess, I have not feared your wrath, I have not trusted you above all, and I have loved my own ability and my own way to carve out a place in this world. Repent and hope in His grace. Our sinful flesh will not be rehabbed by more convincing arguments against worry. It’s simply doing what the flesh does: fighting against the Holy Spirit. Earlier in Galatians 5, St. Paul explains this: “17 The desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” (Galatians 5:17).
The other part of this is what we are to be busy doing as we put our sinful, unbelieving flesh to death. This is the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit in us: “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22-25)
What we’re supposed to be doing is living with God in charge of our whole lives while doing good to others. Functionally speaking, all worry is self-centered, without God in the picture. It argues that all our adversity must have a human solution: I must do this or that in order to assure a future with which I can live.
Yet, to silence these fears, the Holy Spirit teaches our frenzied hearts what is true: “For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.” (Psalm 135:6) Who is in charge? Not us. No matter how convincing one of us can be or how much one of us hopes he can be.
Once our old sinful flesh is in the grave, we’re taught a new way to tackle anxiety: by doing good to others. What if it was true that God is ruling over all things, that we truly did not need to worry our future into reality? What if we could be freed from the fetters of wondering how long our days will last where we make the important decisions upon which our future hangs? What if the sum of our lives was more than what we can count and measure?
Then, these words would come with the power to pull ourselves out of our own concerns, and direct our eyes outward to the people around us:
26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
2Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Do you see the contrast between these? Instead of obsessing over the blessings God has given to others’—whether in the burdens they are spared or the advantages they have—we’re given the work of supporting each other. The communion of saints is not a self-help group, but a place where we serve one another in simple ways, and this is the law of Christ: “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26b-28)
What will this look like? I can’t say specifically, except to point out that the Lord Jesus has brought this congregation together with a purpose in mind. We are all at this congregation so that we can support one another in whatever our burden is.
6Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.
So much of our daily life is ordered selfishly: What’s in it for me? What benefit do I get? How can I feel good about this cause? If you don’t believe me, listen to a pledge week on any publicly-supported radio station. Instead of that, the Spirit of God reveals that teaching the Word of God is not a simple or insignificant task. It’s right and natural for the believer to want to support the preaching of this Gospel and the teaching of this faith, because it reaps benefits which last beyond this life.
Finally, we are taught:
9And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
We can grow weary from the anxiety, the managing of all this earthly responsibility. It’s draining because in the mindset of the flesh, it’s all on us. But may the Holy Spirit transform our minds! Let us grow weary or slack from doing God’s good and gracious will. Whether it’s loving our family and teaching the faith to our children, supporting the Church with our offerings, praying for the Body of Christ, or taking our abilities and devoting them to serving others—this is good in God’s sight as it is offered in thanksgiving to our God and Savior.
The worry comes easy to our sinful selves, but the good which God would have us do is also at hand, so we pray that we might do it readily and heartily, and so fulfill our Lord’s command.
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
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