We all worry --- everyone worries. It's so much a part of our lives
so much a drain on our energy and attitudes, that Jesus  devotes
one out of every seven words in the "Sermon On The Mount" to
worry. He believed that coming to grips with worry was of  
great significance for our lives.
 
What do you think are the greatest concerns of livving?
 
Jesus recognized that we seem to be more concerned about
the body that supports our life - what we'll put in it, what we'll
put on it, and how we will sustain it. But Jesus' response to  
to those concerns is short, simple, direct to the point and very  
very true. We can stop our perpetual worry about these daily  
anxieties when we give ourselves over to life's greatest con-
cern - the reign and rule of God withi us.
 
How is that so?  To make Hi point clear so that each one of us  
could understand it, Jesus gave us a command to heed, an
argument to understand,  and some illustrations  to explain.
 
 
 
I  A COMMAND TO HEED
 
   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.
 
 
II  AN ARGUEMENT TO UNDERSTAND
 
Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
 
 
32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also,  
along with him, graciously give us all things?  (Romans 8:32)
 
III  ILLUSTRATIONS THAT EXPLAIN
 
 
   1)   Look at the birds!
 
        26Look 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? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to  
           his life?
 
   2)  Look at the lillies
 
          28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They  
          do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was  
          dressed like one of these. 30If 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,  
          O you of little faith?
 
 
 
 
IV  FACING THE FUTURE]
 
 
          34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  
          Each day has enough trouble of its own.
 
 
          33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.