There is plenty to be anxious about. Beyond ordinary cares, we find ourselves in a pandemic and a presidential election. Our responses are important, but they are varied. Conversations are often sharp and hard to navigate. For many, this is yet another source of anxiety.
Anxiety is not a new problem for disciples. Jesus teaches his disciples about anxiety in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 6:25-34). Our response to these cares is meant to be a lived testimony about the kingdom of our Father.
Jesus begins his teaching: “Therefore, do not be anxious about your life…” (v.25). “Therefore” is a clue that this teaching flows from the preceding thought: “No one can serve two masters” (v.24). Anxiety, therefore, concerns whether we serve God as our only master.
The connection becomes clearer when we consider the word “anxious,” which is associated with division.[1] An anxious person is divided by many cares.
Anxiety divides the wholeness that our Father desires from us. Anxious disciples will struggle to respond to the greatest commandment: to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind (22:37-38).
Anxiety also divides the wholeness that our Father desires for us. Anxious disciples will struggle to respond to the second greatest commandment: to love our neighbor as ourselves (22:39). It is surely no coincidence that Jesus follows his teaching on anxiety with instruction on hypocrisy and judgment (7:1-6).
Anxiety is a false savior. It promises to preserve and prolong, but always divides and diminishes (6:27). Anxiety maintains the illusion of our control. In reality, anxiety controls us.
The complexity that makes our anxiety possible also enables us to know God’s love more fully.
Jesus gives his disciples a new and undivided way of living. “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap… yet your heavenly Father feeds them” (v.26). Birds are not plagued by divided hearts. They operate in primal trust.
Compared to birds, disciples have far better reasons to trust. We are taught to call God “Father.” We know that our heavenly Father loves us because we know Jesus. We have seen God’s love and provision on the cross. The complexity that makes our anxiety possible also enables us to know God’s love more fully.
Our Father has not merely offered us provision; he has promised us glory. He lavishes glory upon flowers that are destined for fiery destruction (vv.28-29). How will he clothe his children whom he has saved for eternal life (v.30)?
Over every care, Jesus prioritizes the kingdom of our Father and his righteousness (vv.31, 33). Jesus teaches us to pray for the hallowing of our Father’s name, the coming of his kingdom, and the doing of his will — before we pray for daily bread (vv.9-11).
Jesus does not trivialize the basic cares of life, or the pandemic, or the presidential election. These are important, but the kingdom and righteousness of our Father are of surpassing importance.
To the extent that disciples believe Jesus’ teaching, they will run after different things than other people (v.32). While the nations run after food, drink, and clothing, disciples run after the kingdom and righteousness of their Father (v.33).
The troubles of the day will come, as they must (v.34). Will our hearts be scattered in anxiety? Will we allow anxious words to divide our fellowship? Or will we face the troubles of our day with trust in our heavenly Father?
Salt is more valuable than dirt because it is different from dirt (5:13). The church is valuable because it has been made different from the world. In Christ, we are given the peace that our world urgently needs. People are harassed and helpless. The harvest is plentiful, but non-anxious laborers are few (9:36-37).
Jesus has commissioned us to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey everything he commanded (28:19-20). We must learn Jesus’ teaching on anxiety and obey it so that we can teach it to others.
If this prospect brings you anxiety, find comfort in Jesus’ final words to his disciples: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (28:20). Pandemics and presidential elections are no exception.
[1] In Mt. 6:25, Jesus teaches his disciples not to be anxious (me merimnate) about their lives. For other relevant uses, see: Luke 10:41-42, where Martha suffers worry (merimnas) while Mary chooses the better part (merida); 1 Cor. 12:25, where the parts (mele) of the Corinthians body are charged to show equal concern (merimnosi) for one another; 1 Cor. 7:33-34, where a married man is concerned (merimna) for the things of this world, and his interests are thereby divided (memeristai).
