There’s a problem with worry and anxiety.
Worry tends to destroy the body. It can put ulcers on the stomach, sap vitality out of living and drive us to an early death. Worry makes us incapable of handling life’s problems. Worry keeps us from assuming responsibilities and engaging in activities in the service of Jesus Christ. Worry is sin. [Jay Adams, “What to Do About Worry.”]
The real problem with worry is not that it produces physiological side-effects. The problem is that it is sin.
Now the sin of worry is not in seeing a problematic circumstance, formulating a solution, and making the necessary plans and preparations to carry out that solution. But planning becomes worry when we become preoccupied and controlled by our thoughts for the future.
And Jesus says that preoccupation, in a word, is unbelief. That unbelief is rooted in a deficient view of God. When we worry, we act like God is uninformed, incapable, and uncaring. Yet, Jesus in Matthew 6:25-34 reminds us that God is able (vv. 29-30), He is informed (v. 32) and He cares (v. 26). He cares infinitely more than any earthly Father can know to care.
This poisonous sin of unbelief needs an antidote — something to counteract its deadly effect on our spiritual lives. And the antidote is — preoccupied and controlling thought. Not thoughts about our circumstances, but thoughts about Christ. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. First — before a consideration of the problem, prior to preoccupation with solutions — be controlled with thoughts of Christ, His kingdom and His righteousness.
Our too common initial step in solving problems is to address the circumstance. The Godward response is to address Christ, consider His authority and sovereign Kingship, and His righteousness and what He has prepared for us to do in living for Him. Isn’t it interesting (and indicting) that we will be passionate in pursuing our worry, but when instructed, encouraged, and equipped to seek after Christ, we are far less zealous? We are prone to worry for physical needs and reticent to be concerned for our own spiritual needs.
Jesus says, stop worrying for your physical needs, and turn that sinful desire into a consuming zeal to seek after Christ and His righteousness.
Words of Grace 