don't worry...be holy

Matthew 6:25-34
   "Therefore...do not worry about your life..."
    Worry about life can become so consuming that it becomes debilitating, causing us to become frustrated even to the point of failure.
    This text give us the Cure for Anxiety; beginning with "therefore" - which causes us to look back to the previous verses for context - we find that we should have a Simple Place of Deposit for our Treasures (which must be of the proper (eternal) kind). This is due to the fact that 'where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.'
     So, our focus on the Future is in view here - whether it be earth's temporal, or Heaven's eternal future.  Then, we see the Singleness of Purpose in vs. 22-23 and the Danger of Division of Loyalties in vs 24.  With these things in mind, the "therefore", on the basis of where our Treasures lie and to Whom belongs our allegiance, Jesus says, "don't worry about your life..."
    Now, if our Treasures, Purposes and Allegiances are wrong, we will worry rather than worship. Three times "worry" is mentioned in this passage:
     Vs 23: "Don't worry about your life".
     Vs 28: "Why do you worry about clothing"?
     Vs 31: Don't worry about what to eat, drink..."
     Don't worry, because your Heavenly Father knows that you need these things (vs 32).
      When we worry, we focus on our needs and may become paranoid! Or, we go into a denial stage and find ourselves mindlessly singing along with Bob Marley, "Don't Worry, Be Happy!"  Neither attitude helps matters!
    When we worry: (1) We forget we have a Father in Heaven Who provides...based on a relationship founded on His love for us. (2) When we do forget, we forfeit peace and (3) Our priorities become wrong (vs 33).
    The Condition: Seek first the Kingdom
    The Result: All these things ( we worry about) are added (placed in addition to).
    The Conclusion: Therefore...vs 34...
     If we are going to be thinking about the circumstances of life, we might as well be counting our blessings rather than pondering our plight. "Count Your Blessings" was written by Methodist minister, Johnson Oatman from Lumberton, New Jersey and E.O. Excell of Stark County, Ohio, wrote the music.