• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About Us
    • Statement of Faith
    • How We Worship
    • Our Staff
    • History of URC
    • Contact
  • New to URC
  • Connect

University Reformed Church

  • Ministries
    • Children
    • Middle School / High School (DIG)
    • College
    • International
    • Growth Groups
    • Women
    • Men
    • Biblical Counseling
    • Grace and Truth
    • Missions
    • Internship Program
    • Fellowship Program
  • Teaching
    • Sermons
    • Sunday Classes
    • The Gospel Story
  • Members
    • Member Portal
    • “About URC” and Church Membership
    • Giving
    • Calendar
    • URC Weekly Newsletter
    • Facilities Request
    • Prayer Chain
    • Child Baptism
    • Truth and Hope
    • Diaconate
    • Volunteer
  • About Us
    • Statement of Faith
    • How We Worship
    • Our Staff
    • History of URC
    • Contact
  • New to URC
  • Connect
  • Ministries
    • Children
    • Middle School / High School (DIG)
    • College
    • International
    • Growth Groups
    • Women
    • Men
    • Biblical Counseling
    • Missions
    • Internship Program
  • Teaching
    • Sermons
    • Sunday Classes
    • Books by URC Staff
    • The Gospel Story
  • Members
    • “About URC” and Church Membership
    • Calendar
    • URC Weekly Newsletter
    • Volunteer
    • Diaconate
    • Prayer Chain
    • Giving
    • Facilities Request

You Cannot Serve Both God and Anxiety

July 20, 2020 by Webmaster Leave a Comment

by Ben Preiser

The end of Matthew 6 contains a well-known passage about anxiety:

“Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?…your heavenly Father knows what you need. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

There’s an abundance of peace in these verses, but there’s an exhortation here too. It’s a comforting command but a command nonetheless: “do not be enslaved to your anxiety and fear.” And this command is clarified when we consider the section that immediately precedes this one.

In Matthew 6:24, Jesus points out that it is impossible to serve two masters. The example he gives is of God and money. But then verse 25 begins with “therefore”, and the following verses describe the conflict between a heart that seeks to control life through anxiety and a heart that seeks God’s kingdom.

Here’s the connection between Matthew 6:24 and 6:25-33. We should remember that God knows what we need and loves to bless us as his children. And that comfort should drive us to admit that we cannot serve both God and anxiety.

It seems that in pointing out the Father’s care for us, Jesus is counseling each of us to choose our master well. Anxiety is a harsh taskmaster that will leave you with nothing to show for all the hours, tears, and sighs you dedicate to it. A life of serving your own worry will not bring the security and provision you crave. But the Father is a much worthier Master. He knows how to provide well for his servants. In seeking his kingdom, you not only swear fealty to a much kinder Lord, but you leave behind slavish devotion to anxiety and its disappointingly empty promises.

Related

12
SHARES
ShareTweetEmail this

Filed Under: Connecting Points

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Updates / News

  • Easter Choir/Music Rehearsals March 15, 2023
  • URC Golf League March 10, 2023
  • New Sunday Class – “Let Us Hold Fast” March 1, 2023
View all News

URC Weekly Newsletter

Sign up to receive our weekly
e-newsletter, featuring important URC announcements and events.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

News Archives

Footer

urc
A congregation of the
Presbyterian Church in America
841 Timberlane St.
East Lansing, Michigan 48823
Map & Directions

517.351.6810
[email protected]


Worship Services

8:45 & 10:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.
Livestream at 10:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.

Get to Know URC

  • Statement of Faith
  • “About URC” and Church Membership
  • Our Staff
  • Contact

Resources

  • Sermons
  • Internship Program
  • Giving
  • Campus Van Schedule

URC Weekly Newsletter

Sign up to receive our weekly e-newsletter, featuring important URC announcements and events.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Download the URC Mobile App

urc-android-appurc-iphone-app

© 1966-2023 University Reformed Church. All Rights Reserved. - [email protected] - Sitemap
Website by LimeCuda - Admin