Matthew 6:25-34
So far we have studied Jesus’ first three questions of this passage: “Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” “Are you not of more value than [the birds]”? And“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Each of these questions has been asked to reveal the nature of anxiety not to judge us for being anxious. Questions can be difficult; they can be searching, feel pointed and even judgmental. Most of us don’t like being questioned mostly because we fear two things: having no answer or giving the wrong answer. I have a few friends in my life that ask really good questions, hard questions, searching questions, questions that I sometimes am afraid to answer but questions that often help me to realize the condition of my heart and even the presence of God. During this study we have used this basic description of anxiety; it asks questions that we can’t answer in an effort to diminish the truth that we are confident in. Have you wondered yet why Jesus would counteract the questions of anxiety by asking questions rather than giving answers? If you haven’t I have, I have even asked Him in my prayer times, “why more questions?” I don’t believe I have heard some great audible revelation but I do believe I am gaining some understanding. Jesus is teaching us that questions are not the problem; life is not some big question waiting for us to find the answer to. Life is a journey that is filled with questions, one question leads to another which often leads to yet another; few things are set in stone, nothing lasts forever and often the reality of God’s ways being higher than our ways brings us questions rather than answers. The problem with anxiety is not that it asks questions; God asks questions and He doesn’t use, cause or endorse anxiety, read the book of Job, can asks some difficult questions. Jesus Himself asked many questions of the apostles: “Who do you say that I am? Do you also want to go away? Could you not stay awake one hour? Have you still not believed?” Questions are not the problem, we have to stop being afraid of questions, of being wrong and of being unable to answer. The issue that Jesus is revealing by asking questions to fight the questions of anxiety is the character of the one asking. I mentioned friends earlier that ask good, searching questions; they ask those questions out of the safety of a relationship of love, grace and the presence of God; their questions are not to expose me to shame but to lead me to truth and sometimes, even repentance. All of Jesus’ questions so far and those that we will study today are revealing to us that God asks many questions but all of His questions are asked in love, are filled with grace and are not to see if we can answer but to show us that we can trust Him with what we don’t know just as much as what we are sure of. This morning I pray that we can discuss the character of God, who’s questions reveal His concern for us and not His frustration with us.