This document discusses ways to avoid anxiety by focusing on God rather than worldly concerns. It notes that anxiety stems from seeking security in the world and focusing on material comforts rather than God's kingdom. However, God cares for his creation, like the birds and flowers, and will provide for his people. The recommended cure for anxiety is to make seeking God's kingdom and righteousness the primary goal in life, trusting that God will then provide earthly necessities. Living this way and focusing on each day brings peace instead of worrying about tomorrow.

1. AVERTING ANXIETY

2. GRACIOUS JESUS
4. KINGDOM LIFESTYLE PART 2
True
Righteousness
How to Pray
Fasting
Permanent Wealth
Averting Anxiety

3. AVERTING ANXIETY
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
Matt 6:25-34; Luke
12:22-32
 Introduction
 Causes of Anxiety
 Commended Cares
 Consider Creation
 Cure for anxiety
 Discussion

4. AVERTING ANXIETY
OBJECTIVES
To understand:
 Causes for anxiety
 Futility of anxiety
 Overcoming anxiety
 Seeking first God’s
Kingdom

5. AVERTING ANXIETY
BIBLE PASSAGES
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your
life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about
your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than
food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the
birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather
into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of
you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span
of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they
neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in
all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Matt 6

6. AVERTING ANXIETY
BIBLE PASSAGES
30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which
today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will
he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we
eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your
heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But
seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for
tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day
is its own trouble. Matt 6

7. CAUSES OF ANXIETY
31 Therefore do not be anxious,
saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or
‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What
shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles
seek after all these things, and
your heavenly Father knows that
you need them all.
Meaning[1]:
1. A disquieting, tormenting
thought (Lack of peace)
2. A distrustful, unbelieving
thought (Lack of trust)

8. CAUSES OF ANXIETY
SECURITY IN THE WORLD
19 “Do not lay up for
yourselves treasures
on earth, where moth
and rust destroy and
where thieves break in
and steal, Matt 6

9. CAUSES FOR ANXIETY
SEEKING THESE THINGS
“Seek” carries the
idea of:
• concentrating on
• highest priority
• burning attention
• center of your
life[2]

10. CAUSES FOR ANXIETY
SEEKING THESE THINGS
Who seeks these things?
(Matt 6:32)
 Comforts (Matt 8:19-20)
 Family (21,22),
 Wealth (19:21,22)
 Status (20:20,21)

11. COMMENDED CARES
REDIRECT ANXIETY
A positive twist to anxiety or
care:
• Virtuous woman’s
stewardship - Prov. 27:23
• Paul’s care of the churches
- 2 Cor. 11:28
• Timothy’s care for the state
of souls - Phil. 2:20.

12. CONSIDER CREATION
THE BIRDS
26 Look at the birds of the
air: they neither sow nor
reap nor gather into barns,
and yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. Are you
not of more value than
they? 27 And which of you
by being anxious can add a
single hour to his span of
life?

13. CONSIDER CREATION
THE LILIES
28 And why are you
anxious about clothing?
Consider the lilies of the
field, how they grow:
they neither toil nor
spin, 29 yet I tell you,
even Solomon in all
his glory was not
arrayed like one of
these.

14. CONSIDER CREATION
THE GRASS
30 But if God so clothes
the grass of the field,
which today is alive and
tomorrow is thrown into
the oven, will he not
much more clothe
you, O you of little
faith?

15. CURE FOR ANXIETY
SECURITY IN GOD
31 Therefore do not be anxious,
saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or
‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What
shall we wear?’ 32 For the
Gentiles seek after all these
things, and your heavenly
Father knows that you need
them all.
Cf. Matt 6:20
• Grow larger than those who
don’t know God
• Know that your Father knows

16. CURE FOR ANXIETY
SEEKING FIRST GOD’S KINGDOM
33 But seek first the
kingdom of God…
Prioritize over comfort
zone, family, wealth,
status:
• His Kingdom on Earth
(Matt 13)
• His Eternal Kingdom
(Matt 19:27-30)

17. CURE FOR ANXIETY
SEEKING HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
and his
righteousness…
Prioritize holiness
over happiness

18. CURE FOR ANXIETY
SEEKING HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
“all these things will be
added to you.”
How does comfort zone,
family, wealth, status get
added?
• In this world?
• In the next? (Matt 19:27-
29)

19. ..AND ALL THESE
THINGS WILL BE ADDED
Drive to
succeed for
God exceeds
any other drive
in the world.
Eg. Eric Liddle vs. Harold
Abrahams
Michael Phelps

20. CURE FOR ANXIETY
SEEKING TO LIVE FOR TODAY
34 “Therefore do not be anxious
about tomorrow, for tomorrow will
be anxious for itself. Sufficient for
the day is its own trouble.
..Is not life more than food, and the
body more than clothing? V 25
Value life
Every minute is a gift.
There is not much time left.

21. AVERTING ANXIETY
RECAP
 Causes of Anxiety
 Security in the world
 Seeking “these things”
 Commended Cares
 Consider Creation
 The sparrows
 The lilies
 The grass
 Cure for anxiety
 Security in God
 Seeking First God’s Kingdom
 Seeking God’s Righteousness
 Seeking to live for today

22. DISCUSSION
1. She appears to be seeking gain in the “kingdom of God”.
What was wrong in James and John’s mother’s attitude
(Matt 20:20-28)?
2. Why does anxiety control us and peace elude us? How
do we overcome it? (Phil 4:6,7)
3. How do we gain the peace and trust required in trying
situations?
4. What practical steps can we personally take to centre our
lives around God and redirect anxiety?

23. TIPS FOR STRESS
AVERSION
1. Reduce Stress: Never bite of more than you can chew
2. Redirect Stress: Focus on Kingdom goals, God will take
your load on earthly ones.
3. Remove Stress: Make time for things you enjoy- Retail
therapy (shopping), etc.
4. Release Stress: When people don’t change, accept it and
let it go. Just love them

24. REFERENCES
1. Matthew Henry’s Commentary
2. Grant – Verse by verse commentary