Jesus concludes His comparison of treasures in heaven and treasures on earth with a simple statement – you cannot serve God and wealth. He then goes on to challenge the pursuit of wealth by saying, “Do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25) Interestingly, the life Jesus is speaking of is not the day-to-day life which would have been rendered in Greek as zoe (the totality of life) or perhaps even bios (physical life) but rather psyche (the soul, the inmost being of an individual.) Jesus is addressing the spiritual and eternal aspect of life found only in human beings. And what He is saying is to not worry about the things of this world but focus on the things of God.
The Greek word usually translated as being worried or anxious – merimnao – actually means, at its root, divided, distracted, or torn apart. And therein lie our anxious thoughts and worries. Worry is when our minds are torn apart, divided, and pulled in different directions by a situation or circumstance or thoughts that don’t align with our expectations. Lack of information, poor information, past experiences that have shaped our thinking processes, and a host of other variables cause our brains to kick into overdrive trying to make sense of the nonsense or, at the very minimum, look for the best path to mental and emotional peace and safety. However, peace is NOT the ultimate result of worry.
Peace comes when we focus totally and completely on Jesus. As we read in Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.” Jesus said it this way in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
So, how do you find peace in a world of worry? Follow with wisdom and understanding Matthew 6:33-34. First of all, focus your full and undivided attention on Jesus and His Kingdom through His righteousness and all of the things that might distract you will no longer be your concern, but God’s and He will provide the things you need.
Secondly, don’t be distracted by the things that are looming large on your horizon. They may or may not come, but that’s not your concern because
you’re not staring at them – you’re eyes are focused on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith, and He will provide all you need today AND tomorrow.
This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, November 8, 2026. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons, which covers Chapters 5-7 in the Book of Matthew, is Kingdom Power: The Sermon on the Mount. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/kingdom-power-matthew-5-7-digital-study-guide/ . Handouts with class presentation content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .
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