Today we are going to talk about the world's most acceptable sin -- the sin of worry. Even though worry is idolatry and demonstrates a lack of faith, I find myself saying, "I'm a worrier. That's who I am. Can change."

Some of the greatest people in the world were worriers:

Louis Pasteur was so afraid of germs and worried that he might become sick that he refused to touch another human being. That's kind of weird.

President Benjamin Harrison was so afraid of electricity that they refused to touch the light switches and slept with the lights on. That's kind of weird.

Soviet Dictator Joseph Stalin was so afraid of assassination that he slept in a different bedroom every night. That's kind of weird.

Why can't we be more like the woman at the airport who made a difference in the lives of some frantic people? You know how airports are today. Today, airlines have less flights and more people, so there are crowds, lost baggage is up 20% from last year, long lines, short tempers. People get fussy, and angry.

In one section of one terminal in one airport, these fussy travelers heard a lady's voice say, "Good job, Lord." After a few seconds of hearing "Good job, Lord" people turned and noticed an older woman in a wheel chair, looking out the window. She was enjoying a beautiful sunset. "Good job, Lord" she said.

And the person who saw this noticed that the people in that section of that terminal of that airport calmed down. They smiled. They were reminded of the big picture, the eternal picture, that God is in control. Why can't we more often say, "Good job, Lord!" rather than focus upon all of the headaches.

You already know the "worry statistics" but I'm going to share them with you again:

40% of the things you worry about never happen.

30% of the things you worry about can't be changed.

12% of the things you worry about have to do with criticism from others.

What did Eleanor Roosevelt say, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

10% of the things you worry about are health related -- worry makes it worse.

In our text, Jesus gives us 3 reasons why none of us should worry!

Jesus is saying that you were not created to worry, to be consumed with concerns about this life. You were created to glorify God. You were created to be Heaven Focused. I'm but a stranger here, heaven is my home. You were created to be Christ's Light in the World. Worry means we are hanging on too tightly to this world. How many of us spend so much time worrying about finances, health, family members, what people think of us?

Jesus says, That's that wrong perspective. Rather, focus on Jesus. He died and rose again for your sins. Our lives are in His hands. God loves us more than we could ever love anyone/anything. There is no limit to His love.

Jesus even uses the example of a raven. I found out this week that the raven that Jesus is talking about has one mate for life, has one nest for life, they can live about 70 years. God takes care of the ravens, and He loves you so much more than the birds of the air, and will take care of you so much more. Humans were created in the image of God. You are the crown of His creation. You can trust Him.

A second reason Jesus said that we should not worry is that worrying does no good. It doesn't extend your life at all. Jesus said "Which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

It reminds me of the words of a World War 1 soldier about worry. "Of 2 things, one is certain. You'll either be on the front-line, or you won't. If you're on the front-line, you'll either be wounded or you won't. If you're wounded, you'll either live or you'll die. If you live, great. And if you die, great -- because there will be no worries in heaven."

Worry takes us out of the present. We miss the sunsets of today. We fail to say, "Good job, Lord" today, because we are borrowing trouble for tomorrow.

So many things are out of our control: The weather, how other people respond to us, so many circumstances, other people and their choices. But what is out of OUR control, is always filtered through the loving hands of our God.

Proverbs 3, I always use the same verse when I install a new pastor during the laying on of hands, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, he will make your path straight."

Worrying makes us no different than unbelievers. For the unbeliever, this world is it! The only joy comes from things of this life. For the one who trusts in the crucified and risen Savior, this world is just the beginning. The best is yet to come.

How do have faith and not worry? Jesus says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and everything else will be given to you as well." How do we put these words into practice? How do we say, "Good job, Lord" rather than being consumed by anxiety and worry?

Look at the Old Testament reading. God is speaking to Abraham. Abraham has a lot to worry about, a lot on his mind. And God comes to him and says, "Fear not." This is the first time in the Bible when the words "fear not" are used, though we are told to fear not over 300 times. "Fear not. I am your shield. I am your exceedingly great reward." What we cannot do, God does.

God is our shield. That means He is our protection from those evils that attack us. Nothing can harm you that God doesn't know about or that catches God by surprise. Many things will afflict us. We believers are stricken with sadness at times. But nothing touches our life without it being filtered through the hands of God. The same hands that were nailed to the cross for your sins. The same hands that earned forgiveness, life and salvation for you are your shield. Jesus defended you from the power of Satan. He is your shield, your very present help in time of trouble.

Dr. Aletta Bell runs a Christian hospital in India. A local lawyer was trying to have her shut down for proclaiming faith in Jesus Christ to the community, and serving the people in name of Jesus. When the lawyer that he was going to shut her down and have her deported, she said, "You can do nothing to me except what my God permits you to do."

Biblical. God is in control. He is your shield of protection and strength. Nothing touches us except that which God permits.

God says, "Fear not. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." Everything we need comes from the hand of God. The reward is the one Jesus earned for us on the cross. Your sins are forgiven. Even our sins of worry are forgiven, nailed to the cross. We have been declared righteous for Christ's sake. The reward, the eternal reward, is the kingdom of God, treasure in heaven. Isn't that better by far?

Seek ye first the kingdom of God. Everything else will be given to you.

Have no fear little flock. Doesn't worry come from fear. Have no fear little flock, for the Father has chosen to give you the kingdom.

As we look around our world, at the people we love, the blessings we've been given, at the sunsets…can't we more often say "God job, Lord"

Is there really any valid reason to worry?