Worry is as inconsistent with common sense as it is with Christian faith. In Matthew 6:34 Jesus mentions both today and tomorrow. All worry is about tomorrow, whether about food or clothing or anything else; but all worry is experienced today. Whenever we are anxious, we are upset in the present about some event which may happen in the future. However, these fears of ours about tomorrow, which we feel so acutely today, may not be fulfilled. The popular advice ‘Don’t worry, it may never happen,’ is doubtless unsympathetic, but perfectly true. People worry that they may not pass an exam, or find a job, or get married, or retain their health, or succeed in some enterprise, but it is all fantasy. ‘Fears may be liars;’ they often are. Many worries, perhaps most, never materialize.

So then worry is a waste – a waste of time, thought and nervous energy. We need to learn to live a day at a time. We should plan for the future, of course, but not worry about the future. ‘One day’s trouble is enough for one day’ or ‘each day has enough troubles of its own.’ So why anticipate them? If we do, we double them. For if our fear does not materialize, we have worried once for nothing; if it does materialize, we have worried twice instead of once. In both cases it is foolish: worry doubles trouble.

It is time to sum up Jesus’ exposition of the world’s false ambition. To become preoccupied with material things in such a way that they engross our attention, absorb our energy and burden us with anxiety, is incompatible with both Christian faith and common sense. It is distrustful of our heavenly Father. This is what pagans do; but it is an utterly unsuitable and unworthy ambition for Christians. So just as Jesus has already called us in the Sermon to a greater righteousness, a broader love and deeper piety, he now calls us to a higher ambition.