It is quite amazing how so many of us thrive on stress and anxiety. In fact, this is so prevalent in our own lives and in our society, we are bored to death without a certain amount of stress and anxiety. I think that's really the case. During the Vietnam War and when I was in the Army, I saw many men and also women volunteer to return to Vietnam because they were actually addicted to the stress and anxiety which that violent war produced. When they came home to a more sedate life, they couldn't hack it. And violence broke out in many households because young men who came back from Vietnam actually couldn't get along in a more subdued atmosphere in their own homes. I saw pictures of young men who were with special forces before they went to Vietnam and after they returned from Vietnam, and the difference in those pictures was actually very stark, as you could see. the hatred and the anxiety and actually the violence in their own inner being on their countenances, and a very amazing thing. When the doctors tell us that we ought to avoid stressful situations and we ought to avoid situations where anxiety might occur, And that troubles us in and of itself because we find it quite difficult. It's kind of interesting. And something else occurs, it seems to me. We have a tendency to confuse good stress and bad stress. We have a tendency to confuse good concerns and harmful anxieties. and we lose our focus in the midst of all of this, we lose our perspective. And I think this is what our text is about this morning as we look at verse 28 in 2 Corinthians chapter 11. Apart from such external things, Paul says, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all Now, as I get into this, I've given you a first point that might seem a little bit strange, but I think it applies to all of us. Because do we not all tend to think that our stress is unique, our lives are the hardest, our anxiety is the most justified? Isn't that really the case? for each of us. Here are some stock remarks. Nobody has it quite as bad as I do. Right? Nobody has it quite as hard As I do in this particular situation in which I find myself. Unfortunately for some of you, I'm reminded of Martha in this particular context. Martha, who I think lost her perspective. and was very worried and concerned about the preparations for a meal, and quite anxious about the preparations for the meal, and I think was thinking in her heart of hearts when she went to Jesus, don't you realize, Jesus, that I've got it a little difficult here, and I've got it a lot harder than Mary here. Don't you think you ought to encourage her to help me a little bit? It's that kind of perspective. You've never had to deal with people like I have. Or you've never been in the financial crisis that I'm experiencing now. Or, well, what else could we add? I think you get the picture. It's a problem here. There really is a problem here. because, in a sense, there's a little bit of boasting which is going on. And there may be also a tinge of pride present, and even a little bit of arrogance present, because, really, nobody else has it quite the way I have it. Right? Paul calls such talk boasting in the flesh, boasting the way the world boasts, as the NIV has it. Look at 2 Corinthians 11 and verse 18. Since many boast according to the flesh, or boast in the way the world does, I will boast also, he says. He says, I'm going to do a little bit of boasting too, the way the world does. And then he proceeds. in the following verses. It's very interesting that this should be the case. Again, look at verses 24 and following. Five times Paul says, I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. A night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys. I'm boasting now, Paul says, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren. I have been in labor and hardship through many sleepless nights. In hunger and thirst, I'm boasting now, Paul says, often without food and from cold and exposure. See, this is his boast. And what does Paul say about such boasting? Look at verse 21. To my shame, he says, I must say that we have been weak by comparison. But in whatever respect everyone else is bold, I speak in foolishness, I am just as bold myself. He says, boasting like this takes some boldness. And I've got a little bit of boldness, and so I'm going to boast. Look at verse 23. Are they servants of Christ? I speak as if insane. I more so, in far more labors and far more imprisonments. He says, I'm going to boast. But he says in the midst of this, Look at verse 21 again. I speak in foolishness. He says, really, such boasting is utter foolishness. In verse 23 he says, I speak as if insane. He says, you know what? I speak as somebody who's out of their mind. And that's actually what the literal word says. out of their mind with such boasting. Interesting. Very interesting, it seems to me. This kind of thinking is self-centered. It takes our eyes off of Jesus Christ, and it contributes to our anxiety. This is the interesting and profound thing. that Paul is getting at. And our boastings produce exactly the opposite of what ought to happen in our lives, although we all do it, myself included. You see, what we really want, folks, and I'm among the number What we really want is some freedom from anxiety. We want to be free from the occasions that produce the many anxieties of our lives. We really want that freedom, but we lose sight of the fact at the same time that there are proper concerns and there is good stress. Freedom from anxiety. is good, we ought to experience freedom from anxiety. I'd like you to turn back in your Bibles, if you would, to the text that we looked at a little bit ago in 1 Corinthians 7. Many of you weren't here, but if you'd look at it with me in 1 Corinthians 7 and verse 32, Paul is using the same word here, and he says, But I want you to be free from concern. 1 Corinthians 7, verse 32. But I want you to be free from concern. I want you to be free from anxiety. In one sense, it's good to be free from anxieties in this life. And I think we all realize that this is the case. Verse 35 in 1 Corinthians 7 says, This I say for your own benefit. not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is seemly, and so to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord. What we need is freedom from anxiety. This is the ideal. What we need is freedom from anxiety and undistracted devotion from the Lord, to the Lord. But tensions arise within our hearts and lives. We want that anxiety down, but then there are also legitimate concerns which arise. And Paul talks about that sort of thing in this very chapter and in our text this morning. I want to read some other verses in 1 Corinthians 7, verses 32 through 34. But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife. And his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried and the virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit. But one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband." Catch what Paul is saying here. Paul is saying here that there is legitimate concern, anxiety for the things of the Lord. I want you to get that. And as we have said in the past, Paul is not trying to say to you and to me that marriage is bad. and that marriages necessarily have to produce all sorts of unseemly anxieties. I'm not trying to say that. One of the teachings of the Bible is that marriages can be a wonderful place in which the love of God is so manifested that we as a people experience God's mercy and grace in extraordinary ways. And Paul really wants that to happen. The thing I want you to get here is the perspective of Paul. Verse 32 again. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But one who is married is concerned about the things of the world. You see, there's a tension present. And he talks about the fact that there is good anxiety Good concern for the things of the Lord. I want you to turn now, please, back to our text for this morning. Second Corinthians 11. Paul says the same thing. Verse 28, Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches. As I studied this word, which is translated concern, I have noted something which is very interesting. In every context where that word is used, anxiety is soundly condemned. In only one context where the word anxiety or concern or worry is used, is it not condemned. And in those contexts, it has to do with concern for the church and anxiety and concern for the things of God. Very interesting. Very interesting. You see, there can actually be good anxieties, concerns. Actually good. And I think this is one of the things that Paul is trying to tell us. And the focus we have is of utmost importance. The focus we have is of utmost importance. Our focus needs to be on the things of God and on the things of His Church. Now, as I look down this center aisle in front of this pulpit, and I focus on this center aisle, I can still see everyone else in this auditorium. In my focus in my life, I need to be focused on Jesus Christ, but I still have in view every other part of my life. The Westminster Catechism says that we are to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. That's the primary purpose for every one of our lives. That is to be the focus of our lives. But that does not mean that the secondary purposes and the tertiary purposes are out of view. If you're a husband, you still have a family. If you're a wife, you still have a family. If you are in school, you still have that schoolwork to do. If you are a working person, you still have those responsibilities. All of those things are in view, and you have to accomplish those duties. But what is the primary focus of your life? The primary focus of your life is on Jesus Christ. That's what Paul is getting at. And the other purposes, the secondary purposes of taking care of your family and feeding your children and taking care of your home are not out of you. All of those things are to come together so that in doing them, you glorify the living God. How important that is. And what Paul is telling us, folks, what Paul is telling us is that our ultimate concern And our ultimate anxiety should be for the church and for the things of God. Look at verse 28 once again. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches. Apart from these external things, what are these external things? The external things Paul has mentioned already, beginning in verse 24. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Now, I don't think any of us can boast about that. I don't think any of us want to boast about that. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. See, these are the external things. Outside of these external things, Paul says, I am pressed. I have pressures on my life, Paul says. I want you to see what kind of pressure Paul felt in his life. Turn to the first chapter of 2 Corinthians, and verses 8 and 9. 1 Corinthians 1, or 2 Corinthians 1, I'm sorry, 2 Corinthians 1, verses 8 and 9. 2 Corinthians 1, verses 8 and 9. For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively beyond our strength, so that we despaired of life itself. Paul says that the stress and the strain and the pressure that was brought to bear on me caused me to despair of life itself. Indeed, verse 9, we have the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead. Paul says, there was such enormous pressure brought to bear upon me externally that I despaired of life itself, and the reason God saw fit in His providence to bring that pressure to bear on me was that so I would not depend upon my own strength, but that I would depend upon the strength which God provides by His Spirit in the inner person. And in 2 Corinthians chapter 11, our text, Paul says that he also experienced tremendous inner pressures. Verse 28 again, Apart from such external things there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches. The daily pressure, he says, was that of anxiety. Something which was going on inside of him. Pressure. Was this bad? Was it ultimately bad that Paul should have this kind of pressure and concern? No, I don't think so. And the Apostle Paul does not say that it is bad. And I think there's a certain rationale behind what Paul says. You see, folks, here's how we most often live. We are most concerned, as we have said in the past, about food. That's one of our anxieties, or food is the occasion for. anxiety for us. And clothing. And what we're going to say in a class or in a presentation is the occasion for much anxiety. And relationships are the occasion for much anxiety. And very often we dwell extensively on these things. How often—let me ask you this question—how often are you as anxious for the things of God? How often are you as anxious for the things of the church as you are for your business, as you are for your home? as you are for your transportation, as you are for the future. How often are you as anxious for the things of God as you are for those things? You know what the answer is? Very little. Very little are we as anxious about the things of God as we are for those other things. I think that is profoundly interesting and profoundly revealing. I ask myself the question, why should any church like this church suffer financial need? Do you know why? Because we have greater anxiety over our own houses and own lives than we have over the kingdom of God. and I am as guilty as anyone. Our ultimate concern ought to be for the church of Jesus Christ and for the things of God. And some of you, if I know my own life, some of you are thinking to yourselves, Well, he's the minister, so that's what he ought to say. No, this is what God is saying by His Spirit, through His Word. Yes, our focus needs to be on Jesus Christ. And when we are born again, people, and our hearts are mellow with regard to the Word of God, that's where our focus is. We've looked at several texts as we've studied this matter of anxiety, and I want quickly to review our ground. It will only take a couple of minutes. Matthew 6, verses 31 and following. Look at what Jesus says. Matthew 6.31. Do not be anxious then, saying, what shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or with what shall we clothe ourselves? For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things, but seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. May God be pleased to give us the grace to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Matthew 10, verses 19 and 20. But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how or what you will speak, for it shall be given you in that hour what you are to speak. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. I know a young lady who yesterday, by the grace of God, experienced that very thing. And I thank God for that. Matthew 13, verse 22. and the one on whom seed was sown among thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches chokes the word, and it becomes unfruitful. God grant us grace that we might focus our lives on Jesus Christ and the anxieties of the world may not choke the good word of God. Luke 21.34, where Jesus says, Luke 21.34, that your hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life. And that day, the day of Jesus, come on you suddenly like a trap. God, give us the grace not to be weighted down with the worries of this life. God grant that grace. And then our text for today, in 2 Corinthians 11. Here, dear friends, ought to be our focus. Paul says, apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches. May God be pleased to give us grace. to have concern for his work and for his church in this world.