Through the Bible - Genesis 17-19, Matthew 7
Good morning,
Have you ever stood in front of a full refrigerator and walked away with nothing saying to yourself "there's nothing to eat"? Have you ever stood in front of a closet full of clothes and said to yourself (or out loud) "I have nothing to wear"? It should make us feel foolish, especially in these times.
These economic times with uncertainties about jobs, finances, retirement accounts can bring on anxiety which can rob us of many things including sleep, not to mention joy. I must admit that I've lost some sleep about these things.
In a sermon on this passage John Piper writes, "Stop for a moment and think how many different sinful actions and attitudes come from anxiety. Anxiety about finances can give rise to coveting and greed and hoarding and stealing. Anxiety about succeeding at some task can make you irritable and abrupt and surly. Anxiety about relationships can make you withdrawn and indifferent and uncaring about other people. Anxiety about how someone will respond to you can make you cover over the truth and lie about things. So if anxiety could be conquered, a lot of sins would be overcome. "
For today's verse we'll go to Matthew 6 where Jesus gives us some straight talk about the "things" we worry about.
In today's passage Jesus teaches
Matt 6:31 "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Or from the NKJV
Matt 6:31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Reading the passage below, you'll notice that 4 times in these verses, Jesus tells us not to be anxious. Verse 25 about your life, verse 27 about your lifespan, verse 31 about being "anxious" in general, and verse 34 about tomorrow, what it may bring , what to wear , and what to eat.
Piper continues, "when anxiety strikes and blurs our vision of God's glory and the greatness of the future that he plans for us, this does not mean that we are faithless, or that we will not make it to heaven. It means our faith is being attacked. At first blow our belief in God's promises may sputter and swerve. But whether we stay on track and make it to the finish line depends on whether we set in motion a process of resistance."
In Pastor Bob's first message from his series "Cha-ching anomics" he pointed out that anxiety commonly comes from fear or from greed. We tend to focus too much on ourselves. Contrast that with the person who trusts, who "casts his cares on the Lord". We can only truly find contentment in these times when we do.
"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you."— 1 Peter 5:7
Charles Spurgeon wrote, "It is a happy way of soothing sorrow when we can feel—"HE careth for me." Christian! do not dishonour religion by always wearing a brow of care; come, cast your burden upon your Lord. You are staggering beneath a weight which your Father would not feel. What seems to you a crushing burden, would be to Him but as the small dust of the balance. Nothing is so sweet as to"
"Lie passive in God's hands,
And know no will but His."
Are you passive towards Jesus' guidance or resistant?
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Matt 6:24-7:1
24 "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
25 "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 "And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.
NLT
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