Good morning. I pray that you are all doing well during these trying times. Thank you first, to all of the wonderful responses that we had since last Sunday’s message was posted. God has really been impressing upon me to share His peace with you today. And in chaotic and trying times such as these, we need that peace. We need to remember the joy that God has placed in each of us when we became His child.
A few weeks ago, we talked about anxiety and how it effects our lives. I guess God knew all this was about to happen and so He began early to get us prepared for what is happening today. You know, if we listen closely and watch God working, many times He gives us a little foresight of things to come. We didn’t know 3 or 4 weeks ago that all this would be happening. But in His plan, God did.
Are you anxious today? Centering our lives on Jesus Christ can take away a lot of that anxiety. It’s never in our plans to complicate our lives, but it happens. Over time, we keep adding layers to our lives. We think a plan that’s overflowing with activity, money, or possessions will lead to a cup overflowing with joy and satisfaction, but we then realize that true contentment isn’t there. When we quit filling our lives with everything else, and simplify our lives, and focus on the one thing that matters most, then we find the contentment we want. And it’s all wrapped up in Christ, trusting and living simply in Him. Are you content right now, or are you worried a little bit?
Worry. Can you relate to that word? A lot of us can. 2 out of 5 Americans admit to worrying. And I’ll have to admit that at times I’m in that group. That worry list includes church, family, health, my future, and lost people. The list goes on and on. Worry can consume you and even spiritually paralyze you. We play the “what if” game. What if I make the wrong decision? What if the desires of my heart never come to pass? What if my loved-one never comes to know Christ?
Do you ever wish you could just stop worrying and fixating on things you can’t control? Jesus gave us the key, and it all has to do with our focus. When our focus is on the world, worry is usually the result, but when we focus on Christ, that changes everything. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus called us to seek His kingdom and His righteousness first. After that, everything else falls into place.
Turn to Matthew 6:25-30.
In His Sermon, Jesus gave us a sobering reminder of where the heart and mind of the believer could end up when our focus is on the physical rather than the spiritual. That wrong focus is what leads to anxiety and worry. When we take our eyes off of Jesus, the world creeps in. And along with it comes worrying. Let’s read
Matthew 6: 25-30
Jesus’ words are unmistakable. READ v. 25a above. Easier said than done, right? But it’s an important word from Jesus, and His use of “I tell you” is to get us to pay close attention to what He was saying.
We know that God loves and cares for us, right? Jesus illustrated this truth by focusing on two of our most basic needs: food and clothing. The birds are fed and provided for and the wildflowers are clothed. The birds and the flowers have no concern, and since God loves us so much more than that, why should we have any concern? Jesus was clear: don’t worry about things we shouldn’t be worrying about. Worry saps our energy. It steals hours from our day and days from our lives. Worry says something about us. Worry reveals a lack of faith and trust in God.
WE CAN TRUST GOD BECAUSE HE’S OUR CREATOR WHO HOLDS ALL AUTHORITY.
Jesus’ words in this verse are powerful, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that we’re hearing these words from the mouth of our Creator. The Creator of the universe, the One who put the stars in place, the One who controls the oceans, the One who holds the world in the palm of his hand is telling us, “Don’t worry!” You would think that would be enough to cure us of worry, but it often isn’t. Worry is the state of mind we choose. Did you catch that? We CHOOSE to worry. When we worry, it’s because we’ve allowed our mind to focus on and live in disbelief.
Worry won’t change anything. The old saying is that worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair. Rocking back and forth in the chair gives us something to do, but it really doesn’t get us anywhere. Worrying will consume our thoughts, imprison our emotions, and take away the joy in our lives. But it won’t do anything to solve the problems in life that are pressing down on us. No, worry won’t change anything because it can’t. But God can.
WE CAN TRUST GOD BECAUSE HE LOVES US. What’s the best way to handle worry? Jesus taught us to take a look into the sky. When we do, we’ll find birds flying everywhere, and not one of them seems concerned about what they’ll eat. They aren’t concerned about planting seeds or harvesting grain. Neither are they concerned about gathering and storing food just in case of an emergency. They’re free from care because the Father cares and provides for them.
So why shouldn’t we worry when life seems overwhelming with so many unmet demands? Why shouldn’t we worry? The reason is tied to the great value we have in the eyes of God. Sometimes it’s hard for some to comprehend that God loves them as His children. Some haven’t had the greatest father figures, and some have had no fathers at all. Others can’t understand why God would love them when they’re so flawed and sinful.
But Jesus painted a totally different picture of our heavenly Father—One who takes care of the birds and adorns the flowers loves us so much more. In spite of our sinfulness, God loves and values us deeply. We can confidently place our trust in God because of His unconditional love for us.
WE CAN TRUST GOD BECAUSE HE ALONE GIVES MEANING AND LASTING PEACE. Matthew 6: 31-32. – “31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”
A lack of trust produces a life of worry. According to Jesus, worry is a “Gentile” mindset. While we may sometimes equate “Gentile” with anyone who isn’t a Jew, but in other contexts, like this one, it refers to those who are outside the family of God. Those without Christ have every reason to worry about the essentials of life. They express no trust in God, who is the Source of all we need. Their trust is in their own ability to provide for themselves. So, they gather and hoard.
I’m reminded of what happened when the Israelites left Egypt and began complaining about not having enough food to eat. God heard their complaints and rained down bread from heaven, “Manna,” each day except for the Sabbath. When they asked what it was, Moses told them in Exodus 16:15b-19. READ.
But they didn’t listen. Some of them gathered more than they needed and hoarded it. They had leftovers because they gathered too much. And what happened? READ Exodus 16:20. They didn’t trust God’s Word that He would provide. They trusted in their own ability to provide for themselves. And we see this same attitude today.
I look at our world, our society right now and I see a world of people who are trusting only in their own ability to provide for themselves. God providing for us is the furthest thing from their mind. I agree, we all need groceries and supplies. But are people, are WE going overboard.
And right now, if we are not careful, our center of focus is on gathering food, gathering supplies, and our focus has gotten off of the ONE who is called, Jehovah Jireh, our God will provide.
Without Christ, it’s easy for our minds to be consumed with living the American dream. Accumulation is the name of the game it seems. We seek the things of this world to give us identity and value. Many of these things aren’t bad—like a nice home, a new car, a big salary—but we tend to let these things define us. Our trust is in our ability to perform in order to get what we need or want.
But what do we actually achieve if we attain all these things? Sitting right next to us in our nice homes is a void, a hopelessness, and a lack of peace. None of these things truly satisfy; we’re left hungry and thirsty for more. It boils down to a matter of trust: without Christ, our trust is in the wrong place. Trust should be placed in God who does what is best for us.
Underline that phrase in your Bible in verse 32 “your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” As a reminder that God knows and provides for all your needs.
WE CAN TRUST GOD BECAUSE HE HAS ALREADY PROVIDED FOR OUR GREATEST NEED: A SAVIOR. Read Philippians 4:19. “And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Think about how God provided for our greatest need. We’re sinners in need of a Savior. God saw that need and sent His Son, His greatest possession. We were separated from God so Jesus lived the sinless life we couldn’t live, only to be crucified on a cross as atonement for our sin. When we place our faith in Jesus, we’re trusting that our greatest need will be met. And since God has taken care of our biggest need, shouldn’t we fully trust Him to take care of all other needs.
Psalm 66:18-20 says, “If I had been aware of malice in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 19 However, God has listened; he has paid attention to the sound of my prayer. 20 Blessed be God! He has not turned away my prayer or turned his faithful love from me.” Do you know what that passage tells me? It tells me that God doesn’t have a hearing problem. He hears our requests.
Psalm 50:10 says, “for every animal of the forest is mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills. Do you know what that verse says to me? It tell me that God doesn’t have a providing problem. He owns “The cattle on a thousand hills.” NOT 1,000 cattle on the hills, BUT the cattle on a thousand hills. God owns it all. It’s His to give. It’s His to provide.
Proverbs 3: 5-6 reminds us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.” That tells me that God doesn’t have a timing problem. He provides what we need when we need it.
WE CAN TRUST GOD TO HELP US GROW IN SPIRITUAL MATURITY. And it’s in times like these that we exemplify how much we have grown in Christ.
Matthew 6:33-34 – “ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
This is our Lord, Jesus Christ, telling us this. Seek first verse 33 says. The word Jesus used for seek means to desire and pursue. We aren’t seeking something that’s hidden; instead we’re pursuing the things of God with a passion where it’s our highest priority.
Verse 33 takes us back to Jesus’ earlier words in this same chapter where He said in vv. 19-21 (now listen closely to this)– “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where is your treasure? Did you know that people can look at you and tell you where your treasure is? You’re not fooling anyone. It shows.
Instead of being consumed with the temporary things of this world, we’re called to be consumed with a desire for God and the things of God. It’s not that the cares of this life aren’t important; even Jesus invited us to prayer for these things: “Give us this day our daily bread” (v.11). But Christ is to be our first priority. Our first priority. As we focus on Christ and pursue Him, He takes care of everything else.
One writer says that believers are “already, but not yet” people. We’ve already come to Christ and live in the absolute certainty we belong to Him. We rejoice in the confidence He will never leave us and heaven is our home.
But we’re not there yet. Neither have we arrived at complete spiritual maturity yet. We’re making progress, but we haven’t finished the journey. So, each day finds us centering our lives in Christ so we will be useful citizens of the kingdom of God. It’s a kingdom composed of people who belong to Him. Knowing God better and serving Him more faithfully is what we seek to do each day.
When we set God’s kingdom and righteousness as our daily target, we learn to place our lives in His hands in complete trust that He’ll provide what we need. As our trust in Him grows stronger, we see our troubles with worry subside. Our anxiety diminishes. Instead of worrying, we’re more centered on the Lord Himself and focused on being obedient to what He calls us to do. Being in the Lord’s company and enjoying His presence matters to us more than anything else and His kingdom becomes our priority.
So, our challenge from Scripture is to think about our plans for the future. Think about your plans for the future and ask God to reveal any areas where you’re putting your personal kingdom above His Kingdom. But when you pray and ask that, be ready to make adjustments to seek His Kingdom first. God will show you the way to go.
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”
God provides for you, the gift of salvation right now, by asking Jesus to come into your heart and into your life. Why not do that? I can testify to you as millions of other Christians can as well, you’ll never regret your decision for Christ and becoming a child of God
PRAYER
