Opening Humor: Before a pastor began to preach one Sunday morning he thought he should explain why he had a Band-Aid on his chin. "As I was shaving this morning I was thinking about today’s sermon when I lost my concentration and accidentally cut my chin with the razor." He then went on to preach the longest message of his life. After the service one of the teens greeted the pastor and said, "Pastor, next week why don’t you think about your shaving and cut the sermon." Mark Patterson
Sermon Study # 277 - WORRY-FREE THANKSLIVING
Matthew 6:25-34 [NKJV]
1. How are you measuring your life’s value?
[25] "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
note: When moving to Florida in 1993 as newlyweds… Kristi and made a combined annual full-time income of $20,000.00 – we learned to eat modestly, dress modestly… live modestly…materialism never became a stronghold in our lives… because we started our lives with nothing… for the 1st few years we… never bought clothing… (ex: I own three suits… one that I bought for HS graduation… another I bought for college graduation… then 10 years later… I bought my 3rd suit… we may more today…. but our lives do not consist on what we have.
2. Are you not more valuable than the birds or the lilies?
[26] Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? [28] So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; [29] and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
note: WE LOOK AT WHAT WE DON’T HAVE INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT WHAT WE DO HAVE – IF WE HAVE GOD, WE HAVE ALL WE NEED --- A story of a farmer who wanted to impress his hunting buddies. To impress them, he bought the smartest, most expensive hunting dog he could find. He trained this dog to do things no other dog on earth could do---impossible feats that would surely amaze anyone. Then he invited the neighbors to go duck hunting with him. After a long patient wait in the boat a group of ducks flew over and the hunters were able to make a few hits. Several ducks fell in the water. "Go get ‘em!" shouted the proud owner to his magnificent dog. The dog leaped out of the boat, walked on the water, and picked up a bird and returned to the boat. As soon as he dropped the duck in the boat he trotted off across the water again and grabbed another duck and brought it back to the boat. The owner beamed with pride as his wonderful dog walked across the water and retrieved each of the birds one by one. Unable to resist the opportunity to brag a bit he asked his fellow hunters, "Do you notice anything unusual about my dog?” One of them rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Yes," he finally said. "Come to think of it, I do! That silly dog doesn’t know how to swim does he??"
3. What does worry profit you?
[27] Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
note: 1 Tim. 6:6-8 - Now godliness with contentment is great gain. [7] For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. [8] And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
4. Do you have the faith to trust God for your needs?
[30] Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? [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.
note: Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conduct be without covetousness(passionately desiring what is not yours); be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
5. If you are not content with today, how can you be content with tomorrow?
[34] Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
note: Philip. 4:11- Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: [12] I know how to be abased (in need), and I know how to abound (have plenty). Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. [13] I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
