"don't Worry - Christ's Cure For Anxiety"

Title: “Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Christ Cure for Anxiety” Script: Mt. 6:19-24

Type: Expository Where: GNBC 3-22-26

Intro: In 2004 the BBC launched a new television program that would become a global phenomenon with nearly 20 different versions produced around the world. Each episode of “Who Do You Think You Are” features the family history of some famous individual. The show explores everything from disappeared relatives to distant royal connections to ancestor’s migrations. Participants often say: “I hope this experience will help me understand myself and my family.” I am convinced that many Christians need to be able to make sense of life in it’s array of stressful issues and problems. Trouble and difficulty come to everybody. People at every level of society live life in a minor key. Sickness, suffering, disease and death afflict both rich and poor. Job suffered deeply and cried, “ … man is born to trouble” (Job 5:7). The psalmist said, “… You have made me see troubles, many and bitter (Psalm 71:20). Yet, in the midst of this, Christ wants our focus to be upon Him and not the things in life that cause stress or concern. Living a life of discipleship in Christ will keep us from many of the concerns and worries.

Prop: Today we’ll notice 3 truths Disciples Need to Realize to Live a Joy-filled life.

BG: 1. Section we are looking at today is called “Sermon on the Mount”. Longest section of Xst. 2. Christ words speak very clearly to a culture of rife w/consumerism, cash, credit, and care! 3. Cares weigh so many down today.

Prop: Follow with me as we notice 3 truths Disciples Need to Notice to Live Joy filled lives.

I. Disciples Understand the Key to the Christian’s Life. Vv.19-20

A. Christian Discipleship is maintained with and through Jesus Christ alone.

1. Discipleship is maintained so long as nothing comes between Christ and the Christian.

a. Our Christianity is not based upon Christ and the Law, Christ and my personal piety, Xst and the attractions of the world. Being a true disciple means having a willingness to trust Him completely in all aspects of life, from the highest highs to the lowest lows. It means we are not only willing to trust Him to provide for our salvation, but we trust Him for the future. We are to trust Him even when we do not know, like, or understand when or where He is leading, or when it is unpopular. As we grow in Christ, we have to keep our eyes on Him. In doing so, we will be of better use to Him and become increasingly unsatisfied with anything less than His call and character.

b. Being a disciple of Christ does not mean that we won’t become anxious in life, however, it means that we should take our anxiety to the foot of the cross and leave it there. It means that we are to live in a way that Jesus tells us to so as to not experience anxiety over the same things that the rest of the world does.

2. How does discipleship take place in relationship to my “stuff”?

a. Transfer your treasure to heaven (6:19–21). Jesus commands you to prioritize heavenly treasures over earthly trinkets. I know what you’re thinking: “Oh no, this is a message about money! Ugh! I’m going to stop listening.” It’s not and please don’t! Sermons on giving are a lot like root canals—they are painful but they are necessary and even helpful.5 In Mt. 6:19, Jesus begins with a negative command: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” This verse is better rendered, “Stop storing up treasures for yourselves!”6 The words translated “store up” (thesaurizo)7 and “treasures” (thesaurous) have the same root.8 So Jesus is literally saying, “Do not treasure for yourselves treasures.” What does He mean? Should we not bother with a savings account? Is He saying don’t invest in Wall Street? Don’t have any money put aside for tough times that may come? This can’t be what Jesus is saying because the Bible applauds saving9 and caring for our family members.10 The apostle Paul even indicates that you can enjoy what God has given you.11 What Jesus prohibits here is the selfish accumulation of goods.12 Notice the phrase “on earth.” Jesus’ concern is stockpiling on earth rather than stockpiling in heaven. He doesn’t want you to have a wonderful earthly bank account while your spiritual bank account is bouncing checks because what you have stored up is solely for yourself or myself.

b. IN Jesus’ time period people did not really have banks. So, guess what, they usually stored up their wealth in one of three ways: purchasing fancy clothing which could be sold if necessary, yet was very susceptible to being destroyed by moths. Second, could purchase grains and store in barns. Famine was always a reality and food was worth more in a famine than gold! The word “rust” actually means “to be eaten” and Jesus may have actually been referring to the gains in the barn being eaten up by rats, mice, mold, etc. Finally, one could exchange assets for gold. However, 1st century Palestinian building codes were not to the standard Tom Palmer enforces in N. Liberty. Homes were made of baked clay and robbers only had to dig through the outer wall of the home to be able to rob someone blind.