Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

-Matthew 6:25-32

This is a world run by a ruler who seeks to steal, kill and destroy. 

How do we not worry? You say, “Well, you just gotta trust Jesus.”

People who trust Jesus die.

People who trust Jesus suffer.

People who trust Jesus experience hardship, poverty and death. 

…I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

-2 Corinthians 11: 23-27

Paul trusted Jesus and he was often poor, destitute and in pain.

Three main areas of life Jesus addresses:

1. Money

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

-Matthew 6:19-21

Since our real treasure is in heaven, how should we live?

Jesus saw money as something to guard against, not desire.

Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

-Matthew 6:21

You cannot serve both God and Mammon.

-Matthew 6:34b

Jesus said that money can become so dangerous to the soul that we should do whatever it takes to break free of money’s power, even to the extent of giving it away. 

I only laughed to myself and felt sorry that people should value such things, when I remembered what the Lord has in store for us.

-Teresa of Avila

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.

-Philippians 4:12a

2. Hardship

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

-2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Paul had two pictures of himself.

One: The image he saw in the mirror.

The insomnia, beatings, imprisonments, and deprivations had left their mark on the exterior.

Two: The image he could not see. 

He could sense that self being renewed, made more fit, and tempered by hardship.

Hardship heightens our appetite for rest and hastens our desire for another world.

3. Death

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

-Matthew 6:27

So in the middle of…..

1. Financial Struggle.

2. Periodic Hardship

3. Death

How do we not worry?

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? If you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

-Matthew 5:46-47

Our lives are different than the lives of those who do not understand, believe, see, or live in the Kingdom of God. 

Merimnao: Worry, overwhelmed with concern

• It does not mean that there will not be things that we should be concerned about—but that we will not be overwhelmed with concern.

• It does not mean that there will not be things that we consider carefully–but that we will not be overwhelmed by consideration.

• It does not mean that there will not be things that require contemplation—but that we will not be overwhelmed by contemplation of those things.

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.

-Matthew 6:33

We will either be overwhelmed by Jesus and the things of His heart or we are overwhelmed by something else, but not both.

For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

-Matthew 6:32

We are chasing the kingdom of God. That’s our first priority.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

-Hebrews 11:32-40

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

-2 Timothy 4:6-7

Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.

"Will Be": Heaven 

The old order of things has passed away. No more sickness, pain, hardship, mourning, or death.

-Revelation 21:4 (paraphrased)

Where does that leave you now?

• Living in community with God’s people. 

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

-Acts 2:42-45

• Living focused on God’s Kingdom.

Treasuring the things that matter most: Spiritual food, clothing and shelter.

• Living with the end in mind: Investing in God’s Kingdom.

"All these things": Jesus

Money, Clothing, Food, Shelter.

Only Christ meets these ultimately and this passage is about ultimate things.

Application: Questions you must ask yourself.

 

ONE: What do I think about when I wake?

While you are concerned with food, shelter, and clothing, they are not your primary concerns.

You are most concerned with Christ’s Kingdom becoming a reality in your life—not your kingdom, your riches, your plans.

TWO: Do I live as though God is aware of my needs?

THREE. Where do my real treasures reside?

I saw that the meaning of life was to secure a livelihood, and that its goal was to attain a high position; that love’s rich dream was marriage with an heiress; the friendship’s blessing was help in financial difficulties; that wisdom was what the majority assumed it to be; that enthusiasm consisted in making a speech; that it as courage to risk the loss of ten dollars; that kindness consisted in saying, “You are welcome,” at the dinner table; that piety consisted of going to communion once a year. This I saw, and I laughed.

-Soren Kierkegaard

Are you tithing, giving, and serving?

The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

-Matthew 13:22-23

Hidden Holiness can’t stay hidden. It expresses itself in three ways.

My first thoughts flow toward God.

My first fruits flow toward God.

My first passions flow toward God.

First Step? Talk to God and ask him to light the way home. 

Make a Decision