Read Matthew chapter 6, verses 24 to 34. During these past few weeks, the repeated question from interviewers has been, “How concerned are you?”
In the first part of Chapter 6 – of the “Sermon on the Mount” – Jesus has been talking about – Giving verses 1 to 4 – Praying verses 5 to 14 – and Fasting verses 16 to 18. ‘Secret’ appears in each one of these activities.
There is One who sees and hears. Jesus makes this very clear. God the Father sees when we are serious with Him. Those who did all this to be seen had already received their reward in full. There is One who looks and listens and notices and responds.
When we come together to worship and pray, is this something that only a few people do today in our land, that many consider irrelevant? God wants our hearts, our love and our minds, and he wants to hear our voice.
Yes, it looks like it could be a gloomy, gloomy winter, but it doesn’t have to be that way for you.
Jesus talks about storing things, and then our vision, and our service, and who will we serve, God or money, a better word is ‘possessions’.
Jesus draws contrasts – we can lay up treasure here or in heaven – our vision can be clear or cloudy – we can serve God or riches. The way we decide affects the future, whether we are aware of it or not.
Jesus did not want these disciples to be spiritually bankrupt when it was all over here, and we can apply that to ourselves. The challenge here is to invest: to invest money, time, capacity and whatever else we have to invest.
Jesus wants his disciples to choose wisely.
It was Thomas Chalmers who started The Savings Bank movement in Glasgow so that poor people would have something for when they needed it. Notice how Jesus says that we are not to save for ourselves! In a sense, Jesus is talking about coveting. Are we capable of giving things up, or do they dominate us?
Verse 22 – our vision – the images that have to do with lights and lamps have to do with our understanding.
Sin has a cataract effect: our spiritual sight gets a little cloudier. Jesus did not want his disciples to have a cloudy vision. Where is our spiritual vision?
If there is something wrong with our spiritual vision, Jesus can correct us.
There are two treasures, two visions, two teachers. What we focus on is important.
Verse 24 – Who has conquered your heart? Jesus does not want any of our time or our talents, our zeal or our consideration. He wants the lot. He came to buy the lot, to rescue and buy everything, every part of me.
Jesus wants to bless every part of our lives, and that’s why we can’t really serve God and possessions.
We can try and serve materialism, the tyrant of success, the slave master of achievement. We can use all kinds of things – the opinion of the people – what others think of us. These are all possessions in a sense, and we can serve them, and Jesus says that just can’t work.
It is not surprising that Jesus addresses these matters of the heart right at the beginning of his ministry. Matthew 22 turns 34 to 40 – Love the Lord your God.
This section is really about our hearts: Jesus wants us to be different inside, in our hearts. Who’s your master? What belongs to you? You couldn’t have two masters then, and you can’t have two masters today.
Therefore, from what I have already been saying, regarding giving, praying and fasting, don’t worry, be different. He doesn’t say: try not to worry or have you considered looking at life differently? No, it is a word of command, and also a word of comfort, a word to fortify and strength.
Verse 25 – Jesus tells his disciples – “Don’t worry.” Jesus is not teaching his disciples not to worry or not to do anything, but he is teaching them not to worry.
The birds have to go find their food. Don’t let your life be dominated, ruined, or ruined by worry – Jesus tells us why. Jesus is teaching the disciples about anxiety.
About six times in this short passage, Jesus refers to being anxious or worried.
Worry comes from an old English word meaning to strangle or drown.
Jesus is challenging the disciples about our pride, our lack of faith, the ways we can be so easily distracted.
This is not a good psychological message. This is not some sweet, honey-coated teaching. He is challenging our pride, infidelity, and independence.
Jesus sets before us a way – and a way to live – so that we can be fruitful disciples.
These things mentioned here are important, but they are not ultra important.
“Therefore” – from what I’ve been saying, let this continue.
Food, drink and clothing are necessary, but they are not the most important.
All of this flows from which teacher we choose to serve.
He is comforting His disciples as He reaches out to them to strengthen them and us, to heal the world that will be reached through His disciples.
We live among people who are so anxious, worried and concerned.
The seed can grow, but the thorns and thistles can also grow and choke the seed, the cares and worries and the deception of riches. Jesus did not want his disciples to be like this. That would not be the light of the world. The disciples were to be different. Matthew 13 and Matthew 5.
These things can be a cause for concern and anxiety for many, but they should no longer matter in their lives. Jesus gives three reasons why we should not worry. Jesus provides a cure for anxiety as he points out how valuable we are to God. See how important you are to your heavenly Father. God knows what you need, and He can give it to you.
He feeds the birds and dresses the flowers. He takes care of his pets and his garden.
Our concern is to say: I really don’t think God can take care of me in these different ways. Peace, calm and balance are all involved when we accept these words of Jesus. Many people are anxious.
Look at the Cross if you want to know how much you mean to God.
He rearranges our priorities: isn’t life more important than food and the body more important than clothes? We worry about things that are not really very important. Jesus wants us to have a sense of what is truly important-his kingship-his rule-his demonstrated rule.
He is so realistic. Worry does more harm than good. He seeks to establish a daily trust: give us the bread we need for the next 24 hours. Anyway, you can’t do anything about tomorrow.
In short – Jesus is teaching about – a cure for anxiety – rearranged priorities – a realism that will settle in the minds of his disciples – so don’t worry.
Don’t worry about tomorrow, don’t worry about tomorrow, because that can paralyze your today.
What is preached points us to the preacher: Jesus was so dependent on the Father. He knew his own worth in the eyes of God the Father.
“Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body and how you will dress it.” These words are addressed to the disciples, they are for us.
Jesus is telling us – Follow me and I will help you to avoid all worries.
Wealth can be a problem for both those who have a lot of money and those who don’t have much. Those who have a lot and those who have very little tend to worry. Jesus is saying “Don’t worry, rather trust.”
Life is more than food and clothes. Life is more than physical and material. Food and clothing should not be a priority concern.
There is a spiritual dimension that must not be neglected, but must be nurtured with good food. Jesus encourages his disciples to be concerned for his spiritual growth, development, and well-being.
Look at the ravens: they don’t do much work, they don’t sow or reap, they accept their assigned place in the economy of Creation, and GOD feeds them.
“How much more valuable are you than the birds!”
Jesus is warning the disciples here about the futility of worrying. Can you do something worrying about it? Can you lengthen your life by worrying about it? No, quite the contrary, you will shorten your life by worrying about it.
Jesus is teaching us that worry is absurd, useless, it will wear you down and accomplish nothing. Jesus wants to set us free – set us free – and save us – from worry.
He is going to tell us: look at the flowers, they are beautifully dressed and yet they are so temporary. And it is GOD Who covers them with all their splendor.
Do you think our Heavenly Father will take more care of His garden, His animals and pets, to the detriment of His children? Nerd.
Jesus teaches us that worry is simply the result of a lack of faith. Worry is a choice.
Have faith in God, be dependent on GOD, trust Him, trust Him to provide.
Don’t worry too much about what you are going to eat, drink and wear.
The pagan world runs after all these things.
And if you really need something, ask DAD. Your heavenly FATHER knows that you need food and clothing! Wonderful!
Listen to Paul in Philippians chapter 4 – Don’t worry about anything – Pray about everything – Give thanks to God in everything – Keep your mind on good things – and be content.
These produce – calm thoughts – and a heart at rest – guaranteed by God.
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name, you are Mine.
When you walk through the waters, I’ll be with you,
you will never sink beneath the waves.
When the fear of loneliness looms,
So remember, I’m by your side.
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name, you are Mine.”