Give God the First
Matthew 6: 25 – 34.
Introduction.
A
blank piece of paper. What would you do
with a blank piece of paper? I know some
of you might use it to take sermon notes.
(I am flattered by the people who take notes during the sermon, but I
recognize it is the most effective way to stay awake during church.) Some people would use a blank piece of paper
to draw a picture or doodles during the sermon.
(That is perhaps the most effective way of distracting yourself from
what is going on around you.) Other
people would use a blank piece of paper to make a list.
I
suppose there are at least two different kinds lists you could make on the
first Sunday of 2012. You could write,
“eggs, milk, bread, take down the Christmas tree…” Or, you could write a list of the things you
intend to do (or do better) in 2012.
On
the first Sunday of the year, God has given each of us a blank piece of
paper. We can draw on it; take notes on
it; or make a list of what we intend to do with our lives in the next 365 days
of 2012. (It’s leap year, so there are
366 days in 2012.)
There
is a popular expression people use when they are facing a new challenge. “Let’s make history.”
On
the first Sunday of a new year, we have an opportunity to do something even
better than “make history.” We can make
a new future. What do you want the
future to look like? This is our chance
to do something new…something that has never been done before…perhaps something
that has never been attempted before.
Some
people face the future with excitement and anticipation. Others face the future with fear and
worry. You know…The Bible has something
to say about worrying about the future…Don’t worry. Put your future in God’s hands.
Read Matthew 6: 25 – 34.
25 "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 important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
26 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?
27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30 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, O you of little faith?
31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
(NIV)
The
first word Jesus said in this passage is the word “therefore.” Usually, the word “therefore” tells us to
look back at the passage that came before.
In this case, Jesus is calling our attention to his teaching about
storing up treasures in heaven rather than treasures on earth. Treasures on earth is the biblical phrase for
“stuff.” Jesus teaches us that “stuff”
we accumulate on earth cannot satisfy our desires. It does not satisfy, because it is only
temporary and it can never be secure. The
more “stuff” we accumulate on earth, the more likely we are to worry about our
“stuff.” We worry about thieves, rust or
market fluctuation. In this case, we
don’t have “stuff.” Our “stuff” has
us. It controls our lives through worry
and anxiety. Therefore, do not worry.
On
one hand, there is a difference between worry and fear. Fear is real.
Worry is imagined. On the other
hand, there is also a difference between worry and faith. Worry is obsessed with the future. Faith places the future in God’s hands.
Worry Cannot Provide Security
Sometimes we worry about security because we can’t see
any good options. We run out of week
before we run out of work to do. We run
out of money before we run out of month.
We never know week to week or month to month how it is going to work
out, but it always works out.
Jesus tells us that worrying over security is a
distinctive human characteristic. The
plants and the animals don’t worry about their security.
For example…Birds do not plant crops, harvest crops or
hoard crops in barns. Yet, the birds
have plenty of food to eat.
Wildflowers do not labor and spin. I used to imagine flowers in the field
spinning around in circles when I read Jesus’ words. That is not what “spin” means. It refers to the act of spinning wool into
thread. In other words, flowers do not
labor over making their own clothes.
And, they don’t go to the mall or drive to Tyler and The Woodlands
trying to find something to wear.
Worrying is something only humans do. And worrying is silly when we compare
ourselves to the rest of God’s created order.
Human beings are the only created beings that were created in the image
of God. Human beings were the only created
beings with whom God desired an eternal relationship. Therefore, if God can provide for the birds
and the flowers, God must also be capable of providing for those he loves.
Food and clothing are two of the three basic human
needs: food, shelter and clothing. Jesus
is not talking about something that is insignificant. Yet, we once had an even greater need. Sin separated us from God. Our sin condemned us to eternal death in
hell. So, God took the initiative to
send his only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross and to rise again. If God can be trusted in eternal matters,
then God can be trusted with temporary matters like food and clothing.
Worry Cannot Make Life Better or Longer
Matthew 6: 27, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life
(NIV)?"
Verse
27 demonstrates the true futility of worry.
Life is in God’s hands, not ours.
Worrying does nothing to improve life.
There
are two ways to translate verse 27.
Literally, it reads: “Who of you by worrying can add a single cubit to
his height?” Symbolically, we can
translate it: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
Believe
me…If I could worry myself about 4 inches taller, I would have done it 20 years
ago. And, if I could make myself
younger…Well, I did turn 40 last year, but I hear that 40 is the new 20. No one can make themselves taller or younger
through worry. This is in God’s hands.
This
verse contains a hint of irony as well.
Worry cannot make life longer, it makes life shorter. Worry does not make life better, it makes
life worse.
Since
none of us can make our lives longer, the only choice we can make deals with
the kind of life we will live. We cannot
control the quantity of life, but we can control the quality of life. Since we cannot add days to our lives, we
ought to add life to our days! The best
quality of life is a life lived with Jesus in the Kingdom of God Kingdom of God
Worry Cannot Honor God
Matthew 6: 30, "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, O you of little faith (NIV)?"
Jesus
makes two statements about how worry does not honor God.
In
verse 30, Jesus makes a connection between worry and a lack of faith. Obsessing about food, shelter and clothing
denies God’s ability to provide for all our needs. It is a confession that we trust more in our
own ability to provide for ourselves than God’s ability to provide for us.
Of
course, this does not mean that Christians are not supposed to earn a living or
to plan for the future. In the context,
it teaches just the opposite. Jesus
praised the birds and the flowers for their ability to live life without
worry. Yet, notice that the birds are
very industrious creatures. Robins dig
for worms…Woodpeckers burrow holes in trees for insects…Buzzards fly in circles
for hours searching for dead animals…Hawks hunt and stalk live prey. Also notice that plants develop buds and
flowers as a result of an internal process of growth and development. Both birds and flowers are good examples of
the ways we are to work and trust in God.
Do what you can do to provide for your needs, but recognize that only
God provides. Do what you can do, and
leave the rest in God’s hands.
In
verses 31 and 32, Jesus compares our worried activity with a pagan
lifestyle. The pagans were not
atheists. Pagans believe in a whole
pantheon of gods. If you have ever read
the stories of ancient Roman and Greek mythology, you will remember how these
false gods were preoccupied with their own needs and desires. The false gods could not be trusted. They were unreliable and constantly changing
their minds.
When
we worry, we confess to the world that we do not believe our God is
trustworthy. Yet, Jesus teaches us that
God is like a Heavenly Father who knows us, loves us, and places our needs
above all else. He knows what we need
even before we ask. He wants to bless us
and provide for all our needs…Just as an earthly father desires to give good
gifts to his own child.
Worry Cannot Make Tomorrow a Better Day
Matthew 6: 33 - 34, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (NIV)."
Jesus
ends his teaching about worry with a confusing statement about tomorrow. I think we can interpret this by saying
something like: “Don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow there will be
something entirely different to worry about.”
Face tomorrow when tomorrow comes.
Don’t obsess about something that may never happen. How many of your worries have actually
happened? Most of the time we worry
about the “worst-case-scenario,” only to face problems that are not as
difficult as we first imagined them.
Some
people live in the past, nostalgic for the “good ole days.” Living in the past guarantees that we do not
have a present or a future.
Other
people worry about the future, exchanging life today for the worries of
tomorrow. Living in the
“worst-case-scenario” guarantees that the past does not matter and the present
is irrelevant.
Jesus
did not tell us to stop worrying, because the future will be better than the
past or present. He actually told us that
tomorrow will be filled with “trouble.”
Literally, Jesus said, “Each day has enough EVIL of its own.” Yet, he did promise to be with us… The same
yesterday, today and tomorrow. As long
as it is today, live in the presence and provision and protection of
Jesus. Tomorrow will bring its own
problems, but Jesus is already there.
Conclusion.
·
Give
God the First Part of Every Day.
I’m
not a morning person. Shauna wakes up in
the morning happy and smiling. I wake up
grumpy and need a few hours before I can even function properly. If you are like me, maybe we need to find
another time to spend with God in reading / listening to his word and
praying. But, whatever time we choose to
spend with God, it needs to be our best time.
Don’t give your best time to your job and your family, while giving God
your leftovers. God doesn’t want our
leftovers.
·
Give
God the First Day of Every Week.
Church
is important. I am not saying this to
boost our annual attendance numbers. I
am saying this, because something very important takes place at church. In the first place, church is where we
worship God. The Bible tells us that
public worship is an important part of our Christian lives. In the second place, church is a place for
true community with other believers. We
share our joys and struggles. We share
life together. And we were created to
have community with others.
·
Give
God the First Place
We
were created for community: to have relationships with others. But not all relationships are pleasing to
God. Some relationships are destructive
to ourselves or destructive to our relationship with God. In every relationship, we need to evaluate
what that other person is doing to our relationship with God. If another person is coming between you and
God, you need to make a switch. Put God
in the first place. Make God your
priority, not another human person.
·
Give
God the First Dime of Every Dollar.
There
is no better time than the first Sunday of the year to make a financial
commitment to support. Some of you made
a commitment to give ten percent to the church a long time ago. Some people don’t think they can afford to
give ten percent to the church. God
promises to take care of us in every area of life, including our finances. I don’t subscribe to the view that if you
give ten percent, God will give you more money.
But, I do believe that if we give ten percent, God will be faithful to
meet your needs with 90% of your income even better than you could do with 100%
of your income. In 2012, set a goal to
give ten percent. Start with 5% and
increase 1% per month. By the middle of
the year, you have reached a tithe.
·
Give
God the First Consideration in Every Decision.
If we
listen to Oprah Winfrey, we will put ourselves first and make decisions that
will make ourselves happy. But, that is
not a Christian perspective. As
Christians, we believe God has placed us here to serve him and accomplish his
goals in the world. Therefore, every
decision we make should honor God first.
We should ask ourselves, Will this decision honor God?
As we begin the year 2012, I want us all to focus on
Matthew 6: 33, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things
will be added to you.”
All these things = food, shelter, clothing mentioned
in passage… However, this is not a
promise that God will make you wealthy. It
is a promise that God will take care of you…And that no amount of worry can
change that.
There is a story that has made its way around the
Internet several times in the form of an email.
Most of those emails that people forward to 40 – 50 of their friends and
simply not true. But this one actually
has a kernel of truth.
Many of you may remember the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by
Stephen R. Covey. Stephen Covey became a
household name as a result of this book and extended his influence through a
series of conferences.
One of Stephen Covey’s favorite illustrations to
introduce his conference involved a clear glass jar. Covey would hold the jar high and tell the
class that he would attempt to fill the jar.
Then he would dump large rocks into the jar and ask how many people
thought the jar was full. After shifting
the rocks around, and perhaps carefully fitting in an extra rock or two most would
agree that the jar was full. Then he
would begin to fill the gaps and spaces with tiny pebbles. Again asking the question, Is the jar
full? Then he would fill the spaces
between the pebbles with sand. And ask
the question, Is the jar full? And
finally he would pour water into the jar and announce that the jar was finally
full.
The point of the illustration = In order to fill the
jar with all of the materials, the big rocks must go in first. If you start with water or sand, you will
NEVER fit the big rocks into the jar…We have infinite choices…But finite resources…
OR…There are more good things to do than you can
possibly do…It is impossible to do everything that is good or worthy. We have only enough time to do the things we
make time to do.
And Jesus said…You must start with God…His kingdom
and his righteousness…If you don’t start with God, you will fill your life with
nothing but sand.
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