Disciples Go

Disciples Go

Matthew 10: 1 – 10.

Introduction

I have often heard that the Christian faith is always one generation away from extinction.  The point is that if we fail to share our faith, Christianity will end with our generation.  This is one reason why it is important for us to live up to Jesus’ words in the Great Commission—make disciples by going, by baptizing and by teaching.

Several weeks ago, our ministers were in a meeting and were asked to guess the top three excuses Christians give for not doing the work of evangelism.  We were able to guess the number two answer and the number three answer.  But, we did not guess the number one answer.  Number three is, “I am afraid of rejection.”  Number two is, “I don’t know how to share my faith.”  The number one answer surprised us.  It is, “It’s not my job to evangelize.”

That number one answer doesn’t sound like Baptists.  I have been a part of Baptist churches since I was an infant.  And, I have heard preachers and Sunday School teachers tell me all my life that Christians are supposed to tell others about Jesus.  Jesus has left us with instructions to spread the Gospel around the world.  If we don’t do it, who will?

One of the places where Jesus tells us to do the work of evangelism is in Matthew 10.  This is the second of five long discourses spoken by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.  The first one is known as the Sermon on the Mount.  This one could just as easily be called the Sermon on Mission.

Matthew 10: 1 – 10.

1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;

3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;

4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.

6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.

7 As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'

8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

9 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts;

10 take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.

(NIV)

The word “disciple” is a very interesting word.  Most of the time, we automatically associate “disciple” with the twelve men who accompanied Jesus during his earthly ministry.  However, Jesus didn’t invent the word “disciple,” and “disciple” is not a word reserved only for Christian men and women.

“Disciples” were very common in the ancient Greco-Roman world.  Scholars have found references to many different types of “disciples.”  Writings outside of the New Testament use the term “disciple” to refer to religious disciples—like the disciples of Jesus and the disciples of John the Baptist that we read about in the New Testament.  There were also disciples of philosophy and one reference to a disciple of music (learning how to play the flute.)  In each of these cases, disciples were students.

“Disciples” in the ancient world were a little different from students in our world today.  Students today usually sit in a classroom of 30 or more students, change classes to learn different subjects, and go home at the end of the school day.  Ancient “disciples” associated themselves with only one teacher.  “Disciples” left their homes and lived daily with their teacher.  They didn’t simply learn a subject from their teacher.  They learned how to live life.  They didn’t learn by receiving information and taking tests over the material.  They learned by imitating their master-teacher.  They observed the master-teacher performing his craft.  Then, they were allowed to practice the same craft under the watchful eye of their master-teacher.

Diversity

I think we could learn a lot by observing the diversity of Jesus’ twelve disciples.  The disciples did not come from the families of preachers and rabbis.  They came from all walks of life.

For example, at least four of Jesus’ disciples were fishermen.  Peter and Andrew, James and John were all fishermen.  They probably were expected to follow in their fathers’ footsteps.  Their fathers were business owners and even owned their own boats.  Yet, each of these men walked away from their family businesses to follow Jesus as his disciples.

Another disciple (Matthew) had worked as a tax collector.  The nation of Israel had lost their identity as a sovereign nation when they became part of the Roman Empire. The Romans provided military security and an elaborate system of roads.  These kinds of services required money.  As a result, the Romans taxed almost every aspect of life.  Some tax collectors sat in roadside tollbooths, collecting taxes from people as they traveled.  Other tax collectors sat on the banks of the Lake of Galilee, assessing taxes on the fish that fishermen caught from the lake.  (If Matthew collected taxes from fishermen, I find it remarkable that he was able to get along with Peter, Andrew, James and John.  Nobody likes the tax man.)

One of Jesus’ disciples was a “Zealot.”  While this term could be used to describe religious zeal, it was also used in a technical sense.  It referred to a group of Jewish men who were so opposed to the Roman government that they would do whatever was necessary to drive the Romans out of the land of Israel.  (Again, if Matthew worked for the government as a tax collector, and Simon was a member of the Zealots, it is remarkable that they were able to worship and serve together as Jesus’ disciples.)

And, then there was Judas Iscariot.  Perhaps there is nothing more to say about Judas than what we read in verse 4…he was a traitor.

Just as Jesus called a diverse group of disciples in the First Century, Jesus has also called a diverse group of disciples in the Twenty-First Century.  He calls teachers and nurses, doctors and lawyers, businessmen and businesswomen, people from all walks of life.  Jesus calls each of us to enter into a daily relationship with himself, to observe the way he lived his life and then to imitate him.

A Subtle Shift

Living with Jesus and imitating Jesus is not all he calls us to do as his disciples.  We see this in a subtle shift between verse one and verse two.  In verse one, the twelve were referred to as “disciples,” or students.  In verse two, they are called “apostles.”

We typically think of disciple and apostle as meaning the same thing.  After all we use both words to describe the twelve disciples or the twelve apostles.  But there is a difference between the two.  Disciple means “student” or “apprentice.”  Apostle means “someone who has been sent.”

An apostle is sent on behalf of someone else, and they have the authority of the person who sent them.  In my mind, this is similar to the job of the Secretary of State of the United States of America.  The current Secretary of State is Hillary Clinton.  She is sent around the world by the President of the United States.  She does not speak by her own authority.  She speaks by the authority of the President and by the authority of the citizens of the United States.  She does not work for herself.  She works for someone else.

In the same way, Jesus did not send out his apostles on their own authority.  They carried the authority of Jesus and his Father.  They did not work for themselves.  They worked for Jesus and his Father.

Matthew tells us that Jesus gave them authority to perform three jobs on their mission.  They had the authority to drive out evil (or unclean) spirits.  They had the authority to heal all kinds of sickness.  They had the authority to preach the same message Jesus preached, “The Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

Some people believe the apostles drove out evil (or unclean) spirits and healed the sick as a demonstration of power.  They believe that when people saw they had the power to perform miracles, those people would become more receptive to the Gospel message they were preaching.  Of course, that raises a problem for me.  I have never cast out demons or healed the sick.  Yet, I preach the same message of the same Gospel today.

Others believe the apostles drove out evil (or unclean) spirits and healed the sick to show people that they cared about them before they preached the Gospel.  And this makes a lot of sense for us in the Twenty-First Century.  Mission agencies don’t usually send out only preachers.  They send out medical missionaries, agricultural missionaries, educational missionaries and disaster relief missionaries.  We show people that we care about them first.  That opens the door for us to share the message of the Gospel.  The same is true for us locally.  People are more inclined to listen to our message once we have met their immediate needs.

There may be something else at work here.  Jesus sent the apostles to do the same kinds of ministry they had seen Jesus doing in the early part of his earthly ministry.  He cast out evil (or unclean) spirits and he healed all kinds of sicknesses. 

Each of the people Jesus healed had something in common.  They had many different kinds of symptoms, but they had one common problem.  They were considered “unclean” by the Temple and the Jewish Law.  As long as they were sick or possessed by a demon, they were excluded from the people of God.  When Jesus healed them, he was bringing them to a place where they could be included in the people of God.  In other words, Jesus was doing what neither the Temple nor the Law could do.  Temple and Law were very good at excluding people.  Jesus is very good at including people.

The same is true for us.  We have been given the assignment to be students of Jesus.  But, we are not supposed to stay among people just like us.  We are to engage the people of the world.  Many of the people we engage are suffering.  We must be willing to meet genuine needs and preach the message of the Gospel.  And, we are to be inclusive in our mission.  We are not to leave anyone out.

Location, Location, Location

In some ways, it does sound like Jesus was being exclusive in his instructions to his apostles.  In Matthew 10: 5 – 6, Jesus said, “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.  Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.”

This verse raises at least two problems that we have to address before we can understand what Jesus is saying.  On one hand, we need to figure out who are the “lost sheep of Israel.”  On the other hand, we have to figure out if Jesus is only concerned about the Jewish people.

We can figure out who are the “lost sheep of Israel” by looking back to the way Matthew introduced this passage.  In Matthew 9: 36, we read: “When (Jesus) saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” 

“Sheep without a shepherd” is a reference to an Old Testament image of the people of Israel when their leaders had abandoned them.  One example is Ezekiel 34.  God said the people were without shepherds, because the ones who were supposed to take care of the people were only taking care of themselves.  Therefore, God said he would send the Messiah to become shepherd of Israel.

In this context, it seems obvious that Jesus is referring to the entire nation of Israel.  Their leaders have refused to do their jobs.  As a result, Jesus has come to be their shepherd.  He does this by sending his apostles to all the lost sheep of Israel that they might recognize Jesus as their true Shepherd.

However, Jesus has not come only for Israel.  Jesus came for all the world.  That is hard to see in these instructions to the apostles.  It is hard to see, because the time is not right.

At this point in history, Jesus had a particular ministry to a particular people.  In the person of Jesus, God has fulfilled his promises to Israel.  Jesus is the Son of David, who came to gather the true Israel and help Israel to fulfill her God-given mission to be the Light for all nations.  But, the time was not right until the crucifixion and resurrection.

This is not the only time Jesus sent out his apostles.  He sent them out again before the ascension.  Matthew 28: 19, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations…”

Now.  The time is right.  God sent Jesus to Israel to restore Israel and to redeem Israel and to help Israel fulfill her God-given mission to be a Light for all nations.  The True Israel has been saved through God’s plan of salvation—Jesus the Messiah.

Conclusion: Answer to Prayer

If it is true that the Christian faith is always one generation away from extinction, then what are we supposed to do about it?  I guess we could pray about it.  I suppose we could pray that God would send some modern day apostles to preach the Gospel to the community around us.  And prayer is always a good idea.  But, be careful what you pray for…

Matthew 9: 37 – 10: 2, “Then (Jesus) said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the Harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’

(Jesus) called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

These are the names of the twelve apostles…”

Did you see what happened there?  Jesus told the disciples to pray that God would send someone.  They prayed.  Then, Jesus sent them to do the work.  They were the answer to their own prayer.

I don’t want you to think I’m saying you should answer your own prayers.  Instead, I am saying that if you pray for God to send someone to do the work of evangelism…God is going to send you.

He sent fishermen, tax collectors, Zealots and traitors.  Today, he sends teachers and nurses, students, doctors and lawyers, businessmen and businesswomen.  He sends people like you and me.

Sharing Jesus

John 4: 1 – 26.

Introduction.

How are you doing on your New Year’s Resolutions?  It’s only been one week.  Surely you have been faithful for one week?!

Over the past week, I have seen several articles on the Internet about how important it is to make realistic New Year’s Resolutions.  Here is a list of realistic resolutions:

·         Dear God, we will talk more this year.

·         I will think before I eat.

·         I will do some form of exercise or physical activity every week.

·         I will open my Bible every day.

·         I will improve at least one relationship.

·         I will organize one closet (or even one drawer).

·         I will learn one new skill.

·         I will attempt to be a better listener.

·         I will smile more.

·         I will remind myself of one thing I’m thankful for every day.[1]

These resolutions don’t really sound like they could change the world…Or, could they.  Since these are resolutions we might actually keep, they could make your life better.  Sometimes it takes a small victory—like organizing a closet or smiling more or spending a little more time with God—to make us realize that our lives can change for the better.

Individual people are not the only ones who make New Year’s Resolutions.  A church can make a New Year’s Resolution.  In fact, you might not know it, but our church has made a New Year’s Resolution.  We made this decision when we adopted our 2012 annual budget.

The bottom line of our 2012 budget doesn’t look much different from the bottom line of our 2011 budget.  It is roughly the same amount of money.  The difference between the two budgets is the way we have reduced the amount of money we budgeted on ourselves and added $30,000 for Evangelism and Outreach.

If we want to be the church God is calling us to be, we have to make Evangelism and Outreach our priorities in 2012.  This is not an unrealistic goal.  After all, we are not saying that we are going to win the entire population of Angelina County to Christ or even that we are going to baptize 1,000 people in 2012.  We are being realistic by saying that we are going to prioritize evangelism in our budget, in our calendar and in the way we do church.

Let’s kick off our emphasis on evangelism by looking at one of the stories about how Jesus shared his faith. 

Read John 4: 1 – 26.

1 The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John,

2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.

3 When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.

4 Now he had to go through Samaria.

5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.

6 Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?"

8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

11 "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?

12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"

13 Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,

14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."

16 He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back."

17 "I have no husband," she replied. Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband.

18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."

19 "Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet.

20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."

21 Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.

23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

25 The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."

26 Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."

(NIV)

Jesus Was Alert to Every Opportunity.

The story begins as Jesus and his disciples learn that the Pharisees are interested in Jesus’ ministry.  They are not interested in becoming disciples, but in running Jesus out of town or killing him…So, Jesus and his disciples have to travel in a hurry from Judea to Galilee.

The quickest route from Judea (in the South) to Galilee (in the North) is to travel directly through the central region of Palestine, known as Samaria.  This was not the normal route for Jewish people—including Jesus and the disciples.  They normally went miles and miles out of their way to avoid Samaria so they would not have any contact with any Samaritans. 

On this particular occasion, Jesus and the disciples traveled on a straight line directly through Samaria…And it just so happened that they were passing through Samaria during dinner time.  Therefore, Jesus sent the disciples into the nearest town to buy some food.

While the disciples were gone, Jesus waited at the local well to rest.  There at the well…in the middle of the day…at the hottest point of the day…Jesus had an encounter with a Samaritan woman.

The way John tells this story, it seems that Jesus just “happened to be there at the same time” as the Samaritan woman.  But Jesus did not think of this encounter as a chance or a random event.  Jesus saw this as a God-given encounter…And used it for God’s purposes…

This has a theological significance for us today…God is at work in EVERY circumstance of our lives…God moves us and directs us into the places he wants us to go…God moves the right people into our lives at just the right times…

Think of your family members…Friends…Co-Workers…Classmates…  God has placed these people in your life for a specific reason…

Jesus Was Willing to Cross Boundaries.

After meeting the woman for the very first time at the well, Jesus began to speak to the woman.  It is important to note that Jesus took the initiative in the conversation.  He asked her for a drink…If Jesus had not initiated the conversation, they would not have spoken.  Given the circumstances of the woman’s life…I am almost certain that she would NEVER have spoken to Jesus first.

Just initiating the conversation was a big step for Jesus to take.  And Jewish men and women of that day would have seen this as a really big deal.  In fact, I usually like to imagine the disciples as they walked back up and saw Jesus speaking to this Samaritan woman at the well in the middle of broad daylight, out where everyone could see him…I’m sure they thought, “What has Jesus gotten us into this time?”

The disciples would have been shocked to see Jesus speaking to this woman, because none of them would have spoken to her…Jesus didn’t have to speak to this woman…The disciples would NOT have spoken to her…And no one would have questioned why the disciples were silent…

When Jesus spoke to the Woman at the Well, he overcame at least three boundaries.

She was a Samaritan…Jews did not speak with Samaritans…They were considered an unclean race…You will remember from Old Testament history that the Northern Kingdom of Israel was completely destroyed by the Assyrians, but the Southern Kingdom of Judah was taken captive (or Exiled) by the Babylonians…When the Babylonians invaded Judah, they captured the strongest, the bravest and the best looking people and took them to Babylon as slaves…But they left the weak, the ugly and the disabled behind…These people who were “left behind” intermarried among the foreign peoples who lived in that region and established their own nation… When the Israelites finally returned to their land, they found it was already populated by these interracial people…These were the Samaritans…And the Jews wanted nothing to do the Samaritans…Even in Jesus’ day

She was a Woman…In Ancient Jewish culture, women were devalued as nothing more than just property belonging to a man…Daughters were property of Fathers…And Wives were property of Husbands…A woman had no identity of her own…Her purpose was to serve the needs of her man—either husband or father—there was no self-respecting man who would endeavor to have a relationship with a woman…

She was a Sinful Woman…We read that this woman had a very bad reputation in her town…She was known as a very promiscuous woman…She had been married five times and was now living with a man who was not her husband…Jesus could get a bad reputation just by associating with this woman…

This has theological significance for us today…God’s redemptive plan is intended for all the world and all people… For God so loved the WORLD, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life…It is never for us to decide who can and who cannot be saved…

Jesus Was Sensitive to Genuine Human Needs.

Notice that Jesus did not begin the conversation by forcing the woman to listen to the Four Spiritual Laws or the Roman Road to Salvation.  The first thing Jesus did was to LISTEN.  He listened to her as she expressed what she was worried about and as she expressed her deepest felt needs.

Jesus listened to her needs, because Jesus came to meet her needs…He spoke the Gospel Message—the Good News—to her specific needs and concerns.  He did not try to take a cookie-cutter approach to presenting the Good News, as if every person were exactly the same person.

Jesus knew this woman was different and took the time to get to know her and build a relationship with her.  Then he was able to touch her life at the point of her greatest need…By listening, Jesus got to know two things about this woman…

She was involved in a Sinful Lifestyle…As I mentioned earlier, she was a promiscuous person…She had been married to five different men and was now living with a man who was not her husband…I can remember a time when we referred to this as “Living in Sin”…Now couples may choose this as a way to save money or to see if they have what it takes to get married…Did you know that recent research and census data indicate that the divorce rate is actually significantly higher for couples who marry after first living together?

Jesus was very aware of this woman’s sinful lifestyle, yet notice how he addressed her…Jesus did not condemn her or make her feel guilty even though we know that he did not approve…He addressed her problem as a search for satisfaction… Read vv. 13 – 14…Nothing else in this world can satisfy the cravings and desires of life like Jesus…Only Jesus can satisfy…

She was involved in a False Religion…Samaritans and Jews shared the same history and roots…Therefore, they held similar beliefs…However, the Samaritans rejected the Jewish understanding of God’s revelation—They had a different Scripture with different books…The Samaritans rejected the Jewish worship—They worshipped in a different Temple on a different site…

Again, this is a search for satisfaction in the wrong direction…Jesus looked beyond these issues and realized that her search for satisfaction could only be fulfilled in a Right Relationship with God.

This has a theological significance for us today…God’s redemptive plan meets all human needs.  Ultimately, the greatest human need is to be in a Right Relationship with God.  This relationship is only possible through Jesus Christ as Lord

Conclusion.

More than likely, you have heard me say this before.  There are three ways for a church to grow.  Grow through Birth—more and more babies being born…Grow through Transfer—people moving to town looking for a church, or a church split across town…Grow through Conversion—witnessing to the lost and baptizing new converts into the church…

Only one of those growth strategies appears in the New Testament.  The Bible does not tell us to grow our church through Birth or Transfer.  The Bible tells us to grow our church by leading people to faith in Christ.

The Woman at the Well was no different from the people living in Angelina County, Texas.  She was a sinner searching for satisfaction in all the wrong places.

Our community is filled with hundreds and thousands of men and women just like that—sinners who are searching for something that will satisfy.

Are you willing to share your faith like Jesus did?

Are you willing to look for God’s hand leading you to witnessing opportunities?  Are you willing to listen to the aches and pains and hurts of your friends and family members?  Are you willing to tell others that the only thing that can truly satisfy every longing of the human heart is a Right Relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord?

Maybe you are here this morning searching…Maybe you would like to take a sip of the Living Water that will quench your thirst and satisfy all your needs…

---

[1] http://www.faithvillage.com/2012/01/10-easy-new-year-resolutions-that-you-can-actually-keep-ron-edmondson/

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.  The Kingdom of God is the place where God is the King…The place where God is in control of all our decisions and all our steps.

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.

Since today is the first--the first day of 2012--I want to challenge you to "Give God the First."

·         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 in Every Relationship.

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.