Root of Kingdom Living

Introduction

Nose blind. Just so exposed to something that no longer can you smell.

It is the normalization of certain things we are exposed to.

From where we were last week - examining where your root is.

Jesus moves on - to talk about the eye.

Healthy = sincere or singular in focus.

The problem of living in a fractured world.

Your attention is pulled in a dozen directions a minute.

All related to Money!! Your eyeballs lead to somebody else making money.

Kingdom living gives focus.

See v. 24!

How to live a life of highest priority.

Overcome Anxiety

vv 25 - 32

Anxiety? An irrational worry, often embraced.

Not the same as concern.

Word is related to the concepts of “Looking intently, manufacturing, and trembling.”

Jesus gives us some examples where people create anxiety: food and clothing.

Food and drink are necessary for life. So already, these are elevated issues.

Food insecurity in their culture, something that has been brought up already in the SOM.

So Jesus is not saying, don’t have a plan to get food, or don’t work for it.

The birds still have to go and get their food! So do we!

The worms are there, the seeds are there, the bugs are there. God provides.

From the lesser to the greater.

If the birds can trust God, you can trust God.

Work but don’t stress.

Same with clothing. Again, Jesus is not advocating not taking care of basic necessities.

The process of clothing. Sheering, thread, weaving. Most families did not purchase. Produced.

And again, from the lesser to the greater - flowers to Solomon!!

So, do not worry.

Faith overcomes anxiety.

Faith is based upon relationship.

Gentiles - those who do not know God.

Character & History!

Heavenly Father - again, emphasizing the authority and relationship.

Trust God

v. 33

How do I experience being whole rather than fractured?

Prioritize Jesus.

Seek first. Before anything else!

How do you start your day?

It’s not just a checklist!

Okay, I thought about God… moving on!

Like a spot on your shirt.

Everything you do, it’s in the back of your mind!

The value of spending time in Scripture and prayer in the morning.

Carpe Diem

v. 34

The conclusion: Therefore.

Do not be anxious. Manufactured fears over things that haven’t even happened yet.

“A person’s survival depends on divine sovereignty, not human anxiety.” -Charles Quarrels

Live in today! Trusting our good God.

Jesus doesn’t say life will be easy or that there aren’t things that won’t be troublesome.

We are never promised a life of ease.

We are promised that we won’t be alone.

As God is with us, and He has given us one another.

Conclusion

Analysis paralysis

Anxiety can cause this as we manufacture things to worry about.

I’ve too often heard people talk about how they worry and they’ve convinced themselves it is a virtue.

Jesus says to not worry.

Worry is the poisonous fruit from faithless soil.

Jesus calls His disciples to a whole life.