Matthew 6:27-30 / Don't Be Anxious (part 2)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
“God helps those who helps themselves.”
Chances are you have heard this.
It’s actually NOT anywhere in the bible.
Nor is it even biblical in nature. (as we will see)
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
(Main Point & Argument #4)
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
God’s Love and Provision is greater than your best effort.
This argument makes a couple of points.
Point 1: Reminder that, “I am not God.”
Now I KNOW that I’m not God
However, the in which I sometimes approach life’s problems...
Would suggest that I can forget this truth.
So, this question offers much needed perspective...
Imagine the scene…
Jesus is sitting on the side of a mountain surrounded by people.
He has been doing these incredible things.
He is something you’ve never seen before
Then he asks this SERIOUSLY RHETORICAL question...
“Can your anxiety add an hour to your life?”
I can’t add an hour to my life at all
Let alone my anxiety being any help.
(I can hear the rebuttal)
But better living will avoid disease…adding years to your life.
OK so avoid cancer and die from something else.
o Point 2: (based on point 1) Consider your ability to profoundly change your circumstances.
(illustration) “Can you change the situation?”
While I was in Basic Training.
I received really bad news via US mail.
Only thing slower than snail mail.
Is snail-mail to any APO address in the world.
It was a done deal.
This added to the despair.
I requested to call home.
Very odd request (Thankfully I got the “good cop”)
“Can you change the situation?”
No? Then don’t worry about it.
Is Jesus saying we should just not worry about it?
Let’s tack that question up for a moment because…
The answer is seen by what he talks about next…
Verse 28-29 (main point & argument 5)
And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Main Point & Argument 2
Object lesson using clothing.
Clothing is a basic necessity.
Also used as a measure of social stature.
“Consider”
give some thought, internalize & comprehend this…
Don’t too move quickly by this point!!!
Work out the truth of it…
Work out application and effects of its truth…
“Lilies of the Field”
SO … not planted or manicured lilies –
Lilies of the field
They neither toil nor spin
They contribute NOTHING to their existence or appearance.
“YET”
HUGE COMPARISON HERE
“Even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these.”
Solomon vs Lilies of the field
Solomon’s success was attributed to God
But ultimately Solomon contributed to his beauty.
Lilies however…
NOT only are they beautiful
But their beauty is also AUTHENTIC
Lilies here represent an authenticity that you ONLY get from God.
Lilies show us that God’s provision is not based on our work.
Verse 30 (argument 6)
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Argument #5
(still considering lilies of the field)
This argument asked us to consider our value.
This is how it works…
Even though God put care and beauty in the lilies
“Which today is alive and tomorrow thrown into the fire”
Used as fuel for a fire
Like a common weeds
“will he not much more cloth you?”
Surely you understand how valuable you are to God!
God’s love and Provision is not based on merit.
Lilies are disposable and yet adorned with beauty.
“Oh you of little faith.”
Finally we are confronted with the core issue behind our anxiety....OUR FAITH
“They ain’t worried about the rent.”
We did’t worry about it because we didn’t know we were supposed to.
Why would parents worry their children with things they cannot contribute to?
We are cared for by an amazing God who is able.
Able to give us what we need.
That need STARTS with the very person who gave this instruction....Jesus Christ.
Jesus was not promoting apathy in verse 27.
He was informing us that we are called to live by faith rather than by fear or anxiety.
Jesus would eventually be crucified
But three days later He would walk out
We don’t live with anxiety because it is futile
But mainly because we don’t have to.