Grace for Today

Intro

Last week we talked about the often spoken biblical command, “Do not be afraid”

Remember, peace is found between the pillars of God’s goodness and control

In our passage, Jesus teaches a version of this command: “Do not be anxious”

He says it 3 times! That should be an attention grabber

Fear and anxiety (or worry) are related but not the exact same

Fear = Response to a perceived threatening situation happening in the moment

Sometimes fear is good! It can help keep you alive

Anxiety = Response of worry and unease to situation that may (or may not) happen

As we will see in Jesus’ teaching, there is no positive benefit to worrying about what might occur

Jesus is a great preacher and teacher, as this passage shows

Part of the Sermon on the Mount

“Therefore” in v. 25 connects His teaching on wealth (laying up treasures in heaven) to not being anxious

Especially in Matthew’s account (also found in Luke 12), Jesus uses rhetorical questions to hammer home his point: Do not be anxious about your life or tomorrow

Together we will take a look at these questions and learn together

Pray

“Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (v. 25)

First off, Jesus is talking about the necessities for living

Eating, drinking, clothing are all tangible examples of what people needed to live (especially during that time)

Not necessarily specific examples, but broad ones to capture what people NEEDED in order to live

Many people would have been concerned about having these “bare neccesities”

*Show “The Bare Necessities” video clip*

NOT talking about desires

Yes, God is a giver of many good gifts that we don’t deserve; He desires to bless us

But that is not what Jesus is specifically talking about here; that would be a different sermon altogether

Jesus sees people so focused on making ends meet that they lose sight of the bigger picture of what life is all about

Life IS more than food and drink; the body IS more than clothing… we are meant to thrive, not just survive

*Talk about counselling soon-to-be-wed couples*

Just as a marriage relationship is designed to thrive, so is your relationship with God

The fulfillment Jesus alludes to isn’t mere enjoyment of life and the body (feeling good and feeling happy)

It is about entering into a personal, right relationship with the Creator God

THIS will sustain you through it all; available through faith in Christ

“Are you not of more value than [the birds]?” (v. 26)

With many people preoccupied with obtaining the necessities of life, Jesus uses some common examples of how God will care for them:

The birds of the air:

They aren’t farmers; don’t sow, reap or store

But your heavenly Father feeds them

The lillies/grass of the field:

They do not toil or spin (make clothing)

But the heavenly Father makes them more beautiful than Solomon in his glory

Jesus is NOT making a case for being lazy

True, neither the birds or the grass work for what God gives them

But the point is that they cannot; God reveals His care for them by providing for them

It shows the heart of God, above and beyond what we can acheive

So, we are still called to work and make wise decisions (trusting in God as we do so)

Jesus IS using the “how much more” teaching tool used by rabbis in His day

If a lesser thing is true, how much more is the greater thing true?

If God cares for and provides what the birds and the grass need, HOW MUCH MORE will He care for His children?

Read Matthew 6:30

Of course you are more valuable than the birds and the grass!

You are created in the image of God

You are called a child of God, adopted into God’s own family

You are worth dying for, as Jesus would lay down His own life

You are valuable! And you are cared for… so do not be anxious

“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” (v. 27)

Anxiety and worry do NOTHING to help a situation

First off, what we are anxious about may not be something we ever face (future possibility)

*Talk about McMunn & Yates order; mortgage renewal in 1 year*

Secondly, even if it is a situation that will arise, anxiety does not help prepare

There are some things we can do to help; do those things and then let it go!

*Share about water in basement and worry*

Not only does worry not help, but it actively HURTS us

*Cite from “Physical Effects of Worrying” article*

Here Jesus is, thousands of years prior to this understanding, firmly pointing out the negative effects of worry

So… do not be anxious

Grace for Today (Mana Principle)

Jesus conclused this section with His third reminder, “Do not be anxious” (v. 34)

This time, he applies it broadly to the future

Read Matthew 6:34

We will shift away from rhetorical questions to unpack this summary statement

Tomorrow will have trouble of its own

Nothing Jesus promises in this teaching means we get to avoid trouble… storms will come!

If we feel the need to avoid problems in order to be less anxious, we will never overcome anxiety

God gives us the grace and strength we need to get through each day

Sure, tomorrow will have trouble; it will also come with the promised provision of God to make it through

This is the manna principle: God gives us grace for today, each and every day… but not for tomorrow (yet)

Cf. Exodus 16:4-5

Why did God do this? To TEST the faith of the people!

Which is why when we are anxious He can say to us, “O you of little faith” (v. 30)

God WANTS you to rely on Him. Each day. Every day.

Problems arise when we borrow trouble from the future:

When the children of Israel tried to take manna for more than one day, it would spoil immediately (except for Sabbath)

One of the greatest lies of anxiety is to borrow trouble from tomorrow armed only with grace for today

*Share about house/salary worries; multiple sicknesses at once*

*Read Welch, p. 140; 145*

Jesus gives us all a wonderful cliche: Take it one day at a time

Because every time you wake up, God provides what you need most: Grace for today

Pray