The Cure for Anxious Care - Matthew 6:16-34 - November 11, 2007

Sunday School Lesson – The Cure for Anxious Care – November 11, 2007

This is lesson two (2) in our series of study. Our scripture is Matthew 6:16-34.

Human life is all about meeting life’s necessities. GOD made us to care for ourselves and our children. Caring for ourselves and our children is part of our nature. So it is natural for us to be anxious about food, clothing, shelter, medical care and financial care.

JESUS is addressing the very basics of human existence. Again we must keep it all in proper perspective. As children of GOD, the HOLY SPIRIT helps us to keep the proper perspective and yes again it is all about our relationship with GOD through CHRIST. It is all about our heart, motives and priorities.

JESUS is not telling believers to fold our hands and wait until GOD provides all of life’s necessities. GOD provides all the things believers need to sustain life. But we need to take action just as the birds of the air seek and find what GOD has already provided.

Let’s read Matthew 6:19-24:
God and Possessions
19 “Don’t collect for yourselves treasures[14] Or valuables on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness—how deep is that darkness! 24 “No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money.

JESUS tells believers to store their treasure in heaven and not upon earth. In fact JESUS is saying pile up or hoard much treasure in heaven. HE is giving sound eternal heavenly financial advice to all believers. All humans die and leave behind all their earthly possessions including their own body.

JESUS tells us that we can send treasure to the heavenly treasury while we are on earth and it will be waiting for us when we arrive in heaven. Not a bad deal.

JESUS did not say anything against wise stewardship or ownership of property or possessions. But it is clear that HE is very concerned with us placing greater value on earthly things. It is all about our attitude toward earthly stuff.

Our relationship with our LORD helps believers to stay focused, balanced and in the center of HIS will and purpose for our lives.

Some believers may get discouraged and think they do not have a lot of treasure to send to heaven. I have to remind you that GOD looks upon our heart. The example of the widow’s mite I think is fitting. She gave what she had. JESUS said she had given far more then those who were putting very expensive gifts into the temple treasury. With GOD – Little with the right attitude, motive and heart equals much!!!

So how do we send a deposit to our heavenly treasure? Obedience! The very key is captured in verses 33 and 34. Seek the relationship with GOD through CHRIST. Then let CHRIST through the HOLY SPIRIT direct your lives. This is the growth and maturing process called sanctification or being set apart to serve our LORD. But we must have trust and confidence in HIM to obediently serve HIM. But when we are obedient then the rewards are out of this world. In fact they are stored in the heavenly treasury waiting for us when we get to heaven.

1 Corinthians 3:10-17:
10 According to God’s grace that was given to me, as a skilled master builder I have laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it, 11 because no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid—that is, Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s work will become obvious, for the day[4] The Day of Christ’s judgment of believers will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. 14 If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire.[5] Lit yet so as through fire 16 Don’t you know that you are God’s sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17 If anyone ruins God’s sanctuary, God will ruin him; for God’s sanctuary is holy, and that is what you are.

WOW!!! Check out verse 17. As a believer you are special. You are HOLY because the HOLY SPIRIT indwells you.

This scripture is about the heavenly treasure waiting for us. We accept CHRIST as our SAVIOR and all believers are building on the foundation of CHRIST. We are using various materials based upon who rules our kingdom the flesh. When we serve the dictates of the flesh, we build materials which will not stand the test of fire. They will be burned up. But when we are obedient and serve our LORD as HE directs us, then we build with precious materials which will stand the test of fire and survive. All believers will enter heaven but as the scripture tells us, some will enter by the skin of their teeth, as one leaping from a burning house.

Again, this entire lesson is summarized in verses 33 and 34. It is all about our relationship to our LORD. We as humans try to control and direct our own lives and many of us find it very difficult to commit our lives to our LORD. I know I have been there and still find it hard to yield my will to HIM. But do we want to store treasure in heaven? Then we must seek the relationship first.
JESUS discusses the eye. A sound eye sees things the way they are supposed to be seen and not the way we think they should be seen.

Ephesians 1:18-19 are some of my favorite verses.
18 [I pray]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.

This scripture mentions the eyes of our heart. I had never thought about the center of our being having eyes. But this to me is the most secret place within each of us. It is where can meet with GOD and discuss the most intimate things. It is where we know whether or not we are truly Christians. It is the place where GOD enlightens or reveals truth to us. In the eyes of our heart we can discern our true relationship with our LORD. This is where we need to discuss with GOD our relationship with HIM and ask HIM to reveal to us how we can improve our relationship.
We cannot serve two (2) masters. We cannot serve the flesh and the spirit. When we allow the flesh to rule our lives we cannot serve GOD as HE wants us to serve HIM. We are compromised. Therefore we must make a choice. Shall we serve ourselves or GOD? We need to examine the barriers that prevent us from serving HIM completely.

Let’s read Matthew 6:25-32:
The Cure for Anxiety
25 “This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the sky: they don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? 27 Can any of you add a single • cubit to his height[15] Or add one moment to his life-span by worrying? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! 30 If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you—you of little faith? 31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the idolaters[16] Or Gentiles, or nations, or heathen, or pagans eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

We all know that there are certain things we must do to exist in this world. JESUS is not saying that we just sit and let GOD provide all things. HE is saying do not be anxious.

JESUS uses an example of GOD’S care when HE tells about the birds of the air. True GOD feeds the birds but the birds also search for the food and build their nests. They are active. I think HE expects us to be active by allowing HIM to direct our efforts as we search for employment, food, clothing, shelter, etc. GOD knows we need the basics for sustaining our lives and caring for our family.

I know of friends who the LORD has directed to go buy groceries and then told to go this way, turn here and stop at a certain house. Guess what? The family living at that house had no food. GOD works through HIS children to meet the needs of others. But those in need also have to be active in seeking the things they need. Mobile Meals does an outstanding job in providing food for those in need. Many other organizations do the same for food, clothing and shelter.

Let’s read Matthew 6:33-34:

33 But seek first the kingdom of God[17] Other mss omit of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

First means no lip service but saying no to the flesh and yes to the complete leadership of GOD. Our relationship, motives and heart before our LORD will be pure and honest.

When we have the proper relationship when “things” are provided, they will not harm or hurt us. GOD will not give us something that will harm us, just as we do not give our children things that will harm them. When they are mature enough to handle them, then we will let them have some things.

I recall a number of years ago the LORD gave me a clear example of this principle. I was upset with the LORD about not getting something I wanted. I was on the LORD’S case and we were having a heart-to-heart discussion. In fact, I said I am better to my children than YOU are to me. The still small voice of the LORD asked me a question. You have two (2) sons. I said yes. And you have a shotgun. I said yes. Would you give your shot gun to your young son, Brad? (Who was about nine years old at that time.) I said, No! Would you give it to your oldest son, Ted? I said, Yes! Then HE asked, do you love Ted more then you do Brad? I said No! HE said but you would give your shotgun to Ted but not to Brad, why? I said because Brad has not been trained on gun safety but Ted has. So I would be concerned that Brad might hurt himself or someone else. The still small voice asked, “Is there a time you will let Brad use the shotgun?” I said, Yes when he is properly trained and knows gun safety, then I will let him use it. The still small voice said, now think on this. I love all my children and give them good gifts but only when they are mature enough to handle them.

I then prayed a prayer. “LORD make me mature.” Now we think GOD sprinkles magic Holy dust over us and we are instantly made spiritually mature. No! It does not happen that way. But it is a long process of just encountering life and walking with our LORD through the good times and the not so good times.

Verses 33 and 34 summarize this entire series of lessons. The number one most important thing we as believers must do is to seek the relationship with GOD through CHRIST. CHRIST is the earthly manifestation of GOD. HE became flesh and lived among us. HE was tempted in all ways as we are, yet without sin. HE knows what we are experiencing as humans living in a sinful world. HE knows what it feels like to have HIS humanity clash with HIS spirituality. When HE hung on the cross, HE cried out, MY GOD why have YOU forsaken ME. I think at that moment when the sin of mankind was placed upon JESUS, HIS FATHER had to turn HIS head from HIM. HE knew that the FATHER had turned HIS head from HIM and felt abandoned. HIS flesh must have cried out, take matters in YOU OWN HAND and come down from that cross because the FATHER has abandoned YOU!!! JESUS has a choice to make. HE chose to trust the FATHER in the darkest hour of HIS life. HE had to trust the FATHER with HIS human life to secure eternal life for all believers.

There may come a time in our lives when we too have to make a choice in the darkest hour of our lives. Do we trust GOD when it seems as if HE has abandoned us? That is exactly what HE wants us to do. Having the relationship with HIM and knowing HIM is vital as we serve HIM.

How do we get to know HIM? Just like we do when we want to get to really know anyone. We spend time with HIM. We talk to HIM. We read about HIM. We are obedient to HIM and serve HIM. It is a spiritual growth and maturing process.

The only moment we have is the moment we are in at this exact time. JESUS says not to worry or be anxious about tomorrow because we have enough to trouble in the now. Simply take life a day at the time and trust GOD to help you though each day.

1 Peter 5:7:
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

The only way to overcome worry or anxiety is to trust in GOD and HIS resources by placing your cares upon HIM.