What Are We Really Looking For?
Matthew 6:31-33:
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’
or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek.
And your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
There are times when we may hear things over and over and then forget them. And, there are times when we can hear something only once and remember it the rest of our lives. Some years ago someone made a statement about the first word in our passage that I’ve never forgotten. They said, “Anytime you see the word “therefore” in the Bible, STOP! Go back and see what “therefore” is therefor.” As in “Hmmm... What is this word THERE FOR?”
This passage tells us to seek God’s kingdom first and trust Him to take care of our basic needs. Sounds like good advice, but why is it good advice? To find out, we will look at the larger context of the passage.
These verses are part of the Sermon on the Mount which begins in chapter 5, verses 1 & 2, “And seeing the multitudes, Jesus went up on a mountain [or hill], and when He was seated his disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them…” and ends at Matthew 7:28-29, “And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
The Sermon has several elements: the blessings or ‘beatitudes’, the heart of the law, relationships with other people, religious activity, dependence upon God, and the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. In this section Jesus is teaching his disciples how to trust God for what really matters. Of course, it might be helpful to know how Jesus defines what really matter. What is it? And, what isn’t it?
How do we know what God thinks really matters? How do we know when what we are concerned for is something we need to worry about rather than just something we want to worry about? How do we know when we are worried for the wrong things?
Jeremiah 17:9 says,
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”
In the original context, this verse refers to the difference between trusting in man or making the LORD our strength and hope. It describes these two opposites by contrasting the image of a parched shrub in the desert with “a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.”
The point is that our hearts can fool us. Our emotions, feelings, and desires can lead us away from the LORD and away from what He wants for our lives. This means that we may think something is a need, but it really isn’t. We are really looking for something we want, and our heart is fooling us. On our own, without Jesus, we don’t know what we really need. We can’t.
So, if we can’t just trust our heart about whether or not something is a real need, how do we know if we should worry, or concern ourselves about it? Can I trust my mind? How about instinct?
I don’t think so. Our mind isn’t any more reliable than our hearts. In fact, recent research suggests that (biologically) we think with our hearts and our intestines (our guts) as much as we do with the grey matter between our ears. The same kinds of neurons are being used in all three locations. They work together, and even independently, using the same processes. So, if I can’t rely on one to be accurate, how can I depend on either of the others? Well, I really can’t.
Jesus says the answer lies outside of our bodies. He teaches us to focus our concern on the Kingdom of God and trust God to provide what we need in our own little kingdoms of life.
But, “Why?” Why does it matter if we worry about things we shouldn’t be worried about? Why should we trust God? Why should we seek His Kingdom before trying to take care of ourselves?
Let’s make a distinction at this point. There is a difference between the anxious life and the life spent in concerned with the Kingdom of God. There are two kinds of worry.
One kind of worry is negative, and we’ll refer to it as anxiety. Anxiety is inappropriate worry, and according to Proverb 12:25, this kind of worry weighs us down, it is a heavy burden that brings us low.
The other kind of worry is concern. It is a reasonable and responsible, even necessary, diligence and attention to something. It is the word used in the NIV to describe God’s looking with compassion upon the Hebrews in their bondage in Egypt in Exodus chapter 3 and wanting to help them:
God says to Moses,
“I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them
crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.
So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians...” (v.7)
When Jesus says, “Do not worry” he is referring to anxiety, not to concern. And, when he talks about food, drink, and clothes, he isn’t just talking about these specific necessities of life; he is referring to something bigger. In the larger context of the Sermon, Jesus is talking about the kind of living we want to do, about what we are looking for to meet our deepest desires. He isn’t just talking about how we survive, but rather how we find real life.
Now, let’s get back to the more immediate context of our passage as we try to figure out what the word “therefore”is there for and why we should trust the LORD to meet our needs, making His kingdom our first priority.
Beginning in v.16 of Matthew 6, Jesus discusses food (and fasting) in light of how we use it to impress others, and how we try to impress people with the humility or the grandeur of our appearance.
Now, I know that no one reading this blog has ever spent money they couldn’t afford to spend in order to impress someone they really wanted to impress. I know that no one here has ever done something like go to church or give an offering in order to look more spiritual than they really are. And, I am sure that none of us would ever complain about having something simple and healthy for dinner because we really want to stuff ourselves with something big, greasy, steaming hot, delicious smelling, covered with extra sauce, and an extra side of I-am-really-going-to-regret-this-in-the-morning!
I know we aren’t ever like that, are we? But, those people are out there! I know they are. I’ve seen them! (In fact, one of them lives in my bathroom mirror. Just one more reason not to spend a lot of time there.)
But, Jesus says we don’t need to be anxious about our food or about impressing others. We need to trust the Lord... and be thankful.
Philippians 4:6-7 says,
Now, let’s get back to the more immediate context of our passage as we try to figure out what the word “therefore”is there for and why we should trust the LORD to meet our needs, making His kingdom our first priority.
Beginning in v.16 of Matthew 6, Jesus discusses food (and fasting) in light of how we use it to impress others, and how we try to impress people with the humility or the grandeur of our appearance.
Now, I know that no one reading this blog has ever spent money they couldn’t afford to spend in order to impress someone they really wanted to impress. I know that no one here has ever done something like go to church or give an offering in order to look more spiritual than they really are. And, I am sure that none of us would ever complain about having something simple and healthy for dinner because we really want to stuff ourselves with something big, greasy, steaming hot, delicious smelling, covered with extra sauce, and an extra side of I-am-really-going-to-regret-this-in-the-morning!
I know we aren’t ever like that, are we? But, those people are out there! I know they are. I’ve seen them! (In fact, one of them lives in my bathroom mirror. Just one more reason not to spend a lot of time there.)
But, Jesus says we don’t need to be anxious about our food or about impressing others. We need to trust the Lord... and be thankful.
Philippians 4:6-7 says,
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,
let your requests be known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Read Matthew 6:16-30a.
In the verses leading up to our passage, Jesus says our fasting or eating is for the LORD (v.18) and not for ourselves. He says our true beauty come from within rather than from our clothing (v.23 and also 1 Timothy 2:9-10). He says we cannot serve two masters by trusting in the LORD and trying to make our own way in the world (v.23), but we must deliberately choose one or the other. And, he reminds us that God is faithful, and values us (v.26), and can be trusted to meet all of our needs.
“Therefore” Jesus is able to tell us not to be anxious, but to focus outside of ourselves, to put our energy into God’s kingdom and trust God to put His energy into meeting our needs. So, the thereforein our passage points us back to the reasons that support Jesus claim that we ought to “not worry… but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness [trusting that] all these things shall be added.”
Now, actually trusting God to take care of us may not get us everything we think we want out of life. But, when we trust Him, God will give us everything we really need.
So, what are we really looking for? Are we looking for what we want, or are we looking for what we need? If we’re just looking for what we want, then our hearts, minds, and guts can get us there. We just won’t be satisfied when we arrive, because we’re made for something more. However, if we’re looking for what we really need, then the Bible tells us to look first to God and to His righteousness instead of our own.
Back in v.19, Jesus notes how we strive to be rich in this life, rather than focusing on storing up treasures in heaven, “where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal.” Jesus isn’t saying money is evil; he is agreeing with the rest of Scripture, “For your heart will always be where your riches are.”
Ecclesiastes 5:10 says,
In the verses leading up to our passage, Jesus says our fasting or eating is for the LORD (v.18) and not for ourselves. He says our true beauty come from within rather than from our clothing (v.23 and also 1 Timothy 2:9-10). He says we cannot serve two masters by trusting in the LORD and trying to make our own way in the world (v.23), but we must deliberately choose one or the other. And, he reminds us that God is faithful, and values us (v.26), and can be trusted to meet all of our needs.
“Therefore” Jesus is able to tell us not to be anxious, but to focus outside of ourselves, to put our energy into God’s kingdom and trust God to put His energy into meeting our needs. So, the thereforein our passage points us back to the reasons that support Jesus claim that we ought to “not worry… but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness [trusting that] all these things shall be added.”
Now, actually trusting God to take care of us may not get us everything we think we want out of life. But, when we trust Him, God will give us everything we really need.
So, what are we really looking for? Are we looking for what we want, or are we looking for what we need? If we’re just looking for what we want, then our hearts, minds, and guts can get us there. We just won’t be satisfied when we arrive, because we’re made for something more. However, if we’re looking for what we really need, then the Bible tells us to look first to God and to His righteousness instead of our own.
Back in v.19, Jesus notes how we strive to be rich in this life, rather than focusing on storing up treasures in heaven, “where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal.” Jesus isn’t saying money is evil; he is agreeing with the rest of Scripture, “For your heart will always be where your riches are.”
Ecclesiastes 5:10 says,
“Whoever loves money never has enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.”
Don’t we believe that God wants to show us how to be satisfied with the life He provides for us? Or, do we have to take care of it ourselves?
1 Timothy 6:10 reads,
1 Timothy 6:10 reads,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money,
have (even) wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
Could it be that Jesus is challenging us to trust God for what really matters in order to spare us a life of grief? Or, do we believe that God is really untrustworthy, a bully who wants to keep us from having a good time?
Hebrews 13:5 says,
Hebrews 13:5 says,
“Keep yourselves free from the love of money and be content with what you have,
because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'”
After all, isn’t God enough for us? If we have Him, we should be satisfied. Even Job, who lost everything and suffered physically and emotionally without any real cause, when he saw that God was with him, was ashamed that he had complained.
So, what are we really looking for?
God wants us to have true riches: eternal relationships with others who also walk with God, the satisfaction of living a life that pleases God, a life free from self-inflicted and rebellious grief, a life that is content rather than always striving and anxious. Most of all, he wants us to have himself: God, the only ultimately satisfying reality.
Beginning in v.22, Jesus mentions how our attention wanders from what is good to what is evil, and how having our attention focused on the wrong things can corrupt everything we are. He says, “The lamp of the body is the eye.” How many of us could testify to a time when just a glimpse of the greener pastures has ruined our satisfaction, spoiled a moment of joy, caused us to grumble, or worse? Our eye can turn our hearts from God and it happens so easily!
We don’t intend it to happen. As followers of Jesus, we don’t set out to turn from our blessings to the things we want but do not have.
At first, we simply want to make sure we have food on the table. But, we lose our focus all too easily. Before we know it we start worrying about what other people think of the food on our table, and that leads us away from blessing and into sin, anxiety, and loss of fellowship with God. We start focusing on what is evil, on our lack, and it corrupts us completely. We start looking for the wrong things.
Instead of, “Do we have food?” we start asking other questions: “Is the food we have good enough? Is it fancy enough? Is it different enough from what we ate last night? What would the neighbors think if they saw such a sad little meal on our table? Would they look down upon us? Would they pity us? Well, now that I think about it, perhaps they’re right: this food isn’t good enough! Why should I be thankful for this? What I could really use is a big, fat, juicy steak! I deserve a steak! Why doesn’t God just let us have steak once in a while? Is that too much to ask? I mean, the guy across the street doesn’t even know Jesus (not that I’m going to tell him or anything) and I’ll bet they have steak anytime they want it. It’s just not fair! If God really loved me, I’d be eating steak right now! And then maybe some dessert...”
It happens fast, doesn’t it? We lose our focus so quickly. Perhaps Jesus really does know what he is talking about here? It’s hard to keep my eyes on my blessings for long before they start to wander. It’s like they drift into auto-pilot, looking for something better, something I want more. But, it isn’t about what I actually need, is it?
And it isn’t just food. At first, we simply want shelter and clothing, and pretty soon we’re obsessed about how nice our shelter and clothing are compared to the fellow down the street. At first, we simply want to stop being thirsty, and suddenly nothing can satisfy our thirst for more. At first, we think our spouse is the most amazing person ever. Or, we really like that new-to-me car we just bought. Or, we enjoy thumbing through the pages of that new Bible. Or, we enjoy the responsibility of having that new job.
But, in such a very short while our eyes become darkened by the desires of the world. We don’t just want food, we want to feast. We don’t just want drink, we want to be quenched. We don’t just want clothing, we want splendor. Our desires for life are no longer merely the recognition of our needs. We want it all, we want it now, and we want more than the other guy. This causes our anxiety.
So, Jesus tells us in verse 25:
So, what are we really looking for?
God wants us to have true riches: eternal relationships with others who also walk with God, the satisfaction of living a life that pleases God, a life free from self-inflicted and rebellious grief, a life that is content rather than always striving and anxious. Most of all, he wants us to have himself: God, the only ultimately satisfying reality.
Beginning in v.22, Jesus mentions how our attention wanders from what is good to what is evil, and how having our attention focused on the wrong things can corrupt everything we are. He says, “The lamp of the body is the eye.” How many of us could testify to a time when just a glimpse of the greener pastures has ruined our satisfaction, spoiled a moment of joy, caused us to grumble, or worse? Our eye can turn our hearts from God and it happens so easily!
We don’t intend it to happen. As followers of Jesus, we don’t set out to turn from our blessings to the things we want but do not have.
At first, we simply want to make sure we have food on the table. But, we lose our focus all too easily. Before we know it we start worrying about what other people think of the food on our table, and that leads us away from blessing and into sin, anxiety, and loss of fellowship with God. We start focusing on what is evil, on our lack, and it corrupts us completely. We start looking for the wrong things.
Instead of, “Do we have food?” we start asking other questions: “Is the food we have good enough? Is it fancy enough? Is it different enough from what we ate last night? What would the neighbors think if they saw such a sad little meal on our table? Would they look down upon us? Would they pity us? Well, now that I think about it, perhaps they’re right: this food isn’t good enough! Why should I be thankful for this? What I could really use is a big, fat, juicy steak! I deserve a steak! Why doesn’t God just let us have steak once in a while? Is that too much to ask? I mean, the guy across the street doesn’t even know Jesus (not that I’m going to tell him or anything) and I’ll bet they have steak anytime they want it. It’s just not fair! If God really loved me, I’d be eating steak right now! And then maybe some dessert...”
It happens fast, doesn’t it? We lose our focus so quickly. Perhaps Jesus really does know what he is talking about here? It’s hard to keep my eyes on my blessings for long before they start to wander. It’s like they drift into auto-pilot, looking for something better, something I want more. But, it isn’t about what I actually need, is it?
And it isn’t just food. At first, we simply want shelter and clothing, and pretty soon we’re obsessed about how nice our shelter and clothing are compared to the fellow down the street. At first, we simply want to stop being thirsty, and suddenly nothing can satisfy our thirst for more. At first, we think our spouse is the most amazing person ever. Or, we really like that new-to-me car we just bought. Or, we enjoy thumbing through the pages of that new Bible. Or, we enjoy the responsibility of having that new job.
But, in such a very short while our eyes become darkened by the desires of the world. We don’t just want food, we want to feast. We don’t just want drink, we want to be quenched. We don’t just want clothing, we want splendor. Our desires for life are no longer merely the recognition of our needs. We want it all, we want it now, and we want more than the other guy. This causes our anxiety.
So, Jesus tells us in verse 25:
“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink;
nor about what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns;
yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
Now, there’s a faith question! Did you see it? “Are you not of more value than they?”What does God think of you? He is the one who really determines your value after all. So, if you have a hard time seeking first the Kingdom of God, could it be because you really don’t understand the value the LORD has placed upon you? Sometimes, I believe we have a hard time depending on God to meet our needs because we don’t really believe we matter to Him all that much. So, what does God think of you?
How about another question to help us answer that one? What price would God pay for you? Well, that does help us, doesn’t it? After all, God has already paid the ultimate price for you. He gave His Son to die for your sins. God sacrificed His very life because you were that important to Him. I say that makes you very valuable indeed.
Now, if God places that sort of value on you, then surely He is going to continue to take care of you, isn’t He? No wonder Jesus seemed so mystified at our lack of faith, or continual struggle to trust God for our real needs when He has already shown Himself to be such a good Father.
Do you remember Romans 8:31-32? We heard it last week:
How about another question to help us answer that one? What price would God pay for you? Well, that does help us, doesn’t it? After all, God has already paid the ultimate price for you. He gave His Son to die for your sins. God sacrificed His very life because you were that important to Him. I say that makes you very valuable indeed.
Now, if God places that sort of value on you, then surely He is going to continue to take care of you, isn’t He? No wonder Jesus seemed so mystified at our lack of faith, or continual struggle to trust God for our real needs when He has already shown Himself to be such a good Father.
Do you remember Romans 8:31-32? We heard it last week:
“If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son, but delivered Him over for us all,
will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”
Jesus goes on to compare the things we concern ourselves with (our desires) with the grass of the field “which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven” (v.30). It’s all going to burn.
So, Jesus tells us “seek first the kingdom of God.” Another version reads
So, Jesus tells us “seek first the kingdom of God.” Another version reads
“Be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things.”
You see, the problem isn’t concern; it’s misplaced concern. It isn’t desire; it’s misplaced desire. The problem isn’t that we want something; it’s that we want the wrong things. It isn’t even that we want too much; but rather that what we want is less than God wants for us.
Our preacher uses this illustration a lot, and I think it fits here. C. S. Lewis was a man who set out to prove the Bible false and ended up getting saved and dedicating his whole life and career as an author and as an English professor in England to serving God. You may have heard his name, because he is the author of The Chronicles of Narnia: C. S. Lewis.
In a sermon titled, The Pursuit of Happiness, Lewis said, "If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
“We are far too easily pleased.” So, Jesus tells us not to be anxious about earthly things, but to concern ourselves with the Kingdom of God. We should do this because we so easily worry about ourselves with the wrong motives, because these earthly needs are temporary rather than eternal, because our worry so easily turns our eyes from our needs to our wants, and because concern with God’s Kingdom allows us to display our trust in God to take care of us.
And also because what God wants for us is better, bigger, and more real than anything we could think to want for ourselves. In other words, even when we do worry, our focus is too small for God’s plans in our lives.
So, what are we really looking for? What we want or what God wants for us? What we think we need or what GOD knows we truly need?
Ephesians 4:20 describes God as “him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” God wants more for us than we could ever want for ourselves, and he is asking us to trust him to provide it. Now, if we don’t trust Him with the water bill, the groceries, and our taxes (our needs), then how can we claim to trust Him to bring greater things (our desire to see His kingdom)?
In v.24, Jesus gives us a warning: “No one can serve two masters”. All of this trusting God stuff sounds pretty good, but we have to make a choice. So, how do we know which choice we’ve really made? We already know we can’t trust our emotions. So, how can we know if we’re seeking first the Kingdom?
You can check your budget, I guess, but lots of people give without meaning it. Maybe this verse can help us. Let’s take another look at verse 24:
Our preacher uses this illustration a lot, and I think it fits here. C. S. Lewis was a man who set out to prove the Bible false and ended up getting saved and dedicating his whole life and career as an author and as an English professor in England to serving God. You may have heard his name, because he is the author of The Chronicles of Narnia: C. S. Lewis.
In a sermon titled, The Pursuit of Happiness, Lewis said, "If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
“We are far too easily pleased.” So, Jesus tells us not to be anxious about earthly things, but to concern ourselves with the Kingdom of God. We should do this because we so easily worry about ourselves with the wrong motives, because these earthly needs are temporary rather than eternal, because our worry so easily turns our eyes from our needs to our wants, and because concern with God’s Kingdom allows us to display our trust in God to take care of us.
And also because what God wants for us is better, bigger, and more real than anything we could think to want for ourselves. In other words, even when we do worry, our focus is too small for God’s plans in our lives.
So, what are we really looking for? What we want or what God wants for us? What we think we need or what GOD knows we truly need?
Ephesians 4:20 describes God as “him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” God wants more for us than we could ever want for ourselves, and he is asking us to trust him to provide it. Now, if we don’t trust Him with the water bill, the groceries, and our taxes (our needs), then how can we claim to trust Him to bring greater things (our desire to see His kingdom)?
In v.24, Jesus gives us a warning: “No one can serve two masters”. All of this trusting God stuff sounds pretty good, but we have to make a choice. So, how do we know which choice we’ve really made? We already know we can’t trust our emotions. So, how can we know if we’re seeking first the Kingdom?
You can check your budget, I guess, but lots of people give without meaning it. Maybe this verse can help us. Let’s take another look at verse 24:
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other,
or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and Mammon.”
For Jesus, trusting means serving. Who is going to provide for you? Notice I said who not what. Mammon is not referring to the Federal Reserve Notes in your wallet. Mammon is the name of the pagan god of prosperity and wealth, and trusting in him is view by Christ as a service of worship.
Another version of verse 24 reads,
Another version of verse 24 reads,
“You cannot be a slave (bond-servant) of two masters; you will hate one and love the other;
you will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both.”
Notice that we will serve someone. Not serving isn’t an option.
Notice also the opposition here. You will either hate one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other. Love is comparable to loyalty, and hatred is to reject (to despise) completely. There is no middle ground. If we love God and believe He loves us, then we will trust Him. And, if we truly trust Him, then we will serve Him.
So, will we serve God by concerning ourselves with His Kingdom, or will we continue to serve ourselves, walking in anxiety for our earthly needs. We cannot do both. And, whichever we do reveals whom we are truly depending on to meet take care of us.
Jesus tells us the desperate situation we are in when we try to serve the God of the Bible and Mammon, the false demon-god of earthly possessions. We cannot serve both. We will serve only one, and our fallen nature will lead us to end up serving our possessions rather than the true God. Only by listening to Jesus can we make the right choice. We will not do it on our own, even if we want to.
Please hear me: The problem isn’t desire; it’s misplaced desire. We will eventually worry about something, but we must daily choose what we will worry about. Moment by moment, we must decide between the anxiety of the world or concerning ourselves with the Kingdom of God and trusting him to take care of us. One type leads to life, and the other to death.
So, what are we really looking for?
According to Jesus, God should be the focus of our desire, our concern. He values us more than any other and wants to meet all of our needs. Above everything else, He wants us to dine on His presence, to drink in His Holy Spirit, and to wear the glory of reflecting His Majesty. He’ll take care of the rest.
Notice also the opposition here. You will either hate one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other. Love is comparable to loyalty, and hatred is to reject (to despise) completely. There is no middle ground. If we love God and believe He loves us, then we will trust Him. And, if we truly trust Him, then we will serve Him.
So, will we serve God by concerning ourselves with His Kingdom, or will we continue to serve ourselves, walking in anxiety for our earthly needs. We cannot do both. And, whichever we do reveals whom we are truly depending on to meet take care of us.
Jesus tells us the desperate situation we are in when we try to serve the God of the Bible and Mammon, the false demon-god of earthly possessions. We cannot serve both. We will serve only one, and our fallen nature will lead us to end up serving our possessions rather than the true God. Only by listening to Jesus can we make the right choice. We will not do it on our own, even if we want to.
Please hear me: The problem isn’t desire; it’s misplaced desire. We will eventually worry about something, but we must daily choose what we will worry about. Moment by moment, we must decide between the anxiety of the world or concerning ourselves with the Kingdom of God and trusting him to take care of us. One type leads to life, and the other to death.
So, what are we really looking for?
According to Jesus, God should be the focus of our desire, our concern. He values us more than any other and wants to meet all of our needs. Above everything else, He wants us to dine on His presence, to drink in His Holy Spirit, and to wear the glory of reflecting His Majesty. He’ll take care of the rest.
v. 33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you.”
As followers of Jesus, this is our purpose. And, a person fulfilling their purpose is of great worth. It is not the externals that give us value; it is God. We are created in His image. We are created for His glory. And, it is our connection to Him that offers us true glory for ourselves. Knowing Him, walking with Him, that is our purpose.
There is a battle going on for our hearts, for our souls, a battle to determine where we will place our trust. Who do you think it is trying to get you to focus all of your anxiety on yourself instead of being concerned about God’s Kingdom, and trusting God to take care of you? It isn’t God.
Do you think the devil wants you to fulfill your purpose? Do you think he wants you to have right motives, freedom from grief and anxiety, and a healthy relationship with the Lord? Do you think he really cares about yourfood, your drink, or your clothes? No, he just wants to use you, to destroy you because of his hatred for the LORD. Don’t let him do it!
God loves you. God wants to bless you. God wants you to be free from anxiety. God wants to walk closely with you and teach you what really matters, so that you can have the life you were created to have. He wants what is best for you and to meet all of your real needs so you can look like His child. He calls himself “Father” because he loves us.
Yet, so often we spend our energy, our worry, chasing after earthly wants and confusing it with meeting our real needs. We are worried about the wrong stuff. But God says, “Trust me. Seek me. Find me. And I will take care of all of that other stuff as well.”
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’
or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek.
And your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
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The above is based on my notes. In the actual delivery of this sermon, there were several changes I felt led to make in its presentation which I cannot accurately reflect here. One is a greater emphasis on God's good plans for our lives. Another, the impossibility of becoming more like Jesus when our eyes are focus on earthly things instead of on God. Yet another, the hope of true satisfaction and freedom that comes as a result of trusting the LORD to take care of our needs. We may be able to pay our bills by our own efforts, but our physical requirements are just the beginning of what Jesus knows we truly need, and those things we cannot attain for ourselves. In fact, we cannot even know what they are without Jesus. Focusing on the LORD (the light) brings light to all we are, and it is all that does so. God wants so much more for us, so he calls us to concern ourselves with Him... to seek first the kingdom of God and these righteousness. Make Him your priority. And all these other things? Well, they shall be added to you.
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