Freed by Faith from the Weight of Worry

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  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?  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.- Matthew 6:25‭-‬34 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Worry, anxiety, and depression is a common malady in this day and age. It even afflicts our children. Singles worry about finding a significant other. Married couples worry about fertility, sustaining their marriages. Parents worry about their children. Their schooling being sufficient. Them not being bullied or picked on.

Reasons not to worry

Worrying makes no impact on our situation. It does not change circumstances. Worrying about your life does not extend it, it actually shortens your life. Worry comes from a word that originally meant strangling. Anxiety comes from German, a word that meant a tightening feeling in the chest.

Jesus tells us not to worry. He points out that God takes care of birds. God cares more about us than birds. He points out how well dressed flowers are which are so ephemeral.  This does not mean that we need not work. We do still need to work, but need not be anxious about it. But even more than that, Jesus died not for the birds or the flowers of the field, but for us. If our heavenly Father took care of our eternal needs, how could he overlook anything?

God knows what we need and will provide it. What we need and what we want are two very different things. God will take care of our needs.

The root of worry

Jesus says we don't need to worry because we have a heavenly father. So if we are constantly living in anxiety, then we are living as an orphan. Then we are living as if it were us alone scraping out a life. We are living as functional atheists. Jesus says our lives are not than just food and clothing. Living only for this life is pagan living. It is about living your best life now.

If you don't live for heavenly treasure, then you are living for something earth bound. And as we covered previously, all these things can be lost. We will succumb to anxiety.

If there is no God, then everything is up to you. It is just random events. And you are trying to control all these things in your life. If you lose sight of the King, you will end up trying to be king.

We should remember that the opposite of worry is passivity. That is not to be commended. We are not to just ignore everything. We should be rightly concerned about some things. We should not take it easy about everything. We are not to be completely passive nor overly concerned.

Concern yourself most with the true treasure. To know Christ and treasure Him. All gifts, blessings, and pleasures in this life ultimately point to Him. Loving Jesus properly will bring our disorganized loves into line. Seeking Jesus and his kingdom first will ensure that God is King in our lives. Not only is this King all powerful, but He also loves us. Not only does he wear a crown, he wore a crown of thorns for me.

"The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith. The beginning of faith is the end of anxiety." - George Mueller

Redirect our energy

Jesus does not promise a trouble free life. He does promise to be with us. Worriers are visionaries minus the optimism. Take that energy and apply it to the troubles of today.

"I compare the troubles which we have to undergo in the course of the year to a great bundle of sticks, far too large for us to lift. But God does not require us to carry the whole bundle at once. He mercifully unties the bundle, and gives us first one stick which we are to carry today, and then another, which we are to carry tomorrow. We can easily manage our troubles, if we would only carry the trouble appointed for each day. But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday's burden today, and then add the burden of tomorrow." - John Newton

PEACE, an acronym to help us apply this in our lives

Pray
Express your worries to God
Ask if you're prioritized the wrong kingdom or playing king
Claim his promises
Engage today's troubles

God and money

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,  but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!  "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.- Matthew 6:19‭-‬24 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

How should we relate to money? Jesus speaks more about money than sex, hell, etc. It is addressed in the majority of His parables. God cares about how we handle money, how we spend it, save it, budget it. Money can be a powerful force in your life whether for good or evil.

How to invest money

They didn't have banking institutions in Jesus day. They held wealth in possessions. It was a cloak, grain stores, and precious metals/gems. Today's day is different. We get paid by direct deposit and hold money in the bank and retirement accounts. We might not even use cash anymore. But God's wisdom still applies. You cannot take any of these things with you. To handle your money as if there is only this life is foolishness.

So then what is the wise way to handle money? We are to lay up heavenly treasure. What is this treasure? Is it a heavenly dwelling? Some perfect place? It is not. Our treasure is Jesus. He will be our joy and satisfaction. What does this mean? It means that we will treasure what Jesus treasures. We will make his kingdom first. Sharing the gospel. Our financial advisors tell us to invest for what should happen in 30 years. Jesus tells us to plan for 30,000 years... And off into eternity. It is wise to save. But our priority should be for eternity, not here and now.

Should all rich Christians just sell all their possessions and become poor? No, let's look at Paul's letter.

"As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."- 1 Timothy 6:17‭-‬19 ESV

To be rich is a blessing and they are called to be humble and to spend this wealth in good works. Their riches are to be shared in light of heaven. Luke speaks of how to handle our money for God

He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.  And he called him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.'  And the manager said to himself, 'What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.  I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.'  So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'  He said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'  Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' He said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'  The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.  And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. - Luke 16:1‭-‬9 ESV

When we need money and resources for good works, do not hem and haw. Those who have money need to put their treasure in heaven. It is good to give them the opportunity to support missions and invest in the kingdom.

How money reveals

If you look at your checkbook (monthly expenses), it reveals a lot about you. Consider when you say that you don't have time for something, it's not true. It is a question of value. We don't value what activity or person. We will make time for what is important. We will save money, but for what? What will we splurge on? Food, clothes, comfort?

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.- 2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV

What will we cheerful spend money on? Most especially if it is not to advance the kingdom of God. This will show us what we treasure more than Jesus. It reveals our true priorities.

HW: go over your finances (with wife) and consider what they say about your priorities

How to be a steward of money and not a slave to it

Our eyes direct us. If our eyes are fixed on money and earthly things, then they are dark. If we only consider money in decision making, then we are overlooking our spiritual gifts, our families, and our strengths. This is the slave mentality. There are many who think they are serving God, but they are serving money. So then what is the remedy? We need each other to help us see this sin in our lives. We need the church to point out our blindspots in regards to handling money.

HW: take the assessment for above and share it with someone who will help you stay accountable and investing in kingdom priorities.

The trustworthiness of God

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion! May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans! May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions! Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright. O Lord , save the king! May he answer us when we call.- Psalms 20:1‭-‬9 ESV

Pastor Travis Drake

How committed is God? Forever, till eternity. What extent will he go? Through torture and death. God is trustworthy because of the cross.

Who will we trust? In what will we trust? We are at war and our enemies are sin, Satan, and death. They are out to destroy us. Sin is not looking out for your good.

Are your finances under attack? Are your relationships under strain? Does your health feel like it is disintegrating? Is your mental health under pressure? God is there. He remembers us and fights for us. His people are under His protection.

But this isn't a magical incantation. God does not always deliver on our timeline. He does not always answer in what we would consider a timely manner. Sometimes we'll see God act on this life and in other cases, we might not see deliverance under we awake in heaven.

Who or what are you trusting in today?

1. Take a self assessment. (What is making you tense, anxious, and angry? This helps reveal what you are trusting in.)
2. Share of how God has helped us through tough times. Share of how God revealed himself or encouraged or matured us.

For the Audience of one

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.  "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,  so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.  "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.  "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.  Pray then like this:  "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread,  and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,  but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.  "And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,  that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.- Matthew 6:1‭-‬18 ESV

Rev. Charles Han

We are all careful about impression management. We want others to think us clever, intelligent, assertive, kind, loving, etc. Jesus confronts religious righteousness that is more about impressions than God.

The futility of seeking people's approval

There is no reward for those who practice righteousness for appearances. This is not to say that we should avoid all public service. We are not called to never publicly pray. So do we show good works or not? We are to show righteousness so as to glorify God. As a old Scottish theologian said, "when we are tempted to hide, we should show. When we are tempted to show, we should hide."

Giving, praying, and fasting as singled out as practices to consider. The religious leaders who performed these acts were called hypocrites. This Greek term, hypocrite, was a reference to actors. These acts were a show put on for the audience, the people. The motive behind giving is often for our personal acclaim. Prayer is often for ourselves rather than God. We spend more time considering our words rather than God to whom the prayer is addressed.

Jesus doesn't just say this is wrong. He says that those who seek these things have had their reward in full. Wait, what? Jesus is saying that if all these people want is people's approval, then they will have this fleeting reward. Here's trying to say that we are missing out on a greater award...

Seeking God's approval

What does it mean to not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing? It means "don't congratulate yourself." Be self forgetful. Do good to the poor and don't pat yourself on the back.

Doing good quietly without the clamor of acclaim is what we should desire. There is a large difference between praying to be seen and being seen praying. We know.

What is the drive? Jesus appeals to our self desire for reward. Our Father in heaven will reward us. And this reward will be greater. Jesus does not condemn reward seeking... He condemns shallow and fleeting rewards. What is the nature of this reward from God? Is it better circumstances in life? Money? No, the reward cannot be mercenary. This reward is more joy in God. We will receive more of God and we will find more satisfaction in Him. As God gives more of himself, the more we will be freed from seeking men's approval.

The path to satisfaction in God

Notice that Jesus assumes that Christians give to the needy, pray, and fast. This is the essential list for Christians. But this is not where our church is. We are not concerned with deep spiritual fellowship with God. We are not concerned with religious image management at all.

Prayer changes us. We have a set of sermons on our website, search for the Lord's prayer. Adoration, submission, petition, confession & aspiration are the components of the Lord's prayer. Firstly, we are to glorify God's name. It is first and foremost in our prayers. Our reward is the lifting up of God's name. Next, we are submitting ourselves to God's desire. Then we bring our needs to God, even the smallest need. It comes halfway in the prayer so that we ask God to provide for our needs rather than fuel our greed. Lastly, we confess our need to change.

Application

Grow in the depth of your praying. In order to weave prayer more firmly in our lives, we should use the Lord's prayer in reading our Bibles. Look for how your daily passage calls us to glorify God. Consider how the passage calls us to submit to God. Look for how the passage meets needs. Lastly, look for how the passage calls us to confess sin.

What are your habits? We spend half of our waking hours in habitual ways. We run on autopilot. Where are our habits leading us? Are we feeding and growing our souls? Or are our habits starving our souls? Let us fight for our spiritual flourishing.