Money Talks: Stop Worrying, Start Seeking
Preached on 1.18.09 by Dustin Neeley
Sermon Notes
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not 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. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 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! 24 “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. 25 “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? 26 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? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 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? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:19-34 ESV
v.19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth” To be consumed with the pursuit of money and possessions and the false security they bring.
- This is not who you are. This is not a ‘Kingdom Value.’
- These ‘treasures’ are subject to destruction of various kinds.
v.20 “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” Either ref. to God or heavenly reward, either way, encouragement to live for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.
v.21 “treasure is…heart will be”
P: Our hearts and our stuff are inextricably linked.
If your treasure is in this world, your values and life will reflect it.
If your treasure is in heaven, your values and life will reflect it.
P: Our lives reflect where our treasure lies.
Where am I ‘laying up treasures’ today? On earth or in heaven?
v.22-23 “eye” Like the heart in Jewish literature. Further amplifying v. 21.
v.24 “serve” denotes slavery. “hate…love…despise…devoted” strong language.
P: We cannot serve both God and money—we must choose.
Who am I serving (in life, in this decision) God or money?
*Don’t just think of it as a one-time decision but a ‘moment by moment’ question that should remain before us.
v. 25 Command and Question: “…do not be anxious…is not life more than…?”
v. 26 Example and a Question: “…birds of the air…are you not more valuable…”
Worry is Deceptive (v.25-26).
v. 27 “add a single hour to your life”
Worry is Worthless (v.27).
v.28-29 Example and Question “…lilies…but if God…clothe you”
v. 30 Jesus gets to the real problem—a lack of faith in God.
Worry is Telling (v. 28-30).
P: If we are worried about money, the deepest problem is not a financial problem. It is a faith problem.
v. 31 “Therefore, do not be anxious…” Again…stop worrying!
v. 32 Two more explanations for why not to worry:
1. That’s what people who don’t know God do. (Not who you are.)
2. God knows that you need them.
v. 33 Jesus offers the solution. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.”
v. 34 This counsel is good enough for today and tomorrow. Focus on today.
Jesus’ strategy for eliminating financial worry from our lives is to stop worrying and start seeking His kingdom.
‘The Kingdom of God’ is where what God wants done is done.
Ask “God, what do you want done in this situation?”
Action Steps:
- Turn from sin and trust in Christ.
- Become well acquainted with the Scriptures.
- The Bible is the primary way God communicates what He wants.
- Learn to listen to the Spirit as He directs us.
- Surround yourself with other people seeking to ask the same question.
- Begin with what you have learned today in regard to money.
- What specific changes does God want you to make in regard to serving God, not money? Work less? Give more? Become more disciplined?
- What particular areas of my finances do I know I am not doing what God wants done?
- Begin to ask the same question in all other areas of life.
- Meditate on particular Scriptures/stories that will strengthen our faith in God and His ability to provide.
Works Consulted : NIV Application Commentary, Life Application Bible, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, ESV Study Bible, MacArthur Study Bible, Bible Promise Books, Sermons by John Piper, Ligon Duncan, Andy Stanley