The Treasure That Allows Trust | Matthew 6:25-34

Scripture

• Matthew 6:25–34

About this sermon

Introduction: The sermon on the mount is a sermon full of contrasts. In the beatitudes, our Lord declared what characterizes those who inherit the kingdom of God. He then goes on to describe the differences between those people and the rest of the world. His main emphasis is on how they are different from the Jewish religious hypocrites. But He also declares how they are different from Gentile pagans. What He declares is the difference between genuine righteousness and empty religion. That difference is manifested in several categories as you walk through the sermon on the mount. Different in their relationships with people. Different in their acts of worship. Different in what they deem as their treasure. Different in what they are truly devoted to — God’s people serve God not money. And now, in verse 25, He comes to another. God’s people are different in their trust. The world of lost humanity doesn’t know God and as a result doesn’t trust God. The world is full of worry, full of care, full of fear, full of anxiety, full of self-confidence and self-reliance. It is full of self-effort, self-protection, self-trust. Not so with God’s people. ESV Psalm 9:10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. God’s people trust our Father and look to Him as the one who takes care of us. AS WE HAVE SEEN WITH EACH OF THE OTHER AREAS OF DISTINCTION, IT IS TRUE TO SAY THAT GOD’S PEOPLE WILL BE DIFFERENT, AND AT THE SAME TIME SAY, GOD’S PEOPLE MUST BE DIFFERENT. WE ARE COMMANDED TO BE DIFFERENT WE ARE TAUGHT TO BE DIFFERENT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BE DIFFERENT WE MUST CHOOSE TO BE DIFFERENT. THE TRUST THAT WE LIVE BY IS A TRUST EXPLAINED BY ALL THE OTHER DISTINCTIVES. Because we are not a people held captive by the behavior of others Because we are a people seeking to please God in lives of worship Because we are a people living for eternity and know what matters most in life Because we acknowledge ourselves to be the slaves of God WE CAN NOW REST IN GOD’S CARE FOR US. And tonight, we see in our verses HOW THE PEOPLE OF GOD CAN MAKE THE CHOICE TO LIVE IN THAT TRUST. Six times in five verses, our Savior specifically addresses the subject of anxiety. Verse 25 – “do not be anxious” Verse 27 – “and which of you by being anxious” Verse 28 – “and why are you anxious” Verse 31 – “Therefore do not be anxious” Verse 34 – “do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself” This is a very important issue in the Christian life. Will we obey our Savior in the matter of worry? NOTE: Before we deal with how we overcome worry, as believers, we first must take a moment to distinguish what our Lord is talking about here and a legitimate kind of concern — because there IS a legitimate kind of concern that believers can experience. The word anxious is the verb μεριμνάω. Depending upon context, it can refer to a kind of care or concern that is appropriate, or it can refer to a kind of care or concern that isn’t appropriate. Paul knew a kind of anxiety over the churches which was appropriate (2 Cor 11:28). ESV 2 Corinthians 11:28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Father and mothers know legitimate concerns for their children. Pastors know legitimate concerns for the people they shepherd. Business owners know legitimate concerns over what must be managed. Etc. It wasn’t wrong that Paul was concerned about how the churches were doing. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WRONG if he cared about them as if their wellbeing was entirely dependent on him. But to care for them as a shepherd wasn’t improper. John Calvin was helpful on this: if we give proper attention to the words of Christ, we shall find, that he does not forbid every kind of care, but only what arises from distrust. This is a very helpful way to examine ourselves about what kind of concern we’re experiencing. “Is there anything in this that represents a lack of trust in God?” When we don’t trust God, our lives are filled with fear. SINFUL ANXIETY IS FEAR. ANXIETY IS A KIND OF UNEASINESS, DREAD, FEAR ABOUT WHAT IS POTENTIAL. It is the fear that something will take place that is unpleasant, or destructive — not good for us. It is FEAR THAT IS FIXED ON THE UNKNOWN. It is dread of that which has not yet arrived, and in some cases never arrives. Anxiety is about what might or might not happen. “This might happen, and I don’t want it to.” “This might not happen, and I want it to.” And the fear that relates to all the various circumstances that will come about as a result of that bad situation taking place. PEOPLE CAN KNOW ANXIETY OVER RELATIONSHIPS PEOPLE CAN KNOW ANXIETY OVER FINANCES PEOPLE CAN KNOW ANXIETY OVER THEIR HEALTH PEOPLE CAN KNOW ANXIETY OVER NOTHING SPECIFIC — JUST A GENERAL SENSE OF DREAD, DARKNESS, LIKE SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN AND I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS. Someone has described it as “fear looking for a cause.”

Topics

• Faith