Freedom From Worry - Matthew 6:19-34
By David Woods
Read “Pertinent Principles”, p. 33.
I hate hearing sermons on worry. As a kid I heard my father preach on worry more than once. And to tell you the truth, I often left the service more overwrought than I entered it.
Probably talking about worry today will be kind of like praying. You know how when you pray, you begin to think of all sorts of things you need to do or begin hashing out conversations that you want to have with others?
As we consider this subject, we will constantly be thinking of more and more things about which to worry. So here is what I want us to do.
List: I want you to write on the sheet of paper I gave you all the things about which you need to worry. Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask you to tell us what you are worrying about. Rather, I just want you to get all these things down so you don’t have to think about them while we are having this Sunday School lesson. Furthermore, if during this lesson you think of something else about which you should worry, I want you to write it down. Let’s get all our worries down on paper so we can focus on our lesson and God’s Word.
Big Idea:Faith in God frees us from slavery to fear.
1. Faith in God frees us to live, vv. 19-21.
Discussion: What are some reasons why people are so intent on gaining wealth or possessions?
Discussion: What sacrifices do people make in order to have a nicer car or house, etc, etc?
(They may work very long hours, accept an extra-long commute, etc. This in turn means they have less time for family, self, God, etc.)
Discussion: Why do some feel giving up time with family, etc. is worth being able to own/have something more/better?
Discussion: How can such thinking be faulty? (see verses 20-21)
(1. Earthly treasures don’t last forever. And even if they outlast us, we won’t be able to take them with us from this world. 2. Often such an attitude displays a greater love for things of this world than for Christ.)
Recently I re-watched the movie Ever After, which is a re-telling of the Cinderella story. It is a moving story, but I think the last line uttered in the movie is the most compelling.
The story of Cinderella was being told by her great-granddaughter. She says something to the effect that they lived happily ever. But then she inserts this: “But the point, gentlemen, is that they lived.”
While I would not study this movie to find a Christocentric view of life, I do find that last line compelling. Of all people, the Christian should most fit the description that he/she lived. Yet I am afraid too many Christians have allowed fear to so enslave them that they are not truly “living.” Faith in God frees us to live.
2. Faith in God frees us to love, vv. 22-24.
The writer of the comments on verse twenty-two makes an observation I’m not sure I have ever considered before. He writes, “…the Greek word for single should be translated ‘generous’….”
The Mastering the New Testament: Matthew commentary suggests the same, saying, “The Greek word translated ‘single’ has the meaning of generous. It is often associated with liberality and is used in various New Testament passages in connection with sharing material resources (James 1:5, Rom. 12:8).” (Augsburger, Myron S., p.92)
Read these scriptures:
Discussion: Throughout scripture, one can find references that suggest the godly person is or should be a generous person. Why do you think this is so?
Discussion: Why would generosity be illustrated as “light” and stinginess as “darkness”? (See verses 22-23 and comments on verse 23)
Discussion: How does faith in God allow or cause one to be generous? Why does a lack of faith in God often lead to stinginess or selfishness? (This question may be too closely related to the first question in this section and might should be combined.)
Discussion: Can we truly love others without giving? (By this I mean giving in a broad sense that is not limited to giving of our finances)
Discussion: How does fear often inhibit Christians’ generosity?
3. Faith in God frees us to laugh, vv. 25-34.
Discussion: What does it mean to “take no thought for your life”? What does it not mean?
Discussion: Why do we often worry so much about what clothes we will wear, what we will eat for our next meal, etc.?
Discussion: Why are these worries largely irrelevant when we look at life as a whole?
Discussion: Consider the list you compiled earlier of the things you are worrying about currently. How many of these worries are past events/actions you cannot change? How many are things you cannot be certain about until the future arrives?
Discussion: How does worrying about so many minor things rob us of our laughter (joy)?
Discussion: Can we really trust God to keep His promise in Matthew 6:33? How does our faith that God will keep our promise help us to laugh and enjoy life more?
Reflection: Are you a slave to fear? What fears/worries are keeping your from truly living, loving, and laughing?
Prayer: I urge you to commit these worries - and your whole life - to God’s care as we pray….