This week we are diving into Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:25-34. I want to encourage you to read it and begin asking God what He wants to teach you through this Scripture as we approach our time together.
Here are some questions/thoughts that fly through my cereberal cortex as I read through this teaching:
- Does anyone else have a tough time relating to being compared to birds, flowers and grass and their lack of worry? (Dean raises hand - “Guilty”)
- If my priorities were truly God’s priorities this would not be a problem. I guess that tell you about my priorities. They revolve around “self” much more than I like to admit.
- Is there balance to what Jesus is saying here? Where do I find it?
- It seems that provision is related in direct proportion to seeking the Kingdom. If that is true, why are so many ungodly people so well provided for and so many great people who have pursued God’s heart died in destitution?
Welcome to the world inside my head as I talk out loud on this blog. Join in the fun and let your inner-brain speak as well.
July 12th, 2006 at 9:40 am
The first thing that jumps out at me, is the fact, that I never realized that 6:33 fell into the middle of this. As a kid in church, I always recited “Seek Ye First…..” by itself. Now, when I read it with all of the other verses around it, it seems to have much more meaning. Without the other verses, it feels as though, gaining, gathering, and storing is ok, as long as seeking the Kingdom is first. But I think what it is truly saying (I know this may be obvious, but it got me thinking) is that the Kingdom is the only thing we need to seek. The rest is just the icing. Of course this brings up the whole “What is the Kingdom” subject. This is something I struggle with a lot, and I am sure you have all noticed. I always seem to want more and more stuff. The latest phone, computer, IPOD, etc. When are one of you going to smack me upside the head and say “get a clue, that stuff doesn’t matter!”?
July 12th, 2006 at 12:29 pm
Frist, some of us will have no problem smacking you(Big Red)upside the head when the need arises.
Second, I just have more questions. Where is the line between not worrying and allowing God to provide and working and self-sufficiency? Growing up I heard preached, “God helps those who help themselves,” which is not in the Bible. This principle of self-reliance was even promoted (I know this will shock you) by people who did not practice it. So, how do we seek first the kingdom of God? How do we fulfill our God given role in the Body of Christ when it does not do provide for our physical needs? How do we rely on others in the Body for help? Where does being practical meet not trusting God? Should we have health insurance or will God take care of us; or, is God taking care of us through the health insurance? But really I think I won’t worry about any of these questions. “…do not be anxious about your life…” v.25
July 12th, 2006 at 1:44 pm
My immediate reaction is to think of two other passages. I read in Jonah today in 4:10-11 “But the LORD said, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?” God was concerned about the people because He created, tended, and grew the people. He had invested in them.
Also, in Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” I multitask pretty well, but I haven’t figured out how to think about good things and worry at the same time. One seems to overcome the other.
My struggle with priorities isn’t usually as small as purchasing something that only costs a few dollars. I struggle with bigger questions like “Should I buy a house or rent for less and donate a lot of money?” or “Should I take time off to rejuvenate my body and mind, or should I spend a week volunteering my time and investing in others lives, likely coming home even more tired?”
(Josh, smacking you upside the head would be pointless because you could do it right back to me. I don’t know if non-Christians would understand why we lovingly smack each other back and forth.)
July 12th, 2006 at 6:02 pm
Please forgive me for how my earlier message may have come across. I live with making decisions and not worrying every day. As a single female my life seems to focus around how to provide for myself and keep myself safe. I walk through every day trying to learn how to make even one choice that isn’t selfish and all about me. When I said I struggle with bigger questions I meant those are the ones I deeply wrestle with. Unfortunately the day to day ones I take in stride and tend to not even see or feel bad about. Balance and living by God’s priorities seem so outside of my grasp. I’m not sure I can even start to understand what it means to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness.
July 13th, 2006 at 11:26 pm
I don’t know how many Adam Sadler fans we have here, but a line from The Wedding Singer kept popping into my head - from Robbie Hart (Adam Sandler) - “Well, we’re living in a material world and I’m a material girl. Or boy”. I spent my early adult life in the 80’s & 90’s and these were definatley “Me” decades. I think we are more cognizant of others and aware of world-wide goings on nowadays, but I am still falling short of follwing Matthew 6:25-34 and I have to admit that I cringed as I read the verses. I am not about to quit my job and go live on the street and rely soley on divine intervention, but I am going to work on remaining calm in financial crisis’ and adhere to verse 27 - a quite simple, yet quite profound verse.
July 20th, 2006 at 9:11 am
I haven’t had the time to read the others responses, so I apologize for the lack of a conversation…I shall return though…just wanted to throw this out…remember the audience Christ is speaking to, survival, not comfort was the primary mode of thought…so our re-interpretation today of this passage is certainly a struggle…our plethora of options means there is so much more to throw aside and cut through in order to get to the heart of God…to be continued…peace…805 OUT…