“A Life That Is More ”
Matthew 6:25-34
Turn with me to Matthew 6:25. In the verse Jesus asks a simple question, “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”
Do you believe there is more to life than the food we eat and the clothes we wear?
Are you living a “more than” life?
It is easy to get caught up in a life that is fixated on survival, success or security. To get away from this tendency to fixate on survival, success and security we must turn to Jesus Christ and learn to live a life that is more than. To live a life that is more than food and clothing people need to know, love and respect Jesus.
As people know, love and respect Jesus, they will listen to His voice in Scripture.
In Matthew chapter 6, let's review a few of the highlights of what Jesus taught…
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“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people”
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“When you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites”
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“When you pray, do not heap up empty phrases”
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“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth”
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“No one can serve two masters, you cannot serve God and money”
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“Do not be anxious about your life”
Are you listening to the voice of Jesus Christ?
John 10:26-28
26 But you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Do not be deceived into believing that you know, love and respect God if you are not listening to the voice of Jesus.
Are you depending on Him with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength?
A life that doesn’t depend on God is dependent on worldly treasure and worldly pleasure.
A life dependent on worldly treasure and worldly pleasure has good reason to be extremely anxious because their treasures and pleasures can be taken away.
A life that is dependent on God is too focused on the greatness of God and seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness to be overly anxious about worldly treasure and worldly pleasure.
Imagine you are on a long road trip.
You are focused on your destination.
As you travel down the road at 75 miles per hour you notice the places that you are passing through but you are not fixated or focused on them because they are not your ultimate destination.
Our struggles with anxious thoughts and worldly troubles must be treated like the scenery on a long road trip. We notice, we acknowledge, we talk to each other and we talk to God about them but we don’t let them deter or distract us from our ultimate destination.
We are all just passing through this world cursed by sin and temporarily living in these bodies of flesh.
The will of God is in the driver's seat and we trust and know that He is taking us through the chaos, confusion, sorrow and suffering for a reason that is beyond anything we can completely understand.
God doesn’t get distracted, disoriented or discombobulated. He can be completely trusted.
Do you treasure and trust God to give you the best and get you through this world of sin, suffering, sickness and sorrow to a place that is beyond anything you can imagine?
When God is your treasure and you are devoted to God, you do not need to be anxious about what you will drink or what you will eat or what you will wear.
Throughout our lives on this earth, everyone will experience normal amounts of anxiety.
Every time I pass a vehicle on the interstate I get a little bit anxious.
Healthy amounts of anxiety are normal; we just need to make sure our anxieties do not build into something that becomes toxic and causes us to stop trusting in God.
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus is not addressing a crippling anxiety that is caused by trauma, a disability or a chemical imbalance in the brain. Jesus is addressing the normal day to day anxiety which is universal and can be fueled by not loving and trusting in God.
Everyone struggles with anxiety to some extent but people who follow Jesus must respond in a different way than those who do not follow Jesus.
When wrestling with anxiety, believers must listen for the voice of Jesus and meditate on what He says.
When a believer is struggling with anxiety involving provision and protection, they must remember that in Christ life is more than food and clothing.
When a believer is feeling anxious they need to get outside and observe nature and be reminded of how God cares for the birds of the air, grows beautiful flowers and clothes the grasses of the field.
When anxious thoughts begin to throw a believer into a lion’s den of despair, they must remember that they are valuable because they belong to Him.
Believer, remember you are valuable and God loves you.
God loves you so much He sent His Son.
God loves you so much He provided a way for you to be saved from sin, rebellion and anxiety.
God loves you so much He resurrected Jesus from the grave so that believers may live with resurrection hope and a living faith in God that can move mountains of anxiety.
God is taking you to a good place, trust Him.
Don’t let anxiety build into a mountain of despair. Get into a daily habit of giving that anxiety over to the Lord.
Pray this prayer with me,
Lord Jesus, help me to live a more than life. Empower me to trust that Your will is in the driver's seat and You are building a Kingdom and preparing a place for me that is far beyond anything I can ask or imagine. Deliver me from sinful anxiety that is caused by not trusting in You. Guide me to the help I need to deal with my anxiety when it gets out of control. Give me Your strength to seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness. In Jesus I pray. Amen.
Seek Him first,
Pastor TJ
