Matt 6:24-33
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love
the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot
serve God and wealth. 25 " For this reason I say to you, do not be
worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor
for your body, as to 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, that they
do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father
feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 "And who of
you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 "And why are
you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they
do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in
all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 "But if God so clothes
the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the
furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 "Do not
worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What
will we wear for clothing?' 32 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these
things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things
will be added to you.
How Does God Add “All These
Things” To Those That Seek
First The Kingdom
Matt. 6:24-33
• In our day, as it was in the ancient world, a great deal of
anxiety is felt about the physical things of life.
• Untold millions of dollars are spent learning how to prosper
(College education, self help books, investment journals).
• Then there is the pile of money spent on treating the anxiety
caused by wealth.
• Jesus teaches the eradication of such anxiety by means of
service to God.
–
–
–
–
–
–
He says you cannot serve God AND money.
He teaches the great value of the individual to God.
He then teaches the utter futility of anxiety.
Then, the providential care of God.
He commands, Do not be anxious, Seek first the kingdom.
Finally, the benefit, “all these things shall be added unto you.”
Mark 16:20
• And
In our
asout
it was
the ancient
world, a great
theyday,
went
andinpreached
everywhere,
whiledeal
the of
anxiety
is felt
about
theand
physical
thingsthe
of word
life. by the
Lord
worked
with
them,
confirmed
• signs
Untold
of dollars are spent learning how to prosper
thatmillions
followed.
(College education, self help books, investment journals).
Heb 2:3-4
• Then there is the pile of money spent on treating the anxiety
how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it
caused by wealth.
was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to
• Jesus teaches the eradication of such anxiety by means of
us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both
service to God.
by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of
• We want to know, though, HOW God will add all these
the Holy Spirit according to His own will
things to us.
– We’ve been properly taught that miracles have ceased, that they
were for confirming the word (Mark 16:20) and that the word has
been confirmed (Heb. 2:3-4).
– So, our purpose in this lesson: To teach HOW “all these things” shall
be added
GOD ADDS TO US BY GENERAL
PROVIDENCE
• God generally provides to all (Matt. 5:45)
– All reap the benefits of the sun
Matt 5:45
– that
Notyou
all acknowledge
it is His
sun
so
may be sons of that
your Father
who
is in
heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and
the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the
unrighteous.
GOD ADDS TO US BY GENERAL
PROVIDENCE
•
•
•
•
God generally provides to all (Matt. 5:45)
God is good to all (Psa. 145:9)
Gives
rain and fruitful seasons (Acts 14:17)
Ps 145:9
The LORD
is good providence
to all,
God’s
general
is testimony to
Acts
14:17
And His
mercies are over all His works
the
fact
that God is and He loves mankind
and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in
that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and
fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and
gladness."
GOD ADDS TO US BY OUR
WORKING
• In the Roman empire of the 1st century it
1 Tim
5:8 scandalous for a free citizen to work.
was
But if4:28
anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for
Eph
• who
God’s
plan
for
man
to but
work
forhe
his
those
of steals
his household,
heno
has
denied
the
faith
and
isbread
worse
He
mustis
steal
longer;
rather
must
labor,
than
anndunbeliever
performing
with his own
hands what is good, so that he will
(2
Thess.
3:10-12)
have something to share with one who has need.
st Tim. 5:8)
•
Work
to
provide
for
family
(1
2 Thess 3:10-12
For• even
when
were(Eph.
with you,
we used to give you this order: if
Work
towe
give
4:28)
anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 11 For
we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life,
doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. 12 Now such
persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work
in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.
GOD ADDS TO US BY OUR
GIVING
• Generous people are rewarded (Luke 6:38)
• Jesus was recipient (Luke 8:1-3)
Luke 6:38
• This may partially explain (Mark 10:29-30)
"Give,
and it will be given to you. They will pour into your
Luke
8:1-3
• Our Giving Produces Glory To God.
lap afterwards,
a good measure
— pressed
down,
shaken
together,
Soon
He began
going around
from
one city
and village
Mark
10:29-30
– In the sermon on the mount Jesus said "Let your light so shine
and
running
over.
For
your
standard
of
measure
itThe
will
toJesus
another,
proclaiming
and
preaching
the
kingdom
ofand
God.
before
men,
that
they
may
see
your
works,
glorify
your
said,
"Truly
I say
toby
you,
there
is good
no
one
who
has
left
house
twelve
were
with
Him,
2orand
also(Matthew
some
women
who had
been for
Father
in
heaven"
5:16).
bebrothers
measured
to is
you
inmother
return."
or
orwhich
sisters
or
father
or children
or farms,
healed
evil
and
sicknesses:
Mary
who
was
– of
Surely
our
produces
the opportunity
for
ourcalled
light
to shinea
My sake
andspirits
forgiving
the
gospel's
sake,
30 but
that
he
will
receive
in a greater
capacity
to those
around
us.gone out, 3 and
Magdalene,
from
whom
seven
demons
had
hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and
– Our
givingofprovides
the
opportunity
to reach
lost withand
the
Joanna
theand
wife
Chuza,
Herod's
steward,
and the
Susanna,
brothers
sisters
and
mothers
and
children
and
farms,
along
message
of
the
Gospel,
and
it
also
indicates
that
God's
grace
many
who were
contributing
to come,
their support
out
of their
with others
persecutions;
and
in
the
age
to
eternal
life.
has been active in our lives
private means
• God blesses us as we give to others
GOD ADDS TO US BY OUR
ASKING
• Asking God.
Luke 18:1-5
– To provide your daily needs (Matt. 6:11)
Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times
Sometimes
wenot
don’t
receive,
wea
they–ought
to pray and
to lose
heart, because
2 saying, "In
Matt 6:11
certain
cityus
there
a judge
who
did not fear God and did
don’t
ask
(James
4:2)
Give
this was
day our
daily
bread.
not respect
man. 3 "There
was (Luke
a widow18:1-5)
in that city, and she
–James
Persistence
in
asking
kept coming 4:2
to him, saying, ' Give me legal protection from
You do not4have
dounwilling;
not ask but afterward
my opponent.'
"For because
a while heyou
was
he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor
respect man, 5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will
give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming
she will wear me out.'"
GOD ADDS TO US BY OUR
Matt 25:35-40
ASKING
For I was hungry, and you
gave Me something to eat; I was
thirsty,
and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger,
1 Tim 6:17-19
•and
Asking
God.
you those
invited
Me are
in; 36
you world
clothed
Me;
I was
Instruct
who
richnaked,
in this and
present
not
to be
and you
visited
Me;hope
I wasoninthe
prison,
and youofcame
to but
conceited
or
to
fix their
uncertainty
riches,
•sick,
Asking
Men.
Me.'
37 "Then
the
righteous
will
answer
Him, 'Lord,
on–God,
who richly
supplies
things
to enjoy.
18 did
Scripture
tells
us thatus
wewith
areallobligated
towhen
give
to
we
see You
hungry,
and feed
You,
and give
Instruct
them
to do
good,
to be
richorinthirsty,
good works,
to You
be
those
who
ask
(Matt.
5:42)
something
to drink?
when
did we up
seeforYou
a stranger,
generous and
ready 38'And
to share,
19 storing
themselves
– treasure
The
union
between
Christ
and
His
people
isdid
the
and
invite
You
in,
or
naked,
and
clothe
You?
39'When
we
the
of
a
good
foundation
for
the
future,
so
that
they
Matt 5:42
most
tender
andwhich
endearing
of
all connections
see
You
sick,
or
in
prison,
and
come
to
You?'
" Thefrom
King
may
take
hold
of
that
is
life
indeed
Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn40away
(Matt.
25:35-40)
willhim
answer
and
say
them,from
'Truly
I say to you, to the extent
who wants
to to
borrow
you.
st Tim.
that
you didtoit be
to one
of these
brothers of(1
Mine,
even
the least
– Rich,
willing
to distribute
6:17-19)
of –
them,
you didunto
it to Me.'
Do good
all men, esp. of the household of
faith (Gal. 6:10)
Ps 37:25
I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen
the righteous forsaken Or his descendants begging
bread.
• When God says don’t worry about our living here on earth,
that we seek first the kingdom, we may believe that He has
real plans as to how we are to be fed and clothed.
• Those means are more powerful than any amount of
overtime you may work, or education you may gain, any
amount of thrift you may employ.
• We should all see the wisdom:
– In trusting God.
– In working for our living but not at the expense of putting the kingdom
second.
– In being rich toward God and man in our giving.
– In asking God for our living, recognizing his providence and
sovereignty.
– In asking the brethren when needed.