Jesus Chose Gratitude, Not Worry

Scripture Reading

Matthew 6:24-33

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to the one and have contempt for the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

“Therefore, I say to you, don’t worry about your life, what you’ll eat or what you’ll drink, or about your body, what you’ll wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds in the sky. They don’t sow seed or harvest grain or gather crops into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than they are? Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? Notice how the lilies in the field grow. They don’t wear themselves out with work, and they don’t spin cloth. 

But I say to you that even Solomon in all of his splendor wasn’t dressed like one of these. If God dresses grass in the field so beautifully, even though it’s alive today and tomorrow it’s thrown into the furnace, won’t God do much more for you, you people of weak faith? Therefore, don’t worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ Gentiles long for all these things. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. Instead, desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Introductory Remarks: 

On this 3rd Sunday of LENT, we walk with Jesus observing all that is happening around us (physical environment) and our response to it. Jesus encourages us to TRUST GOD rather than circumstances. When we do, we withdraw our energy from anxious and worrisome thoughts, feelings, words and responses and energise our prayers, praise and gratitude. Who’s walking with Jesus this week?

Major Points of the Lesson:

  1. Anxiety and worry are not our birthright.
  2. Anxiety and worry are released when we trust God–All the WAY!

Quote:

Become open and receptive to God’s continuously flowing good by giving praise and thanksgiving for the perfect blessing behind every appearance of evil or good.”

A Closer Walk With Jesus, pg. 91