This is a sermon preview for the fourth week of our “Mountaintop Manifesto” series.
Visit FBCM’s Church Center Channel to view video live stream (live) or audio version of sermon (published later).
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." - from Matthew 6:19-34
Treasure, money, and anxiety. If we haven't been convicted so far in Jesus's sermon on the mount, if one of us suspects Jesus is not talking about us, most reading along will have to admit there is something in this passage which feels like Jesus is speaking directly to us.
We worry, and feel insecure, about the future. And what is our response? Often to shore up what we need: make more money, have more things, and live more securely. We worry (and sometimes with very good reasons!) about what we will wear or our housing. And Jesus says simply, "Your Heavenly Father needs these things" and "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Jesus wants us to "Seek first the Kingdom and his righteousness," rather than worrying about tomorrow. But, Jesus . . . how?
How can we simply let "tomorrow worry about itself"?
It feels, often, impossible. It can already feel difficult when someone tells you to "live in the moment." How much more is it difficult to not worry about the basics, and to seek first the Father's Kingdom and his righteousness and expect everything else will be given to us as well?
We know faith is important. We know we should prioritize God. But we're only human. We don't know the future like God does. What Jesus is doing here is holding up a mirror to our priorities and asking: "Does this look like the Kingdom I've proclaimed to you?"
Join us this Sunday as we see how far from a judgmental speech or a scathing indictment, Jesus's words are actually very good news for us. The friend to sinners meets us here: in our want, and our lack, and our worry, to point us to something greater: a Kingdom Priority.
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