MATTHEW 6:19-34 Lesson # 9
DEALING WITH MONEY AND ANXIETY
I. Introduction:
Note: Our topic today is about money and anxiety. Jesus tied these two issues together. However, once He brought up the issue of money, He went on to deal in more detail with what causes our anxiety and how to be free of it.
We presently live in a very materialistic and anxious society, but since all creatures with bodies as well as a soul, these issues have been relevant in all ages and all cultures.
II. The Issue of Proper Focus and Its Results: Matthew 6:19-24.
>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:19-21.
Q What does verse 21 mean?
An = The word “heart” in Hebrew means not just “emotions” but includes the “mind” as well. In the Old Testament it is often translated as “mind”. However, since our mind can include our emotions as well as intellect the word “heart” can be understood by our English word “consciousness”. Jesus said what we really value is shown to us by what comes to our consciousness most often.
RQ What has preoccupied your mind lately? Is it finding a mate, a boyfriend, a certain girl, a job, financial pressures, a boat, a car, a promotion?
Note: What we really treasure is where our heart is. I remember taking my wife on our first over night vacation months after our first son was born. We were going to Mariposa (outside of Yosemite, which is beautiful) for a much needed rest. Our parents had our son and they were excellent baby sitters with plenty of experience. However, we did not get to the end of the afternoon when my wife persuaded me to go back. Her treasure was not an exciting, romantic, relaxing time; her treasure was that little boy! Her reaction was totally understandable and quite proper!
>>>> Have someone re-read Matthew 6:19-20.
Q Where did Jesus tell us not to have our treasures?
An = Not in things that are temporal. It was not because Jesus did not want us to enjoy or have earthly treasures, but because if they become central we would be disappointed. Such treasures would disappoint because they would not last. Jesus wanted us to enjoy forever what we have set our hearts on!
It is an obvious fact of life, though one we often refuse to admit, that things in this earthly life are not lasting. The closer we come to death, the truthfulness of what is said here becomes more and more obvious.
RQ Is it not a more valuable way to spend one’s time trying to win souls to Christ, or help others stay healthy spiritually because people will live forever?
RQ If this truth is so obvious, why do we human beings not see it?
RQ I know it is easy to get so caught up with things that are so obviously temporal?
Note: Perhaps, the answer is in what follows….
>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:22-23.
Q What was Jesus saying here? How is the eye the lamp of the body?
Q What does a lamp provide?
An = light so that we can see. We cannot see if there is no light.
Q So what happens if your eye is bad?
An = The eye (if good) is the window (so to speak) for images to be seen in your brain. If your eye is defective, your brain cannot “see” images. So if your eye is bad you are blind.
Note: Jesus was not talking here about literal eyesight, but spiritual or intellectual sight. Eyes in the Old Testament are the metaphor for “perceptiveness”. We have a little of this in English when we say: “Oh, now I see”. If one sees then one perceives or one understands. If you have good eyes that can see, then you can perceive the truth. If we have eyes that cannot see then we have no ability to understand what is truly important.
A seminary friend once said: “The jaundiced eye always sees yellow.” In other words, if your blood is tinged with jaundice (a yellowing) then what you see is filtered through a yellowed lens. Everything you see will be yellow. Similarly, Jesus says in Matthew 20:15 that man cannot understand certain good actions if his “eye is envious”. In other words, envy takes away proper perspective, proper understanding. So here, one’s ability to see truth can be blinded by having the wrong treasures.
If you choose in faith to value eternal treasures then you will “see life differently”. It is a risk, however, to value eternal things over things we can count, touch, and physically see. It is a “gamble”. Jesus asked us to risk that there truly was a heaven, a hell, and a God of righteousness who will guarantee our eternal reward.
>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:24.
Q Is an eternal perspective optional?
An = Both God and money (the definition of “mammon”) cannot be worshipped. They will rival one another and a choice will have to be made. Money can become an idol, a rival god. (I am sure Jesus’ audience was automatically reflecting on Deuteronomy 6:5: And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. The average Israelite knew “idolatry was not an option”.
Q What if someone cannot “see” that they cannot love both? Are they already blind?
III. Basic Needs and Anxiety: Matthew 6:25-34.
Q How many of you have met Christians that are impractical and never handle their finances properly and call it faith?
Q How many of you know young people, who are naive, and do not think about the fact that bills do not pay themselves, will let you pay for them, but then challenge you to have faith?
Note: If you have met such folks, it is hard to take them seriously; however, one can be responsible and have faith. In fact, one has to be responsible because whether one is a good Christian or not one still has to eat, to put on clothes, etc. Whether we are spiritual or not we have a body, a physical body, and it needs to be sheltered, fed and clothed.
If our body does not get fed or clothed, we die…. It is natural to be concerned about this; it is natural to have anxiety about our basic, daily needs. Jesus knew this; anxiety is a real part of dealing with the reality of meeting our daily needs. So when He challenged the disciples to be free of the love of money, He knew that what He was telling them could make them more open to anxiety. It takes money, “mammon” to survive.
This is why Jesus went on to address the issue of anxiety.
>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:25.
Q What behavior was Jesus forbidding?
An = Anxiety, or worry about this life as to how we shall eat, drink, or be clothed.
Q How many times is the word worry or anxiety found in verses 25-34?
An = I count 5 times: 25,27,28,31,34. Obviously the next few verses are all about handling anxiety, worry or apprehension concerning our daily needs. Jesus did not want us to be naive, or irresponsible, but free and for good logical reasons. Reasons we shall soon see.
Q Towards the end of verse 25, Jesus asked a rhetorical question (one that asks one to think about an issue; what is that question asking us to think about?
An = Is not life more than the things that help us survive? Is not life more than just existing?
Note: Those who know this truth the best are often those who have an excess of money. So many European and American (or rich Asian) youth are so easily depressed, and have lost interest in life because they have plenty of food, plenty of clothes, but inside themselves they realize life is more than these.
>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:26-30.
Q What two things in nature did Jesus ask us to observe and ponder?
An = birds of the air and the lilies of the field.
Q What can looking at the birds of the air and the lilies of the field teach us?
An = That God provides for them and they do not have barns or treasuries and though the lilies are incapable of clothing themselves they are more beautifully attired than the wealthiest man on earth could accomplish.
Q Does anxiety help?
Q If anxiety cannot help, why do we humans have it?
Q Why do so many of us ruin our health, our joy, our enjoyment of what we do have with anxiety when worry does not help?
Q How would Matthew 6:21-23 answer that question?
An = Jesus said it was because we humans have the wrong treasures, non-eternal treasures, and it has blinded us to reality.
Q When we are anxious or consumed with worry, whom do we not have faith in?
>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:31-32.
Q How was Jesus motivating us not to be consumed with worry in the beginning of verse 32? What was His negative motivation?
An = We are like the Gentiles (the non-believers, who do not know the beauties of God as revealed to His people Israel). To be consumed with anxiety is to declare ourselves pagan.
Q How was Jesus motivating us to be free of worry in a positive sense at the end of verse 32?
An = Realize who God is. Not only does He exist, but He is aware of (intimate with) our needs. If we have the right view of God it will change us.
>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:33-34.
Note: Probably all of us have learned to control certain feelings by re-directing our attention to something else. For example, some people pray for others when facing the fear of an operation on themselves.
Q What are we to focus on here in verse 33?
An = The reign of God and being righteous. If we focus properly, all of our valid, basic needs will be taken care of.
Q What does it mean to “seek the kingdom and His righteousness”?
Q What are we not to focus on according to verse 34?
An = What we cannot control, namely tomorrow.
Q Why is it not good to worry about tomorrow?
>>>> Have someone read Proverbs 18:10-11.
Q How do these two verses relate to Jesus’ discussion?
Q Has God changed?