Shift Your Devotion

Shift My Devotion

Worry is like an old friend who has over stayed his welcome isn’t it. We love him but we’re just tired of him being around. We’d all love to be done with worry wouldn’t we?

Worry is a pre occupation with tomorrow. I’m okay right now but tomorrow I’m not sure of. It’s about control isn’t it? Those uncertain things we want to control them and the only way we know how to do that is to worry. We can’t actually do something so we decide worry is our only option. And in those free moments our minds just can’t stop racing with all the worries of the day.

These days we have more to worry about then ever don’t we?


New York Times has an interesting feature on their website. They are taking a poll from people around the world and asking them to pick one word for how they are feeling during this economic downturn. The bigger the word the more people are choosing that particular word. Here are some of the big words. Disgusted, anxious, uncertain, concerned, scared, worried, frustrated, angry, powerless, stressed, cautious, resigned, outraged,

All these words can sum up our feelings on any given day can’t they? We all have these feelings lately especially with all the problems going on around us. The opportunities to worry are plentiful in all our lives.

Someone once said, ‘Worrying is like prayer in reverse’. Prayer makes issues smaller…worrying makes issues bigger.

This wee we’re going to look at the solution to how to stop worrying. And next week we’ll have a special Easter service and then the following week we’ll finish our series on Worry with a look at an OT character who dealt with many of these issues.

Jesus comes along and says there is a solution to all this worry. You don’t have to medicate, you don’t have to pay hundreds of dollars to your counselors.

Review of last week. What you are devoted to will fuel your worry. Your worry reveals your devotion. Jesus outlined some very negative consequences of worry.
worry keeps you from enjoying what you have “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it only empties today of its strength.” Spurgeon.
worry makes you forget your worth
Worry solves nothing. You can’t add anything to your life by worrying. You can’t impact anything by worrying.
Worry erases the promises of God from your mind

Question from last week: What am I most devoted to?

Read Matt 6:27-34
27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Oh you of little faith! there is a relationship between the size of your faith and the size of your worry.

There is a compound word that doesn’t show up anywhere else we can find it in the greek. Literally it meant, “you little faither”. You’ve already believed the harder to believe parts yet you’re getting tripped up by this issue, trusting God with the next series of events. The reason you’re so worried all the time is you are little faithers.

Have you ever met someone who lives with little worry in much more perilous situations? If I had to live in that situation I’d be a basket case yet they’re not too worried. You’ve just met someone with big faith.

31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Verse 31: The what we eat, drink, wear were the worries of the day. This was a hand to mouth economy. Today we’re worried about different things aren’t we.
Watching videos, forefathers sacrificed so we could worry about things other then food, drink and clothes.

But the problem is that we still worry. We still worry about our retirement, whether our job is the right fit for us, we worry about our kids and how they’ll turn out, we worry about our family, we worry about our jobs, we worry about whether we’re going to get married and if so will that be the right person. we worry about everything.

Worry ultimately has nothing to do with our circumstances and everything to do with our faith. We say, if this were a better situation I wouldn’t worry as much. Not true at all is it. As soon as one situation gets resolved the next one comes right along because worry has nothing to do with your circumstances and everything to do with who your putting your faith in.

Pagans run after…that is parallel to worry. If you’re a Christian and you’re so stressed out you’re acting like there is no God. You’re living your life like an atheist. We say one thing but practice in are life much different.

But, as you are with non believers and they see your life and no worries the unbelievers should be wowed by are lives. How are you handling this different? This is a huge opportunity to shine and stand out in the crowd. They aren’t chasing after all these things that all our friends chase after and yet they seem at peace? How is that possible? The only Bible many people will ever read is your life in front of them.

And if you give into worry there might as well not be a God for you. You are not representing me very well.

I believe in my heart, especially from personal experience, that God allows bad things to happen to good people so that our faith can grow and so that we can stand out from the world. Why? Because when a believer handles a difficult circumstance differently then this stands out like crazy to the world. Where are they getting their peace of mind?

You might say, “Is there any other way I can shine my light to the world. I want to be one of those super rich people who are generous with their money. Let me shine like that God.” Have you ever had that dream? I know I think about that some time. God let me be one of those mega rich people who uses your money so wisely that everyone will see it and be moved. But we don’t get a choice.

I was reading a book on prayer recently by Dr. Constable and in there he tells the story of how he and his wife never had children. He says that at some point they had to come to the faith that God not allowing them to have children was for the best because God loved and cared for them. They viewed not having children as a blessing from God to serve Him in a greater capacity and to reach out in ways that they never could if they had children.

Verse 32 and your heavenly Father knows that you need them..
This is what separates you from the pagan. Do you really believe that God knows that you need these things and cares? When we don’t trust God to take care of us in the way He knows is best for us we are not representing the Christian life well. When we live like God knows and cares for all my needs and we trust him totally for are here and now we will stand out like crazy from the world. The bigger your faith the smaller your worry. The unbeliever doesn’t have that assurance but we do and we should.

Verse 33 the solution. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
There is something you can do about worry other then just try to stop worrying. The solution to worry is redirecting your devotion. Remember the first part that you can’t serve God and money. God knows our hearts and he knows that we want it all. We want everything the world has to offer and at the same time we want just enough Christianity to help us get by. But Jesus comes along and says that that will not work.

Jesus comes along and says, But seek first ….what you have been seeking first is the wrong thing. What you have been devoting yourself to has left you in a worrying lifestyle. The solution is to channel your devotion to something else. The kingdom of God

…as long as your primary devotion is financial security, your marriage, your kids, your business; you’ll live a life filled with worry. This is Jesus’ invitation to live an entirely different lifestyle.

You’ve probably sang and heard this so many times you’ve forgotten what it actually means.

Remember our sermon from several weeks ago on the Lord’s prayer? Why did he teach us to pray like that? Lord make your name great and help me to make that my passion. Help me to do your will and make you known. Lord, give me the basics in life and if I have extra help me to use it for your kingdom. Why did he teach us to pray like that? Because he knows that when we pray like that it begins to change our hearts. Our hearts begin to be focused on his kingdom first. On making his name known instead of our own pleasures of life, instead of what the pagans are running after. When we pray like that it changes us.

What does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God? Your kingdom comes before mine.

This shift isn’t just a half hearted shfit. Look at the rich young ruler.

Luke 18:18A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
19"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. 20You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'[a]"
21"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.
22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
23When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.
It doesn’t really matter our wealth status does it? It’s hard for all of us to make this shift in devotion.

We are willing to follow God through everything but don’t mess with my standard of living. Don’t mess with the plans I have for my life and my family. These things are just too important to me to have a good house in a good neighborhood with family all around. These things are not negotiable. Jesus knew the heart of the rich young ruler and he knows our hearts.

If Jesus marched right in here today and asked you to sell everything you have and give it to the poor and follow Him in a totally radically different way. How would you respond? Well, Jesus, if I sold my house now, it’s just not a good time in the market. Can this wait until my kids get out of school? I’m right in the middle of my program at college and…

Jesus says, I have a mission for you, you’re not going to need anything other then the basics because all these things just weigh you down. If you were rid of all this you could and would serve me with a much fuller heart. What would your first reaction be? Would it be like the rich young ruler who had to pause…you know, I don’t think you realize how difficult that would be for me.

What does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God? Your kingdom comes before mine.

Are those other things wrong? Bad? No, but it’s what our hearts desires are. It’s what we’re pursuing after.

What does it means to seek first the Kingdom of God? We are totally focused and passionate about winning our friends to Christ. What can I do to know God better and to make Him more known to those around me. How can I use the extra money, time, resources God’s blessing me with to make His name known?

What does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God? I want your will to be done in my life first then my way. When you make that shift, that transition, the clouds part and the joy of life returns or comes for the first time. Suddenly there is a peace that passes all human comprehension.
And all these things will be given to you as well. Really? Yes, because you’re more important then the birds and the flowers. Of course he’s going to take care of you.

Ashley coming back from overseas without a worry in the world.

34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Verse 34. Don’t worry about tomorrow. In other words, when your mind goes to all the worries of tomorrow, just stop, thy will be done tomorrow. I’m going to seek his kingdom today and not worry about the IF’s of tomorrow. What can I do today to know him more and make him known to others.

As my faith gets bigger my worry gets smaller. And as my devotion shifts to God’s will rather then my own my worry gets smaller.

And when your worry gets smaller your relationships get better, your joy of life gets fuller, your business gets better, all the things that you were focused on, God will give you those things too.

Application:
Turn your bulletin over and make a list of all your worries. Then next to those worries make a new list of things you can start doing to be a part of making Christ known with your life and to those around you.

Move from believe that to action, I trust in. We can say all we want but when we actually start taking action and living differently, that is where the exciting life is.