Matthew Study 7: 6:19-7:12

Dear Student of the Word,

I am in England to take part in the Christian Booksellers Convention. I was walking through the booths yesterday, marveling at how many Bibles and Bible study aids there are on the market today. Yet are we any more Bible-literate or knowledgeable than our predecessors? Perhaps not! Why? Perhaps because no matter how many things we have to help us study the Bible, we still must do just that: take the time to study. That is what I try to help you do in these studies. I want you to "get into" the Word and then apply the Word on a daily basis.

This week we continue to study Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, paying close attention to Jesus' reminders that God is able to provide for us, freeing us from worry. This week I wrote:

6:25 – Someone once said, “When you see a therefore, make sure you see what it’s there for.” This therefore is there, in this case, to assure us that God can take care of us; we don’t need to fret over money matters where provision for basic needs is concerned. God will take care of providing food, shelter, clothing and transport; there is more to life than those things. God created you with those needs and He isn’t going to allow those needs to go unfilled. Do you believe that? If you do, then you don’t have to be concerned if God asks you to do something and you aren’t quite sure how your basic needs will be met if you do that thing. He will take care of you.

I have found the main reason that more people don’t make transitions to jobs or opportunities that are better suited to who they are and what God wants them to do is a concern over provision. This is important, I know, but it isn’t the main thing – doing the will of God is the main thing. When you do the will of God, the God of that will must provide for you or you can’t do it. God guides where He provides. Where it’s God’s will, it’s God’s bill.

What would you do today if it wasn’t for the money you needed to live? That is the very thing you were probably created to do, so how can you engage that thing in the shortest time possible? Today I do everything that I love and get paid to do it. You can do the same; perhaps not overnight, but it can happen with sustained, concentrated effort. Don’t let money be the main focus; let the will of God be the main focus.

6:26 – God takes care of the birds and the other creatures of nature. Why not you and me? When I take a safari to Africa, I am always struck by one obvious fact: abundance! There is plenty of food, water, and space for millions of animals. They seldom lack. If it’s true for the animal world, then it’s true for humans as well. When you think of life, do you think abundance or lack? How do you think will determine how you act and affect the decisions your make?

6:27 – Worry is a futile effort. Someone said it is negative faith – believing for bad things. You and I cannot affect the outcomes of much – so much is out of our control, that it makes more sense to get on with life and trust God for the outcome. That is what I am trying to do more effectively.

I would welcome your comments to this week's study. You can write them and find the studies to Corinthians, First Timothy and Mark's gospel on the site where this week's entry is posted. You can also go there to sign up to receive each week's study.

Download this week's study: Matthew Study 7.doc

Comments

[purity]

I thank God for you, because you have spoken to my heart.
I have been feeling abit down and worried since yesterday about my situation financially because currently am out of my house not able to pay rent, and being in a BIBLE SCHOOL its abit discouraging.
Trust God with me that God will come through for me.
My hope is in Him alone.
God bless you as you continue serving God in your purpose