“O Ye of Little Faith”

Scripture: Matthew

C.I.: Faith & “Stuff”

During this month we are discussing the topic of “Faith.” – Last week = Big Things, Today = Daily Things.

•  The Consequences of Living for Things,” (Matthew 6:19-34)

A. Enslavement, (vs. 19-24) “Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat & go ahead of Him to other side.”

1. Enslaved Heart, ( vs. 19-21 ), “Do not lay up … Fr where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
a. We can be shackled by the material things of this life – which is foolish when you think about it.
1) Fabrics can get moth-eaten, rust can ruin metals, thieves can steal riches.
2) To “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” = to use all we have for the glory of God!

b. The way a person uses money is an indication of the condition of their heart.
1) ( Jms. 4:3 ), “You ask and you do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives….”
2) ( Jms. 4:13-14 ), “Come now you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we shall go to such and ….”
3) ( I Tim. 5:8 ), “Anyone who does not provide for his own, especially for those of his house….”

c. Whenever we allow anything to come between us & God – it becomes our God.
1) ( Col. 3:5 ), “Consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity,
passion, evil desire and GREED, which amounts to idolatry .”
2) Which could we least live without; God or things?!
3) It has never been wrong to own things. – The problem arises when things own us!!!

2. Enslaved Mind, ( vs. 22-23 ), “The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear/single, your
whole body will be full of light. – But if your eye is bad…. – If therefore the light that is in you is
darkness, how great is the darkness!
a. “Clear” = Single; If we are “seeing double” – it is difficult to make progress physically or spiritually.
1) Thus, if the focus of our “eye” is upon the light – then we will be full of light ( cf. Jn. 1:9-10 ),
“There was the true light which coming into the world enlightens … He was in the world….”
2) But the mind enslaved to materialism won't come to Jesus – ( Jn. 3:19-20 ), “This is the J., that
the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the light; for their deeds
were evil. – Everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest….”

3. Enslaved Will, ( v. 24 ), “No one can serve 2 masters; for either he will hate one and love….”
a. Ultimately we have to make the call; either the physical or spiritual realm will be in charge (not both!).
1) If we choose to be dominated by the physical; things, $, people, etc. – its all a matter of will.
2) ( I Tim. 6:9 ), “Those who want to get rich , fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish…
3) If God grants us wealth and we use it to His glory – it is a blessing.
4) But those who will to get rich, and live with that outlook, will pay a great price for riches!!!

B. Devaluation, (vs. 25-30)

1. Covetousness not only cheapens our possessions, it also cheapens us!
a. The one who pursues things believing it will solve their problem, finds it only creates more problems!
1) “For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what
you shall drink; nor for your body as to what you shall put on. – Is not life more than food, and
your body more than clothing?” ( v. 25 )
2) “Anxious” = Worried; “Worry = is an insult flung in the face of God!”
3) A person can't truly say they have faith in God if they worry!!!
4)

b. ( vs. 26-29 ), “Look at the birds of the air… - Are you not worth much more than they? – And which one
of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span? – And why are you anxious about
clothing? – Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say….”
1) Mason Cooley, “Worry is not thought and complaining is not action.
2) God has built into His creation the means by which all things are cared for. – The birds are fed
because they seek after the food God provides, ( cf. II Thess. 3:10 ), “…if anyone will not work
3) The lilies grow daily by following the plan God has prepared within them – ( Eccl. 12:13 ).

c. ( v. 30 ), “But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into
the furnace, will He not much more do for you, O MEN OF LITTLE FAITH?” (2-fold argument here):
1) From less to the greater: If God provides for the short lived grass – how much more will He
provide for His children who are destined for an eternity with Him?
2) From the greater to the lesser: If God bestows such beauty upon wildflowers, will He not
certainly clothe His children with ordinary clothes we daily need?